Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-07-24
4 Gem i'm the ROuWh.

"During the time that elapsed between their uc-
cupation of this advanced ground and the construc-
sufieIe ed considerably from sharpshooters-
One incident Yesterday the Esd deserves especial
mention. As Captain Fielding of the -th MasSa-
chusetts, directing the movements of portion
of his command, detached for special duty, his com
manding figure proved a tempting mark for II sharp
shooter from the enemy'S works just at the critical
moment the quick eye of Sergeant William Harper
discovered the danger. Quick as thought he threw
himself front OF Captain Fielding, pushing HIM
his own brain the ball dies his superior of
icer. When taken up he retained sufficient con
sciousness to send some brief messages to friends,
but soon became msensible, and survived only
few hours. Greater love hath no man than this,
that man lay down his life for his friend. "
Such was the paragraph from Nicks-
burg letter which riveted my eye on one
day of that never-to-b forgotten summer
of 1S63, Just after the news of our brilliant
though long-delayed successes came to
crown the national anniversary with new
thanksgiving. Such an instance of heroic
devotion and sublime sef-sacrifce must
have moved the most careless reader but
for me the simple story held tragedy no
/ less real and intense because partially un-
expressed. William Harper had been my
! friend and classmate in the old days at
/ Cambridge. Perhaps no other had known
him as | had done not so much from any
innate reserve in his constitution, making
him shrink from generous confidence, as
because few cared to penetrate the unat-
tractive exterior which concealed true
and noble spirit.
Philosophers tell us, and without their
aid our own observation as well, that the
soul Is in a sense the architect of its own
tenement, so moulding the plastic clay OF
face and form that every line and feature
becomes at length only the exponent OF
some particular habit of thought or phase
of character. Perhaps this, like some
other general rules, is to be proved by Its
exceptions, for never were there two more
ill-assorted associates than the William
Harper whom l knew and loved and the
bodily and tangible presence that repre-
sented him to our senses.
In figure he was tall and ungainly, NOV
; ing with an ungraceful appearance of being
; loosely put together. Over his high
, prominent forehead hung struggling lock.
of thin, light hair, and, except at rare times
of strong excitement, his blue eyes wer,
absolutely lustreless. No flexible Line O.
lip, no clean-cut arch of brow redeemed his
almost repulsive plainess, or limited at the
refinement of his inner life Yet he was
AT nedrU an lucdIlSu-d dreamer: MS III
stincts tender and loving as "a child's; his
whole being alive with the keenest appre-
l citation of the true and beautiful every.
where. A true child of Nature, she alone
understood him with maternal instinct, took
him to her heart and showed him her Sc
crets, transfguring him in the light of hel
own beauty. A shell, flower, a spray o.
autumn leaves, the shifting tint and outline
of cloud were to him a revelation Of won
derful beauty and an inspiration of mex
pressible joy. His college themes, writer
in light running hand, like girls, were
full of quaint fancies, blossoming not in
; frequently into rhyme, like I" flowers OF
} furze.'' He found his greatest pleasure il
doing any little acts Of kindness in hi.
power-awkwardly rendered sometimes
, but not the less spontaneous and heart
felt.
Such was the man of whose life the last
, act had been to yield it up for another
unasked, in front of the beleagured South
ern city. I have no long story to tell o.
him, only to recall the life Of summer
that is passed away, SO rounding into more
perfect outline the fragmentary sketch o.
! he war correspondent, and in the light o.
hat vanished past making his last