Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1868-05-14

says my Charlie. "And II there
a man on earth | love, it's Rot
Hadaway-the dearest, best fel-
low! We've shared each others
rations and drank from the same
canteen many and many time;
and if | had a brother l 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 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, 81 don't
know whether Rob Hadaway is
alive or dead today. While I was
still in the ranks he was taken
prisoner. And military 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 a mother, too, and she is SO
fond of him! She lives at Green
bank-poor old lady. My dear,
good, noble Rob, the preserver of
my life"
And | saw Charles was nearly
crying.
Not to let us see his tears, he got
up and went to the mantle piece.
| did not look around until heard
a cry.
"Great heaven! what-what is
it"
And I turned, and Charles had
the tobacco pouch the man had
dropped in his hand.
"Where did this come from ?"
said he. 81 feel as though I had
seen ghost. I gave this to Rob
Hadaway 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 here. motber9"
And [ fell back in my chair,
white and cold, and said l:
GA wandering tramp left it
here. Never your Rob, my dear;
never your Rob. He must have
been an impostor. l wouldn't
have turned away person really
in want. Oh, no, no; its another
pouch, child, or he stole it. A
tall fellow, with blue eyes and
yellow-brown hair, wounded, he
said, and going to his mother at
Greenbank. Not your Rob-"
And Charlie stood staring at
me with clenched hands; and
said he:
cit was my Rob!it was my
dear old Rob, wounded and starv-
ing!-riy dear old Rob, who saved
my life, and you have driven him
out in such a night as this, moth
er. My mother to use Rob sol"
Condemn me, Charlie" !" said I;
condemn me if you like; I'm
afraid God will. Three times he
came back: three times he asked
only for crust and a place to lie,
and | drove him away, land
he's lying in the road now. Oh!
if l had known!'
And Charlie caught up his hat.
"I'll find him if he's alive" said
he. "Oh Rob, my dear friend"
And then--I never saw the
girl in such taking. Down went
Drusilla on her knees, as if she
was saying her prayers, and says
she:
"Thank God, I dared to do i'll"
And says she again to me:
"Ohl aunt, I've been trembling
with fright, not knowing what
you'd say to me. ! took him in
the kitchen way. 1 couldn't 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"
"Lord bless you, Drusilla," said
Charlie.
"Amen," said I.
And she, getting bolder, went on:
"And [ took him some hot short
cakes and apple-sass and tea," and
I took him candle and a hot
brick for his feet, andI told him to
eat, and told him to go bed in the
best chamber, Aunt Fairfax, with