The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-03-16

something might happen to stop his jour
ney, or that he mi ght be robbed or turne,
back. Out Of sight of town, he at lengtl
hailed traveller in buggy, and found ;
friend. The gentleman carried him eigh
miles upon his way, and then insisted OF
keeping him at his house over night
Next day he was only fortunate enough
to ride three miles, and there were eigh
i'll all to the station. He reached it jus
as the afternoon train had left. lie wa
obliged to lod &c at the tavern, and earl,
the next morning he took his seat in tn,
steam cars bound for Macon. BY moor
they reached the city. The place was full
of troops and alive with the excitement o
war. The roll of the drum and stir o
martial music filled the air. Just as tn,
car stopped, another train, loaded Will
confederate soldiers, moved heavily and
slowly off upon the next track. These
were fresh conscripts, many of them torn
from their homes, and the platform was
crowded with their sad and anxiou.
friends. Cyrus wondered if his father
was among them. Now that he was
really iii Macon, it seemed to him likely
that he mi ght meet his father at any mo
ment. But he looked in vain through the
passing train. And now he must seek
the prison. He had seen enough of tyr
amy to be on his guard he knew he
must do no unnecessary talking he would
ask no questions when he could help it.
But, sent on such an errand, by such a
mother and grandmother, he wasn't goinn
to finch or hide the truth if any one ask
ed him questions He felt bold enough to
enlist upon the spot, forgetting his size.
had those troops been dressed in Iowa
blue, had that flag he saw waving every
where been the stars and stripes his father
loved.
After a while. and without encounter.
inc any danger, he found his way to the
prison. which was on the outskirts of the
town. ] was an un>heltercd >tockadc
that Is, 4 sort OF pen. bounded by tive
fences; the inner one Il low fence OF
boards. and the outer of high pickets- -
Cyrus ran eagerly up 10 a cate, where 4
sentinel kept guard; but the guard refiu>-
ed TO admit him without Il pass He had
not dreamed OF this Ii was terrible
>appointmcnt. At first his heart sank
anl his courage tor~ook him; then his
Indignation rose
- want 10 get in and sc nv father. =
he sud, :" How dare You refuse 10 lei
me i'll ;"
How dare |? You cursed young doc
as easy a~ dare do this
Saying this. the "uard kicked him with
hl~ heavy bool~. and sent him Stumhlin.
and rolling down little bank.
Cyrus lay perfectly ~,ilI, concealed um-
der the shadow OF some bushes and. al
ter he had recovered n little from the fall.
he l'c"an to think OF what he should H.
next. He must see his father. THIS Wa,
the place where he WAS he felt sure. lie
dared not 90 into town 10 ask help: he
would not know whom TO ask every one
appeared Ike an enemy. He wis lett tc
his own wisdom for counsel. and he had
not much of that. But he had true and
noble instincts. One determination pos
>c>>cd him. He would fulfill his crranI-
see his father and deliver his letters.
After while he rose slowly and crepr
round to the other side of the Stockade
From little hill on one side he could Sc,
within the enclosure Here was 4 for
lorn 81 ght-a SET of starved. RAGGED men
standing, >ittin@, or DRAGGING them>clvc,
about among the naked pine trees. \
few miserable tents were scattered abou,
not enough to shelter a fourth OF them.
His eve eagerly sought his father. Sever
al times he thought he saw him; but no
it was not he. At length he found him.
4 shadow of himself. Standing upright
against a pine, reading something 10 =
group of prisoners. Il know him.
know its he, it is. it is cried CyruS II
| a great excitement He ran down th,
hill and approached the prison from thi,
side. But the Guard refused again TO adj
nit him, because he had no pass. What
should he do! He was afraid to 90 back
to the town-he did not know where &c
get pass; he dreaded to leave the spo
where he had seen his father Clmhin.
the hillock again. he commenced to max,
signs, and continued this until he had a,
tractcd the attention of some of the pri>o
ncrs. Then, taking ont the letters an,
papers from his bag, he tied them togetl
er, and, running quickly down to the pick
ct fence. he tossed them over into the In
her inclosure. and called out with all hi
might
"Pa, pa, don't you swear, Oh. pa
don't swear. We can get along. and w
got the lot plowed and the wheat in, :"
\ cheer from within told him he wa
heard. His message was delivered. an,
he quickly left the prison, lest wors
thing should happen to him. His letter
were in safe hands now; he was certain
they would reach his father. With
mingling Of gladne>s and bitter di>ap
pointment, he set out for home, and reach
ed it again i'll safety.
His mother received him with mucl
the same feeling with which certain Ro
man lady of old exhibited her sons in
stead of her jewels. And then the littl
family sought patience again. No ex
change could release the father from hi
prison; but ingenuity might, and it did
Cheerel and embaldened by the heroi
conduct of his son. Mr. Randall contriye