The Shasta courier., 1867-10-26

the nice hot thihes smoked on cloth as
white as SNOW and how Charlie enjoyed
them But once in the midst of all / felt
frightened feeling come over me, and
know'd I'd turned pale, for Druslla said,
What is the matter, Aunt Fairfax ?"
SAID = Nothing;" but it was this Kind
O. like the ghost of step, going champ,
champ over the frozen snow; kind O. like
the ghost of Il voice. saying, g Let me lie on
the floor before your fire, and give me any
kind of a crust; :" kind O like seeing some
one, who had a mother, dropping down on
the wintry road, and freezing and starving
to death there. That was what it was. but
put 1t away, and only thought of Charlie
We drew up together by the fire when tea
was done, aud he told us things about the
war I'd never heard before. How the sol
diers suffered, and what weary marches and
short rations they sometimes had. And be
told me how long his life had been set upon
and he was badly wounded and how at the
risk of his own life, a fellow soldier had
saved him, and carried him away fighting his
path back to camp.
I'd never have seen you but for him. y
says my Charlie. And if there's a man on
earth L love, it is Bob Hadway-the dear
est, best fellow. We've shared each other s
rations, and drank from the same canteen
many time and if | ever had brother, |
couldn't think more of him."
Why don't you bring him home to see
your mother, Charlie ~ said I. "Why. I'd
love him too, and anything | could do for
him, for the man who saved my bows life.
couldn't be enough. Send for him, Charlie. )
But Charlie shook his head, and covered his
face with his hand.
- Mother" said he, q don't know wheth,
er Bob Hallway is alive or dead to 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 | can
find no trace of him. And he has mother,
too she lives at Greenbank-poor old lady.
My dear, good, noble Bob, the preserver of
my life !" And saw Charlie nearly cry,
ing.
Not to let US see the tears. he got up and
went u the mantelpiece. | did not look
around until heard cry.
+" Great heavens what is that?'' And as
l turned, Charlie had the tobacco pouch the
man had dropped in his hand
L" Where did this come from ?" said he
. feel as though had see a ghost | gave
this to Bob 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?"
fell back in my chair, white and cold
and said |, =" A wandering tramp left it
here, never your Bob, my dear; never your
Bob. He must have been an imposter.
would not turn away person really in want ;
oh no, no, no it is another pouch, child,
not that; or he stole it. A tall fellow with
blue eyes and yellow brown hair, wounded.
he said, and going to his mother at Green
bank. Not your Bob"
And Charlie stood staring at me with
clenched hands, and, said he, 81 1t was nv
Bob, it was my dear old Bob who saved nv
life, and you have driven him out in such a
night as this, mother. My mother, to use
Rob so !"
Curse me, Charlie" said I, "curse me
if you like IN afraid God will. Three
times he asked only fer crust and place
to lie, and | drove him away. I, land
he's lying on the road now. Oh, If | had
known Oh if [ had known ~
And Charlie caught up his hat "Ill
find him if he's alive" said he. 40, Bob,
my dear friend ~
And then-I never saw the girl in such a
hurry-down went Drusila on her knees.
as if she were saying her prayers, and says
she, Thank God | dared to do it !" and
says she to me. 80, aunt, I've been trem-
bling with fright, not knowing what you d
say to me. | took him in the kitchen way
could not see him so faint, hungry and
wounded, and put him in the spare cham
Der over the parlor and I've been so frighten
ed all the while"
Lord bless you, :" said Charlie " Amen!"
says |. And she getting bOder, went on.
And l took him up hot short-cake and
apple-sauce and tea," says she, and l
took him a candle, and hot brick for his
feet, and told him to eatand go to bed in the
best chamber, Aunt Fairfax, with the white
counterpane."
After this, Charlie, not being ungrateful
nor poor either, helped Bob into business
And he got over his wounds at last, and
grew as handsome as picture, and today
week is going to marry Drusilla.
"Pd give you anything l have" said I,
and | won't refuse you even Drusilla, "
when he asked me, telling me he had loved
her ever since she was so kind to him on the
night Ive told you Of
And Charlie is to stand up with them,
and am to give Drusilla away, and Bob's
sister from Greenbank is to be bridesmaid
and have guess that some day Charlie
will bring her home to me in Drusilla' place
/ don't drive beggars away now as l used
to, and no doubt Pm imposed upon but
this is what say: Better be imposed upon
always than to be cruel to one who really
needs help" And I've read my Bible more
of late, and know who says: " Inasmuch as
ye have done it to the least of these, ye have
done it unto me.