Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1867-10-31

fire and the candles, and the nice, COM
Portable smells might as well not have
been at all. / was cold and wretched.
And over and over again had TO say
to myself what 1 had heard our pastor
say so often. "Never give anything to
chance beggars, my dear friends, always
bestow your aims on worthy persons"
what an old fool was to cry, thought,
when found my cheeks were wet.
But L did not cry long, for as 1 sat
there, dash and crash and jingle came a
sleigh over the road, and it stopped at
our gate, and heard my Charles voice,
crying, "Helloa, motherw And out l
went to the door, and had him in my
arms, my great, tall, handsome, brown
son. And there he was in his uniform,
with his pretty shoulder straps, and as
healthy 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, / Iwonder?-came down all
in fiutter--for they were like brother
and sister-and he kissed her, and she
kissed him, and then she went to set the
table, and the nice hot things smoked on
cloth as white as snow; and how Char
lie enjoyed them. But once in the midst
of all, | felt a frightened feeling come
over me, and know / turned pale, for
Drusilla said, WHAT'S the matter, Aunt
Fairfax"
1 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 voice saying: "Let
me lie on the floor before your fire, and
give me any kind of crust;" kind O.
like seeing some one that had a mother
dropping down on the wintry road and
freezing and starving to death there
That was what it was. But l put it
away and only thought of Charlie.
We drew up together by the fire when
tea was done, and he told me things
about the war I'd never heard before
How the soldiers suffered, and weary
marches and short rations they some
times had. And then he told how his
life had been in danger; how he had
been set upon by the enemies and badly
wounded; and how at the risk ofhis own
life, fellow soldier had saved him, and
carried him away, fighting his path back
to camp.
"I'd never have seen you but for him, "
says Charlie. "And if there's man on
earth love it is Bob Hadaway-the dear
est best fellow. We had shared each
others rations and drank from the same
canteen many and many a time; and if
ever had brother 1 could not think
more of him."
"Why did MT you bring him home to
see yonr mother, Charlie?" said 1. "Why,
I'd love him, toe, and anything 1 could
do for hin-for the man who saved
nay boys life-could MT be naught.-
Send for him Charlie"
But Charlie shook his head and cover
ed his face " sth his kcnds.p f-..
Mother" said he, Go XII know
whether Bob Hadaway is alive or dead
to-day. While 1 was still in the ranks
he was a prisoner. I'd give my right
hand to be able to do him any good; but
can find no trace of him. And he had
mother. too, and she was so fond of him.
She lived at Greenbank, poor old lady.
My dear good, noble Bob, the preserver
of my life!" And 1 saw Charlie was
nearly crying.
Not to let US see the tears, he got up,
and went to the mantle piece. did not
look around until L heard a cry:
"Great heavens! what is it?"
And l turned and Charlie had the to-
bacco pouch the man had dropped in his
hand.
"Where did this come from?n said he?
~ feel as though had seen ghost. l
gave this to Bob Hadaway the day he
saVeu Inc. we SOluleTS i1uu HoJ IHucu W
give, you know, and he vowed never to
part with it while he lived. How did it
come here, mother?"
And fell back in my chair, white and
cold, and l said, "a wandering tramp
left it here. Never your Bob, my dear
never your Bob. He must have been an
impostor. would MT have turned away
person really in want. Oh! no, no; it's
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 Boz"
And Charlie stood staring at me with
clenched hands; and said he, at was
my Bob it was my dear old Bob, who
saved my life, and you have driven him
out in such a night as this, mother. My
mother to use Bob sol"
Course me, Charlie said I, Course
me if you like; Pm afraid God will
Three times he came back, three times
asked only for crust and place to lie,
and / drove him away. 1, land he
lies on the road now. Oh! if had known;
if / had known"
And Charlie caught up his hat. "I'll
find him if he is alive" he said. "Oh
Bob! my dear friend"
And then-I never saw the girl in such
taking-down went Drusilla on her
knees, as if she were saving her prayers,
and says she, "Thank God, dared to do
itW And says she again to me: "Oh,
Aunt, I've been trSnbling with fright
not knowing what you'd say to me. l
took him in the kitchen way. l could
MT see him go faint and hungry and
wounded, and | put him in the spare
chamber over the parlor, and I've been
so frightened all the while"