Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1866-08-31
AIistrl anrous.

SIS. Scranton u Go. Ha,uord. Como,
have in press new war book, entitled " We
men Of the War: their Horoi.m and Self
sacri6ce"-by Frank Moore, from advanced
sheets of which we copy the following
LITTLE WILLIE
"One sultry day in June, SOS as l was
passing through the wards OF the Berry Hos
pital, in Wilmington, my attention was at
tracted by pair Of bright eyes, which iol
lowed me from cot to cot WITH hungry ea-
perness. Surprising it was the lemonade,
which was distributing according 20 the
direction Of the nurses, which attracted him,
INQUIRED of the man VINO had charge Of him
If he could have some. He replied in the ai-
frmative, and placed the glass to his burn
ing lips. He was mere boy, only fifteen
His dark eyes and curly brown hair contrast
ed fearfullI with his pale cheeks, while the
thin white hand. with which he clasped the
glass, told sadly OF sting disease.
l longed to speak words Of cbeer to the
poor boy, but could not stop then, IS there
were many feverish men waiung Tor the icy
drAught | was carrying. The eyes haunted
me and, as | went from one TO another,
could not help CHANGING back at iile's CO..
and every time | met the same entrra iug
look which first attracted my atteAuou.
Ny duties called me 10 another part st the
hospital and IS | was passing MIN 10 90
out, be called GU in faint voice, Lazy.
dear lady. please give me d kiss-just one
kiss before you 60. NJ mother always kiss
ed me-" / kissed him with tears in my eyes
for who could refuse such request from
dying child, far away from every friend and
relative. He closed MS eyes, mufmurng,
"You are a good woman-,hank you. !.
you will sit down ard hold % hand ] think
/ can sleep; | am so tired" The nurses
were very kind, and the surgeons remarkably
SO; but disease had undermined the ftail
structure, and we daily watched our Willie
sinking to the grave.
One day entered the ward, and found
that the nurse had placed chair by his Coz
for me as usual but he was sleeping, and
requested the nurse not t awaken him. 40
miss," said the man, " He cries and takes
on so dreadfully when he wakes and fnds
that you have passed through, ,ha | have
promised always to wskeu him." 10 do thi
was no easy matter the eyes opened 10" y.
and shut again. | leaned down, aud WINS
pered, Willie Willie - =" Yes, yes," he
replie d, al was AFRAID they would not wake
gan to cry like grieved child and begged
me not to go North until be wa. vel enough
to 90 with me- Pr mise" said the nmse,
I" for he will not live many days more
"No, Willie, will no go uni "a ate hei-
ter" said and with h, kiss h. neve, laa d
to ask for, left him. b. mex moruing h.
doctor came to me aud said Wi1e is
gone"
The coffin was placed upon two chairs, in
the disrensary, and we stood and zed long
upon the marble face and folded white hand-
white as the Cape jasmine blossoms which
they clasped. Then l learned his history as
be had told it. A man d wealth had been
drafted, and had bought the boy "a a substi-
tute of heartless step father. de had never
carried gun. Once from under his mother e
watchful care, the oveT-gruwn boy had sunk
beneath the hardships OF camp lie, and The
spirit, pure when 1t first entered the clay
casket, returned TO God who gave it. o
Willie those were not tears to be despseC
which fell upon the c. fin-soldlers tear
for com ade lost. And though upon tn,
well-contested field you never fought IN de ad
ly combat, the good fight of iaitu ha- bee
yours and now, while your example lV's u
our hearts below, on wear an updll ~r'a
of victory in our Fathers KIND m
Our work in this hospital wa. MOI, sals
factory than in any other with which ~
connected. There were only three va d.
and we visited and talked with each pateu
every afternoon. surgeon or the ward
master went with us to assist in glvin
out the lemonade which we always took wit
us. We also carried a portfolio. aud too
from the men outlines Of the letters The
wished us to write. me of these wef
very original and amusing, aud | regres tina
/ did not preserve them.