National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1868-03-20
The Myrtle Leaf.
A STORY OF THE LATE REBELLION.
CHAPTER I.

good bye to the old home which
nestled half hidden in the Andros-
coggin Valley, he carried with him
something more than the memories
which linked him SO strongly to the
old place and the aged pair remain
ing there. 1t was not a picture and
yet it was more beautiful one than
artist ever painted, as he saw it. 1t
was a simple little something, and
possessed of very tritiing meaning,
but one would think Clyde thought
very differently. Itwas not a story,
but a sweeter one than it told to him
never was listened to. 1t was mere
ly myrtle leat-an evergreen token
that he carried carefully next his
heart all the way to the front, and
which he guarded almost reverently
through the memorable days that
crept by after his regiment was as
signed to actual duty.
It was the best company he had.
Often he fell into the habit of taking
it from its resting place, when the
campfire gave out its tilckering
light and he fancied his comrades
asleep, or when alone on picket, and
looking at the pretty picture it
sketched for him, or listening to the
whispered tale it breathed. But he
concealed it from all other eyes.
There was 4 touch of holiness about
it, somehow, and he felt that a curl
ous gaze would deSecrate it. Once
his mess-mate, Lieutenant Lange.
came upon him suddenly, as he sat
holding the fragile leaf by the stem,
half lost in dreamy reveric, and
his "Why, what on earth is the man
dreaming over?" caused Clyde to
blush as rosy as did ever a young
girl caught in reading her first love
letter. He showed it to Lange then;
smiling futively as the Lieutenant
casually remarked:
"Only myrtle leaf to me, but to
your-
Lange stopped there. He had no
wish to be curious, and knew, be.
sides, that Clyde Hammond kept
his own secrets until such times as
it pleased him to conide in others.
They were triends-these two !;
friends in that degree known only
to those who face death together al,
most daily. Each knew there was
manly stuff in the ether; that what
ever should come to him IN The for-
tune OF war, the other would be a
true helper in so far as in him lay.
Through several severe engage
mentS they had battled bravely,and
when their first year of service was
ended, had well earned the name OF
veterans. Hammond had been pro
noted from the ranks to licutenm-
cy,which promotion pleased him no
more than it did his friend Lange
and while in their hearts there was
a deep sense of gratitude for the
good fortune that had thus far at
tended them, they looked forward
TO further efforts in behalf of then
country with lively anticipation
S 1t was hardly possible that through
ont the future strife both should g
uuScathed, and Hammond, looking
, more frequently than ever at the
dry and brittle token he still cher
ishcd, thought fondly Of the littl,
i fingers that once pressed it, anC
e wondered if they would ever agail
= be claspcd in his.
Then came one of those blood,
:, conflicts which tested SO sorely th,
y loyal ranks and the report of whicl
fairly chilled us as they thrilled
- over the North.land. 1t was at An
tictam, | think. The --th New
Hampshire volunteers were in th
thickest of it, and suffered tearlully
In charge which the regiment paI
ticipatcd in, towards evening"
il headlong, blind sortie, through
piece of wood--Hammond an,
Lango became separated, and aite
a retreat had been effected, the tol
mer was missing. Just at twiigh
, while the battle was raging alon
another part OF the line, Langc vcl
i tured again into the wood. ii
1t hoped to find his friend alive and b
.d able to bring him in. Many forI
rt with the soul gone out of i. he tun
!, bled over in the shadows; and IN;
ny poor wounded fellow locke
= pi.ifully pat him as he closcl
scanned the features of those lyin
, around His search was rcwarde
finally. In a little hollow, by n
II old stump Clyde laid, a bullet hol
'g through his body, and the red Gu
st rent of life oozing out slowly. ii
Q. could talk yet.
"Fm pretty near done for, old ie
- low,' he said, through a bit of smil
"but ! am glad you came. You ca
deliver a message | began to iei
he must almost go ungiven. You r
Il member the myrtle leaf, Lange
;, Well, there's little girl away II
il. there among the granite hills wi
n, gave il to mo the night before ] le
an an home. She's made the place moi
n gladstone for the old folks than
= might have been, for she in n meri
~ ~ hearted body, and like % daught,
cs to them. But she is not my siste
le' though my companion as such for
dozen Of years, and she was to |
my wife when 1 got back"
- His voice trcmbled perceptibl.
cs but he swallowed o draugbt fro
Lange's canteen and continued:
Il "Thats what tho myrtle lci
meant to me; but it's over now, M