Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1866-11-17
shing weight upon that absent house

lshing weight upon lha, absent house.
Id.
Upon the seventh dsy was shocked
lbe distressing change which had la.
~ place in his appearance, that peculiar
lior and contraction Of features always
heafald of death, having settled upon
c,untenancr. No glad smile greeted
., | approached his cot, bu, only
int pressure OF the hand as bent over
n. Nv Ill YOU not lasis this cooling
ink haze prepared for you - said !.
"N0. dear laty." replied he in faint
l;ce and then conIinue1. painfully la
uing iof breath. Save it for some one
Sc; am dyirg. The surgeon would
II tell NE just now when asked him,
Il ! tel the des,h damp on my brow. |
no, afraid. for am a soldier. bu, il is
hard To die alone. never again TO see
naive mountains. and feel the cool
air fan ny chcek-never again 10 hear
ny father. blessing or receive ny moth
ers good night kiss. Will You not do
me one more favor write 10 my moth
er :"
| assenteJ, and drawing forth paper and
pen. wrote as well as my fast dropping
tear. and trembling hand would al!Ow.
After speaking Of his situation and my
kindness, he proceed 10 send atitcionaIe
isIeWeils 10 ,aIiOus members Of the lam.
llv, Not forgetting The servants, whom he
mentioned by name. There was pause
and lie lay silent for some moments, the
large iesIs gathering IN hs eyes, and
rolling Gown Tie wan cheek. Then point.
irg to TIE woru, grey uniform thai hong
from peg on he opposite wall, he ask
ed NE to hand i, 10 him. Fumblng in
the pocket. he took on, knife. and indl.
.ca'ing particular place in the Wristbands
Of his panlsloons, directed NE 10 rip il
open. dad SO and drew out smsl!
foll Of paper. containing something hard.
u Inch upon opening found TO be a mill.
'ary star, the wrapping papei being close
y written over.
AIer gazing upon lhem both for sone
line, hs took up The star, and handing it
10 me sald
"Wlen General Jackson fell, il was
my painful task Ia assist in carrying him
of The field TO place Of ssfe'v. Ny
command was forming in line Of baltle,
md slihUGgh my hean failed, and my
Ugh, arm itli ueryeless q, the thought Of
charging 'he enemy nnaided by his lres.
-nre, stern duty called me 10 the front.
kne.lIng to lshe one last sIlen, look a,
IN. pale, heroic face. sPied 'he stars on
he collar Of his Overcoat, which hung
loosely over the Inter. Quick as lhOUghl
TOOK on, this knife. and. cu!;lng one a,
way, concealed II IN my bosom; with 1t
on my hearI.l hasiehed 10 the battlefield,
and no sword did better service that day
than nine. Here it is; will you no, keep
II ioi the sake oi one, who dying amongst
strangers and enemies. has had his last
moments smoolhed ty your gentle care &
Com 1letely overcome by gIlei, | took
the precious gift and murnured my ,hsrks.
Then, holding ont The paper, he asked
NE io enclose ii in the one 10 his mother.
TEL her it is the last leave Of abserce
ever received fIom General JAcssoR. sign-
eI hy his own hsnd--a happy fariouGh
spent al home. shall soon have anoth.
Fl, endorsed ty greater CoPtain than he,
TO g" to dwelling where pleasures are
endless"
Exhausted by the effort OF speaking. he
.snk back mo,Iorless, while | smoo,hed
the damp curl+. and mois,ened the dry,
cold lips. Riveled 10 the spot by my al
Ieclion and sympathy for The poor suffer.
er, two hours passed away. and | watch
ed " ith sickenlng dread the death film
dlmming the beautiful eyes, and bent 10
catch the last faint breath. Suddenly
glorious light .hone in his faces partly IL
sing and pointing upwards, he exclaimed.
Il see 1.-THE star. the star; General, ]
am here; and hea.ng one farewell Sigh
for esr,h aud friends, The young hero re-
joined his beloved commander.
what Hope Did.