Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1866-08-10
aisctllaurous.
COMING HOME.

when every tuing,animate and inanimatc seem
ed 90 shrink and cover in the intense cold
The very air was full of Icy PARTICLES, which
one was forced 90 draw in with every breath
aud when the moon rose, round, and clear
and bright. and the wind came up with it
/ penetrated every crack aud crogice. no msttut
how mInu e.. Iue passengers by Che night
express gathered closer 90 th5 stove, crowd
ing and jostlng each other, as even wo.l-bred
people wil, sometimes do in their efforts 90
/ keep warm.
All but one man who sac In a seat by him-
| self near the door. A call man wrapped in a
/ coat OF army blue, The visor of his cap drawn
/ low over his cyes-deep, dark eyes with a
strange expression in them-such eyes as a
man might have who had been ated t1 stand
tlt ,im' ou the borders of hell. and having
seen must bear with him through lla tho
memory OF its horrors.
He sac there quietly enough, taking little
heed apparently OF what WAS going on about
him. AN the afternoon be hal sac 30. s.l-
dom moving, not speaking, only once, when
ne b sd given up his seat, near the FIRE, Co q
p1or-lI1kng woman with "a child 10 her arms,
and himself tskeu tu.s one farther back, and
the passengers noticing the li,tle ao. OF poe
lteness, and observing mis- dress as we'll, dee
cldel Chat he was IL soldier on his way home /;
veteran, probably, and then dropped him
OUT of their thoughts.
And while 'he hours of early evening Wore
away, the train t1ulisred on. oye- miles and
miles % level prairie; past farm hogsos, ues-
t,ed down among trees, aud barns, and c1,n-
cribs; past itIs gtoup' Of dwellings, with
thalr home lign-s shining cbeeuly out.
the man 0y the window watched them as
sA7! H.'ted oy sn eaBot' hungry look coming
INTO his eyes. was ne thinking OF house
a. lAe emu OF hls journey where ths lamps
were "snie1 oy .ns tm'' Ana ta5ee iAee', sad
enough now wou'd g-o" suddenly bright at
aus coming d' n't know.
ine c'nduc.3r can' 90 presently bringing
Ai..I5 OF tae Keen outer Aif with hlm. tie
Ptu'sl "ItA his n'nIs on ine BACK Of Che seat
ln "hicl t1e solder ati' mulas down into
lae gloomy eyes Iu.ed TO his face he said
cnes, ,aliy
snNu pc az M' ln eleven minutes
lol re "-n ''V nom,' .'''
res thAhA Noa
nome D-1 c'na1oloF h'nes Know aH
'u@1 "ota meant 10 tha man sitting there so
qNv,! ne 'no'Snt ne ala thougnt ne
cou'o uhlers 'Aad his leehng'' i1r be himself
'
isms.noe, tae h'mss'cknsss, the weary
"AlAns' iho longing thAl grew almost lnsup-
portable 9metm9s, I'r one glimpse OF dear
IAcs' ieit oahlnl'
someshInE OF lhis' he sad IN his earnest
way stlI standing there, his hand on the
oaeN ot the seA. Inc soldier graspsd it, and
me TWO looked steadily into each others
eyes.
Two faces 80 very unlike. one pleasant
70 i'9E ~'.H, i'71ea saad2wed a little by
cares ana raspon'ioiI'nes OF middle me. Ihs
o'hi' showing warm ana wot'e undef the
'"mp'HgA' gray hAr about me temples lines
upon Ihe forehead, deer lines around the
NOUN tne lace Of aA old maa--aad yet he
was ou' Vnirty' rus very voice n"d curl
GUS uuu''diaI IONS ia ~ e. ha sAiu' sun Keep
ins hold Oh the friendly hand' stnl looking
'n'o 'ae kloaly eyes, l. tnfse years since
,a" my lAm"y' t"o since / hs-rd from them
nave oeeo prisoner eighteen months az
salisbury.
nA' story was outlined IN these few
"orls-only outimed--lhe details will never
be known tll the great day ot Remembrance,
"4eH tle secrets OF an prison houses shall be
FeVe'ia i' ana the black record OF southern
cruelty o3 shown up 60 the gaze OF angels and
H. Eighteen months They had done