Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-07-19

ganized societies." before | could get
a bit of comfort. And what a fool
was to cry, [ thought, when I found
my cheeks so wet.
But did not cry long; for, as |
sat there dash and crash and jingle
came a sleigh over the road, and it
stopped at our gate, and I heard my
Charles voice crying,
" Halloa, motherw
And | went out to the door, and had
him in my arms, my great, tall, hand
some brown son.
And there he was in his uniform,
with his pretty shoulder straps, and
as hearty as if he had never been
through any hardships. He had to
leave me to put the horse up, and
then [ had by the fire again my own
boy. And Drusilla, who had been
up stairs, and had been crying-why,
| wonder ?-came down in a futter
for they were like brother and sis
ter-and he kissed her, and she kiss
ed him, and then away she went to
set the table, and the nice hot things
smoked on a cloth as white as snow
and how Charlie enjoyed them! But
once, in the midst Of all, | felt fright
ened feeling come over me, and
knew | turned pale, for Drusilla said,
What is the matter, aunt Fairfax ?"
| said nothing, but it was this -
Kind O. like the ghost of a step going
champ, champ, over the frozen snow :;
kind o like the ghost of a voice, say
ing, Let me lie on the floor before
your fire ,and give any kind of crust !"
kind O like seeing some one who had
mother, dropping down on the
wintry road. and freezing and starv-
ing to death there. That was what
it was. But put it away, and only
thought of Charlie.
We drew up together by the fire
when tea was done, and he told Us
things about the war I'd never heard
before. How the soldiers suffered,
and what weary marches and short
rations they sometimes had. And
then he told me how his life had
been in danger; how he had been
set upon by rebels and badly wound
ed; and how at the risk of his own
life, felIow-soldier had saved him,
and carried him away fighting his path
back to camp.
I'D never have seen you but for
him, says my Charlie. "And if there's 5
a man on earth | love, it is Rob Hada-
way-the dearest, best fellow. We've
shared each others rations, and drank
from the same canteen many and many
a time; and if ever | had brother, |
couldn' t think more of him"
Why didn't you bring him home
to see your mother, Charlie ?" said l.
|" Why, I'd loved him too, and any
thing | could do for him, for the man
who saved my boys life, couldn't be
enough. Send for him Charlie" But
Charlie shook his head, and covered
his face with his hands.
Mother" said he, {" don't know
whether Rob Hadaway is alive OF
dead to-day. While | was still in the
ranks he was taken prisoner. AnC
the rebel prisons are poor places tC
live in mother. I'd give my righ
hand to be able to do him any good
but | can fnd no trace oil him. AnC
he has a mother, too, and she is 81
fond Of him. She lives at Green
bank-poOr old lady. Ny dear, dear
good, noble Rob, the preserver of m!
life! p
And saw Charlie was nearly cry
: ing.
Not to let us see the tears he 90
up and went to the mantle-piece.-
| did not look around until | hear(
a cry.
Great heavens what is this ?''-
q, And turned, and Charlie had th
tobacco pouch the man had dropped
p in hand.
, "Where did this come from ?" sal,
he "Ifeel as though | had seen
n ghost gave this to Rob Hadawa
the day he saved me.
9 We soldiers have not much t
give, you know, and he vowed neve
I to part with it while he lived. HOY
did it come here, mother ?"
= And l fell back in my chair, whit
and cold, and said /, "A wanderin
tramp left it here. Never your Rot
s my dear; never your Rob. He mus
have been an imposter,I wouldn't hav
It turned away person really in want
e OH no, no; it's another poucl
child; not that or he stole it. /
t tall fellow with blue eyes and yelloN
= brown hair; wounded he said, an
l. going to his mother at GreenbanF
n Not your Rob-"
II And Charlie stood staring at m
y with clinched hands; and said HI
" it was my Rob, it was my dear oil
l. Rob, wounded and starving-my dea
d old Rob, who saved my life, and yo
e have driven him out on such nigh
;; as this, mother. Ny mother to us
= Rob so ?"
it Course me, Charlie" said l, "curs
h, me if you like, I'm afraid God vii
e Three times he came back. Thre
d times he asked only for a crust and
:. place to lie, and | drove him away
f |, land he's lying on the road nov
T. Oh! if had known: Oh! if ha
n but-known."
y And Charlie caught up his hat
"Tll find him if he is alive" said b
D. F." o Rob, my dear friend"
le And then-I never saw the gi
d in such a taking-down went Drusill