The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1867-10-15

saiu 'they OuY EN- so they told me, tC
90 begging with nov. read the papers
| tell ye, and I'm principled SOS our clergy
man, ngin giving anything, unless it's
through some well organized society
J ramps are my abomination, and as for
keeping you all night, you cant expect
that of decent folkS-gol"
DrusilIa came to the door and said,
"Let him stay aunty," with her lips
again, but | took no notice
So he wen away, and this time di'l
T. ot come ba * AMI sat down by the
fire and listened to the wind and slcet, ana
felt the warm fire, and smclt the baking
cakes and the apples >tewrg. and the tea
drawing on the kitchen stove; and |
onght to have been very comfortable, but
| wasn't. Something seemed tugging at
my heart all the time
gave the fire n poke and lit another
candle to cheer myself by, and | went TO
my work -baskct to get the sock | had
been knitting for my Charlie; and as
went to get it saw something lying on
the floor. picked it up. 1t was an old
| tobacro pouch, ever so much like the one
| gave Charlie. with fringe around il, and
written on in ink, &C. + to L. H." and
inside was a bit of tobacco and an old
pipe, and "A letter; and when spread it
out saw at the top, "NIy dear SON"
knew the bcggnr must have dropped
II, and my heart gave one big thump as
though it had been turned into hammer.
Perhaps the story was true and he had
a mother. | shivered all over, and the
fire and ,he candles and the nice comfort
able smell might not have been at all, |
was so cold and wretched.
And over and over again had to say
to myself what had heard our pastor say
so often, "Never give anything to chance
beggars, my dear frienlS, always be-tow
your aims on worthy persons, thrOhgh
well-org iniz-d societica" before coul!
get Il Bit of cOmf0rt. Aud what an old
fool | was to cry, | thought, when |
found my checks wet
But did not cry long, for as | sat
there, hash and crash and jingle came a
sleigh over the road, and it stopped "a; our
gate, AMI hoard my Charles voice cry
ing, "Halo mother :" AMI out | went
10 the door and had him in my arms, my
great, tall, handsome, brown son. And
there he was in his uniform with his pret.
ty shoulder-str 'ps, and h,aiy as if he
had never been through any harlships
He had TO leave me to put his horse up,
and then | had by the fire again my own
boy And Drusilla, who had bcen 10
stairs and had been crying-why wun-
der--came down in II fl e'-for they
were like brother AMI i tr-and he
kissed her, and she kissed hlm. and then
away she went to set the table, and the
nice hot things SIN 'ked on cloth as
white rs snow and how Charlie enjoyed
them! But once in the midst of all
felt IA frightened feeling come oyer me and
/ know'd I'd turned pale, for Drn-illa
said. "Vhat is the matter, Aunt Fair
fax ?"
| said "Nothing !" but it was this:
knd o like the ghost of step, going
h mp, champ over the frozen snow:
kin . like the ghost of a voice, sa, inr.
''Let me lie on the floor b fore your fire.
and give me any kind of II crust :" kind
o like seeiLg some one who had moth
er. dropping down on the winiry road
and freezing and starving to death there
That was what it was. but | put it away.
and only Thought of Charlie
We drew up together bv the fire when
tea was done, and he told things about
the war I'd never heard. b fore. How
the soldiers suffered, and what weary
marches and short ratiuns they somtlmes
had. And he told ME how his life had
been set upon and he WAS badly wounded;
and how at the risk of his own life, "A
fellow soldier had sa>el him. and carried
him away fighting his path back t1 camp.
ia never have seen you but for him.
says my Charlie, Sand if there's u man
on earth love, it is Rob Hndway-the
dearest, best fellow. We've shared each
others raiions, and drunk from the same
odntecn many Il time an if ever had
brother, l couldn't think more of INN "
'Why don't you bring him home to
see your mother, Charlie I" said l.
''Why, I'D love him too, ami anything
could do for hun, for the man who saved
my boys life couldn't be enough SEMI
for hun, Charlie" But Charlie shook
his head, and covered hi, face with his
hand.
"Mother," said he, 81 don't know
whether Bob Hallway is alive or dead O.
day. While | was still in the ranks he
was taken prisoner. And the prisons
are poor places to live in, mother. I'd
give my right hand to be able to do him
any good; but | cant find any trace of
him. And he has mother, too she
lives at Greenbank-pour old lady. NV
dear, gootl noble Bob, the preserver of my
life y And saw Charlie nearly crying
Not TO let us see the tears, he got
uphnd went TO the mantle piece. | did
not hook around until heard cry
',Greit heavens what is that :" And
turned. Charlie had the tobacco pouch
the man had dropped in his hand.
"Where did this come from : said he
81 feel as though had seen ghost.
gave this TO Rob Halfway the day he
saved me. We soldiers had not much to
give you know, and he vowed never to
part with it while he lived, How did it
come, mother
l fell back in my chair, white and cold
Il 4