St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1868-01-24

we had made enough money to marry
and have little place of our own. and
Jamie declared was never to sew for
any one but ourselves began to sing
and would not have changed places with
princess for then could not have had
Jamie to love. No one dared to say
anything disagreeable to me-evcn my
fathers manner changcd-tor dear Jam
lie was always near to protect me, and
was so glad to be protected You do
not know, dear lady, what it is for poor
girls TO struggle on alone, and how base
men, far from respecting their helpless
ness, like vile towards take advantage OF
it. kt thoughts of Jamie | felt strong,
for he was brave and no one dared to of
tend him."
II might have known that my happi-
ness could not last. | was not born for
sunshine-as some are We made little
excursions into the country to see where
We should have a home, and we began to
talk of being married when the war
broke out Oh, the cruel war Why
must it have been ? Why is 1t that the
innocent suffer for the guilty The fall
of Sumter was dreadful blow to Jam
lie, for lie was a great patriot. The next
day he came TO me, and, holding me in
his arms, said, Maggie, what should YOU
say if told you that thought it my
duty to tight for my country p "
- Say, Jamie y | exclaimed, looking
dreadfully frightened, | know"
"Yes, Maggie, darling. The country
is in danger the government Is calling
for men, and don't you think it would be
cowardly in me, WHO am Il born soldier
and who have hcen drilling in the militia
all nv life. to stay at home Suppose
every young fellow hangs back. what
will become OF the Union We shall
never have Il happy home, Maggie dear,
unless such as fight for it"
''Oh, how struggled. How could |
let 90 of my only hope on earth There
Jamie stood, looking 50 grand in hi>
courage and love Of country, Yet gazln@
so pitifully at me that could only hid
my head on his shoulder and give my
consent between the robs that would
come
"Iou arc nv own brave Mag"ie. Jam
lie said, tcndery. DO You fancy, dear
girl. that it l. not terrible for me 20 leave
you Could 90 under any other cir
cumstances But heaven will protect
us. may he zone few months only.
and then when peace i> restored how
clad you viii be tLat your husband help
ed 10 save the country.
"Onlva few months CLING to
this hope, and we talked the matter oveI
and Sarah, who, like her brother, WAS 4
great politician, and spent all her spar,
time in making Mon badgc-, made Il:
feel rs though nolody could fight like la
mie. But she was Il sister, NOT 4 lover
and that makes Il difference. | crulln
wish my hero ut the war
"A few DAYS later Jamie came home
t and with trembling voice told IN hc ha,
, enlisted as private III a regiment whir!
was to leave Immediately tor Washing
. ton"
II, too. er.deavored to be strong. |
too, made Union badges. and hu>icl m!
| self in getting Jamie ready for marching
| tried to think only OF my country, bu
my efforts were sad failures"
| "The parting came. cannot tel
you of It's agony. Then | stood in
= window, and saw the regiment marcl
1 down Broadway. 1t WIS terrible to -
e all those brave men goin@ - 10 thcI
e graves, perhaps | watched the rank
closely until caught sight OF Jamie
& pale face. How hard he tried to ~mi.
r when he raised his cap and our eyes met
E Wien | could no longer see him. thc |"
= seemed to he taken out of me, and. in m
!. weakness, tainted.
h '.The first months OF absence wcr
!, enough. What terrible defeats we sui
Y fered, what horrible general>hip We Ell
1? dured, you know rs we'll As |. Ever
V dav | expected to hear of .Iamic'S 'ieat.
: and fortified myself for the worst as be-
: | could. But Jamie wrote often, AN
h ALWAYS cheerfulIy about himself, thouL
| discontented at the infringement OF til
Is army. Almost every dollar of his pa
It he sent home. How the dear fellow liz
d ed, | do not know. He sud he onI
st sent us what other soldiers spent
If gambling and bad whisky. Then, dul
inc the campaign before Richmond, Jan
g ie kept SO well, and seemed 10 be 81 bu
e let proof, that finally grew couragcor
V and almost contentcd. Jamie had on
:. or two furlouglS, and looked splendi'lI
!. in his officers uniform. He WAS promnt
: ed for bravery first corporal, then SCI
o seant, and then second lieutenant.
l. argued that, after ail, it was best f,
Is Jamie to be Il soldier. He d,ln't drin
that was comfort and | lived q
&c his letters.
II Sarah married. and went to the We
-e to live was LETT alone. and once moI
W my father prosecuted me, but l dldn
II tell Jamie, for he would have been wU
le ricd. | scwed for contractors, and cN
| cry army coat made l loved. ! thougI
Id it might be for Jamie. The inspect
ri always said my work was better dor
c. than that OF the other girls. L wouidn
[ slight the seams for fear they mi9t
d break away and let the cold in.
ed thought, too, if the coats were not Il
le Jamie, they'd be for the lover Of SON
st other poor girl
* "Jamie's regiment was never order'
is out of Virginia. The Army of the p
T. tomac was often slightlngly spoken {
as and Jamie longed TO show what It's bra
k soldiers could do if they ever got
IL chance. He always said Lee would su
We render to them. Never mind wlat TN
Id say against Us, Maggie, he would wit
wv Mark my words When we have