Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-12-05
The'' ] sstorg Ueller.
From Moore's Rural New Yorker.l
THE MYRTLE LEAF
A THANKSGIVING STORY.
BY A. A. HOPKINS.
CHAPTER l.

teers, and said goodbye to the old home
which nestled half-hidden in the Andros-
coggin Valley, he carried with him some
thing more than the memories which linked
him SO strongly to the old place and the aged
pair remaining there. 1t was simple little
something, and possessed of very trihing
meaning, one would think. Clyde thought
differently. 1t was not picture, and yet II
was more beautiful one than artist ever
painted, as he saw 1t. II was not story,
but sweeter than It told to him never was
listened to. 1t was merely myrtle leaf
an evergreen token that he carried carefully
next his heart all the way to the front, and
which he guarded almost reverently through
the memorable days that crept by after his
regiment was assigned to actual duty.
1t was the best company be had, often.
He fell into the habit of taking 1t from it's
resting place, when the camp fire gave out
Its Pickering light and he fancied his CON-
rades were asleep, or when alone on picket,
and looking at the pretty picture 1t sketched
for him, or listening to the whispered tale 1t
brcathed. But he concealed it from all
other eyes. There was touch of holiness
about 1t, somehow, and he felt that curious
gaze would desecrate it, Once his messmate,
Lieutenant Lange, came upon him suddenly
as he sat holding the fragile by its stem, half
lost in dreamy reverie, and his abrupt
"Why, what on earth is the man dreaming
over?" caused Clyde to blush as rosy as did
ever young girl caught in reading her first
love letter. He showed 1t to Lange, then |;
smiling furtively as the Lieutenant casually
remarked a..
"Only myrtle leaf to me but to you
| Lange stopped there. He had no wish to
appear curious or inquisitive, and knew,
beside, that Clyde Hammond kept his own
secrets until such time as 1t pleased him to
confide in others. They were friends-these
two; friends in that degree known only to
those who face death together almost daily,
Each knew that there was manly stuff in the
other, that, whatever should come to him
in the fortune of war, the other would be \
true helper in so far as in him lay.
Through several severe engagements they
had battled bravely, and, when their first
year of service was ended, had well earned
the name of veterans. Hammond had been
promoted from the ranks to Lieutenancy,
which promotion pleased him no more than
it did his friend Lange; and while in their
hearts there was a deep sense of gratitude
for the good fortune that had thus far at
tended them, they looked forward to fur
ther efforts " behalf of their country with
lively anticipation. 1t was hardly possible
| that throughout the future strife both should
go unscathed, and Hammond, looking more
frequently than ever at the dry and brittle
token he still cherished, thought fondly Of
the little fingers that once pressed it, and
wondered If the would ever again be clasped
in his.
Then CAME one of those bloody conflicts
which tested SO sorely the loyal ranks, and
the reports of which fairly chilled us as they
thrilled over the North-land. 1t was at An
tictam, think. The -th New Hampshire
Volunteers were in the thickest of it, and
suffered fearfully. In charge which the
regiment participated in, towards evening
q hcadlong, blind sortie, through piece of
wood-Hammond and Lange became sep
arated, and after retreat had been effected,
the former was missing Just at twilight,
while the battle was yet raging along an
other part of the line, Lange ventured again
into the wood. He hoped to find his friend
alive, and to be able to bring nim in. Many
a form with the soul gone out of it, he
stumbled over in the shadows; and many a
poor wounded fellow looked pitifully up at
him as he closely scanned the features of
those lying around. His search was re-
warded, finally. In little hollow, by an
old stump, Clyde lay, a bullet hole through
his body, and the red current of life oozing
out slowly. He could talk yet.
.Tm pretty near done for old fellow, he
said, through bit of smile, ''but am
glad you came. You can deliver a message
l began to fear must always go ungiven.
You remember the myrtle leaf, Lange
Well, there's little girl away up there among
the granite hills, who gave it to me the night
before l left home. She's made the place
more gladstone for the old folks than 1t
might have been, for she's merry-hearted
body, and like a daughter to them. But
she's not my sister, though my companion
as such for dozen years, and she was to be
my wife when got back" -.4
His voice trembled perceptble, but he
swallowed a drought from Langes canteen
and continued.
"That's what the myrtle leaf meant to me;
but its over now, and want you to put the
leaf in letter and send 1t to Nell, along
with a few words just to let her and the
others know that I'm not coming. You'll
! do 1t won't your you know where it should
60"
Lange found the simple keepsake, where
1t had all along been carefully hidden, and
at that moment Clyde tainted entirely.
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