The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1868-02-06


but took no notice.
So he went, ard this time did not come
back, and sat down by the fire, and lis
tened to the wind and sleet, aud felt the
warm FIRE, and smelt the baking cakesand
the apples stewing, and the tea drawing
on the kitchen stove : and 1 ought to
have been comfortable, but L wasn't,
Something seemed tugging at my heart
all the time. Dos ,<--o"' 1851
I-gave tie fire poke, and lit another
candle to cheer myself by, and-I /. went to
my work basket to get the sock I had
been knitting for my Charlie; and as l
went to get it saw something lying on
the floor [ picked it up. 1t was an old
tobacco pouch, ever so much like the
one [ gave Charlie, with fringe around it,
and written on with ink, &c. L. to r. II, ;"
| and inside was bit of tobacco and an old |
/ pipe, and letter; and then l saw at the |
top, "My dear SON."
[ knew the beggar must have dropped |
it, and my heart gave one big thunfp, as
| though it had been turned into a hammer.
Perhaps the story was true, and he had
a mother. [ shivered all over, and the
fire and the candles and the nice, comfort
able smell might not have been at all, l
was so cold and wretched. And over and
over again 1 had to Say to myself what [
had heard our pastor say SO often "Never
give anything 10 chance beggars, my dear
friends, always bestow your aims on
worthy persons, through we'll organized
societies." before l could get bit of
comfort. Aud what an old fool | was TO
cry, thought, when l found my cheeks
were wet.
But 1 did not cry long, fo- as 1 sat
there, hash and crash and jingle came
sleigh over the road, aud it stopped at
our gate, and [ heard my Charities voice
crying, "Hallo, mother.' And | went
to the door and soon had him in my arms,
my great, tail, handsome son. And there
he was, in his uniform, with his pretty
shoulder straps, as hearty as if had never
been through any hardships. lie had to
leave me to put his horse up and then l
had him by the fire again, my own boy,
Aud Drusilla, who had been upstairs
crying, came down all in a futter-for
they were like brother and sister-aud
she kissed him, and then away she went
, to set the table, and soon The nice hot
things smoked on the cloth white as snow.
, How Charlie enjoyed them But once
in the midst of i; all, L felt frightened
feeling come over me, and l know |
turned pale, for Drusilla said, "What is
S the matter, Aunt Fairfax 2"
t 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 one
r that had mother dropping down on the
: wintry road and freezing and starving to
i death That was what it was, but put
q it away, and only then thought of my
e Charlie.
}, We drew up together by the fire after
: tea was done, and he told US things about
. the war I'd never heard before-how the
s soldiers suffered, aud what weary marches
e and short rations they sometimes had.
o Ard he told me how he had been set
s upon by the enemy and been badly woun-
e ded, and how, at the risk of his own life,
q a fellow-soldier had saved him and carried
/, him away, fighting his path back to camp.
o .!I'd never have seen you but for him,
!, said Charlie :'and if there's man on
$ earth l love, it's Rob Hallway. We've
i shared each others rations and drank
from the same canteen many time, and
Y if had a brother, | couldn't think more
e of him"
h "Why don't you bring him home to see
YOUR mother, Charlie 70 said |. "For
q your sake | love him too, and anything
e could do for the man who saved my boys
;, life wouldn't be enough. Send for him
Charlie p'
r But Charlie shook his head and covered
Y his face with his hands.
"Mother," said he, "I don't know
is whether Roo Halfway is alive or dead to-
+! day. While [ was still in the ranks, h:
was taken prisoner; and the prisons art
v Door places to live in, mother. I'd give
: nv right hand to be able to do him any
10 good, but can find no trace of him. He
has a mother, and she lives at Greenbank
.e NV dear, good, noble Rob-preserver o
rs my life y
And I saw Charlie nearly crying.
To keep us from seeing the tears, HI
q. cot up and went to the mantle piece.
1t did not look around until [ heard a cry
10 "Great heavens what is this ~
turned, aud Charlie had the tobacc,
!" pouch the man had dropped in his hand
ID "Where did this come from Z" said he
ID 81 feel as though | had seen ghost.
e, gave this 10 Rob Hallway the day he save'
Id me. We soldiers did not have much t
give, you know, and he vowed never 5
!" part with it while he lived. How did
come here, mother Z"
:" [ fell back in my chair, white and cold
to and said L, GA wandering tramp lett
9. here. Never Rob, my dear never you
nr Rob. He must have been an impostel
ss ] wouldn't have turned any person reall
Y. in want away. Oh, no! no! no! no J
or 1t is another pouch, child; not that, G