Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1868-03-19
Gilotes setisfslIaus.
- --- = - ---------
THE MYRTLE LEAF.
A story OF the Late Rebellion.

When Clyde Hamilton enlisted in the
-th Regiment of the New Hampshire
Volunteers, and said good bye TO the old
home which nestled half hidden in the
Androscoggin Valley, he carried with
him something more than the memories
which linked him so strongly to the old
place aud the aged pair remaining there.
It was not q picture, and yet 1t was a
more beautiful one than artist ever paint
ed, as he saw it. 1t was not story, but
\ q sweeter told TO him was never listened
to. 1t was merely n myrtle leaf--an
evergreen token that he carried next to
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 assigned TO
actual duty.
~Ityas the best company he had. Often
he fell into the habit of taking it from
its resting place, when the camp fire gave
out Its ilickering light,an he fancied his
comrades asleep, or when alone on pick
ct, and looking at the pretty picture it
sketched for him, or, listening to the.
whispered tale it breathod. Bat he con
j ceaIed it from all other eyes. There was
a touch of holiness about it, somehow,
and he felt that curious gaze would
desocrateit Once his mess-mate Lieu-
g tenant Lange, came upon him suddenly,
as he sat holding the fragile leaf by the
stem, half lost In dreamy reverie, and
G his "Why, what on earth is the man
dreaming over?" caused Clyde to blush
as rosy as did ever young girl caught In
readingLer first love letter.. He showed
tito Lange then; smiling furtively as tire
Lieutenant casually remarked:
ue "Only myrtle leaf to me, but to
you'll
80 Lange stopped there. He had no wish
to be curious, and knew, besides, that
Clyde Hammond kept his own secrets
until such times us 1t pleased him toeon-
fide 1t to others. They were friends
those two; friends in that degree known
only to those who face death together
almost daily. Each knew there was
manly stunin the other; that what ever
Z should come to him In the fortune of war,
the other would be true helper in SO far
Z as In him lay. l
Through several severe engagements
they had battled bravoly, and, when their
first year of service was ended, had well
earnod the name ofveterans. Hammond
had been promoted from the ranks to u
lieutenancy, which promotion pleased
him no more than 10 did his friend
Lange; aud while in their hearts there
was deep sense Of gratitude for tlie,Rood
! fortune that had thus attended them,
they looked forward to further efforts In
behalf of thoir country with n lively
anticipation. IL was hardly possiblethat
throughout the future strife both should
go unscathed, and Hammond, looking
more frequently than ever at the dry and
brittle little token he still cherished,
thought fondly of the little fingers that
once dressed 1t, aud wondered II they
would ever again be clasped in his.
Then came one OF those bloody con-
flicts which tested 40 sorely the loyal
ranlta and the ran0rts of whiph fairly
chilled US as they thrilled over the North
land. 1t was at Antletam, l think
The -th New Hampshire Volunteers
were In tho thiclest of 1t, and suffered
fearfully. In charge which the regi-
ment participated In, towards evening
headiong, blind sortie, through n piece
OF fwood-Hammond and Lange became
separated, and after retreat had been
effected, the former was missing. Just
at twilight, while the battle was raging
along another part OF the limo, Lange
ventured again into the wood. Itehoped
TO find his friend alive and be ablo TO
bring him In. Many u form with the
soul gone out of 1t he tumbled over In
the shadows; and many poor wounded
fellow looked pltlfully up to him as he
closely scanned the features ofthose lying
around. His search was rewarded
finally. In q little hollow, by an old
stump, Clyde lay, a bullet hole through
his body, and the red current of life ooz-
= Ing out slowly. He could talk vet.
II IN pretty near done for, old fellow -
he aald threagh q bit OF asmlle, "but
am glad you came. You can deliver a
message / began 10 fenr must almost 20
unforgivep. Z You remember the myrtle
leaf Langee Well, there = q little girl
away np there among the granite hills
who gave II 70 me the night before loft
home. She's made the place more glad
some for the old folks than IL might have
been, forshs In merry hearted body
and like daughter 20 them. But she Il
not my sister, thoughm my companion us
such for q dozen OF years, and ahewas tc
benny wife when got back
His voice trembled perceptibly, but ht
swallowed = draught from Lange's can
te9n and continued: Hf 448NE
"That "a what the myrtle leaf meant
Co ms; bat II 3 over now, and L wan
you 10 put the leaf In letter and send Il
10 Nell, along with few words, Just 4
let stberand the others skaoYs that / m
notceFninB. You III do, ~, won't you
you know where N shouldgo~
Lange found the simple keep SAX.
where it had aIlfalopg been lcarsfull,
hidden, and at that moment Clyde faint
ei entirely. Firing near at hand com
peIied Lai1ge to move back TO his regi
1nent, and with nevsre Thought bat tina
his friend Was among the dead, he tina
evsnine Wrote the pRomised message Il
m31fHe olrl among the mountains, an,
es1cloeod The myrtls leaf she had giyeI
whon nho had gave her trOth.