Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1866-07-14
SATURDAY MORNING, JULY IA, 1866.


of my chair
Nell, DO you remember John Greyr I
said, Yes
He is dead y
just there my heart ceased beating But
/ was calm.
How did you hear2'
Then came the whole story. He had been
wounded in battlc--a fever had set :n-after
intense suffering, he had died on the seven
teenth of this month-November. My God |
just year from the day of our parting
thought. He had been brought home and
buried while / was away.
How the next few days passed l never
knew
With the word, he is dead = had come to
me, in moment, a knowledge of how l
could have loved him-of how l did love
him. 1t was very bitter; and then I fell to
wondering if he had ever loved me at all.
Sometimes 1 thought he had again doubt
ed it. But my doubts were ended at last.
Thanksgiving came and went. Never
was sadder thanksgiving to any one than to
me. / could not give thanks. What were
victories to me, and John lying in the cold
ground l could rot, and would not be re-
conciled.
One day was at recitation, when l was
called to the parlor. l went down. At the
door | hesitated. A stranger rose and came
toward me. | had time to see that he was
tall man, very pale and thin, dressed in
uniform.
Nellie have you forgotten me1 was
Professor Adams-Col. Adams.
No, sir; | know you now.' He raised my
hand to his lips, and then led me to seat
tor he was a courtly man, this professor of
ours. We talked quietly of many things
that had happened since we last met. OF
mutual friends-'some were married, some
were dead OF Annie, said he, Il have re-
grctted her death exceedingly on your ac-
count You needed just her gentleness to
tone down your character
Il know it. shall never be as good or
happy again as I was once
Forgive me, Nellie, if intrude; but your
/ tone was SO inexpressibly sad just now. You
are unhappy l did not speak, could
not.
Tell me about it, my child, l am older
than you perhaps can help you out
That is impossible, Col. Adams. No one
can help me-
May guess the cause of your grief, Mel
lie p
Yes family.
John Grey is dead = felt the blood
L
did not faint but just lost myself for mo-
ment. When l recovered he had his arm
around me.
My child, my little pet sister, do you
know that you are the image of my Youngest
sister That is why love you so. She was
my delight. She died at about your age.
When l first saw you, thought she had
come back to ME. viii you be my sister,
Nellie 2
YES
Yes
! Then tell me about this
i cannot. Question me, and will answer.
You loved John. You need not tell me
that, for know. Have you heard the par
ticulars of his death p
| NO
! Il will tell you. was with him when he
died. He belonged to my regiment. He
had been sleeping most of the night. To-
ward morning he awoke. Colonel SAID he
Il am dying
Are you ready, John 2 said |,
! Il am all ready l only want one thing.
should like to see Nellie Thurston once
more, and ask her if she loves me-
| 4 can tell you that, john seplied, sht
does love YOU
His eye frightened. Wow Go you know
Are you surep
Il am positive. knew it first when yol
saved her from being expelled from school
He smiled.
"Did you know that was with her tina
night p
of course, l knew, recognized you both
Now see, Nellie, could not bear to senC
my little sister away. So kept you when
found nobody knew but John. don't sa
that it was right, though.
We'll, about John. In a moment he hell
up your little ring, and asked me if knew
it ! saiG yes it was yours.
II would like to have it buried with me
Colonel
1T shall be done.
He kissed it and restored it to its place.
Il wish you would go and see her som
times, Colonel
Il will, when I can get leave of absence.
Tell her that l longed to see her one
more. shall not cease to love her. Wait
Will you write a few words as dictate. 2
Il got paper and pen. Here is the note
He handed to me. read it. Such word
of passionate love had never seen. The
soothed me while they thrilled me. wa
calmer and happier than had been. Final
ly Col. Adams went on:
when had finished he gave me thi
ring. Said he, ASK her to wear it on he
fourth finger, rs she would have worn on
if had lived to make her my wife-that il
if she loves me. Tell her there is divin
marriage of soul between us two. God cor
sole her. He was silent for some time
Raise the curtain, colonel; it must b
daylight turned to the window. hear
him say, Goodbye, Nellie looked q
him hastily. The first gray light of morr
ing fell on his face calm in the sleep c
DEATH
Now / was not so very unhappy. John Ia
loved nee. 1t was not so bad after all. A
ne said there was marriage of soul b'
tween us. AS put his ring on my fnge
that day, | promised myself that no otLs
should ever be worn beside it but that m
hand should be kept free until should
to meet him in heaven.
Since then days and nights have passe'
They have been wearisome often. But, as s
to day by my window, and see the sun shin
ard hear the birds sing, l find it in N
heart to thank God for his loving kindne
that has been manifested to me. If he broh
my idol, and sent me bitter Affections, fe
it was that l might learn to know His 10,
! better than any earthly love. am journe,
7. ing home to heaven. l shall sec John
, last