Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-11-05
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4 Thrilling Hospital Sketch.

II AHFattbV iAoSPstos 'fftte''
One evening found lately empiied
bed occupied by large, fair man, with
fine face and the screneSt eyes | ever met.
One of the earlier ComevS had ollen spok-
en- of y friend. who had remained behind
that those apparently worse wounded than
himself might reach n shelter first. IL
seemed a David aud Jonathan sort OF a
friendship. The mau frcltcd for his mate
and was never tired OF prai.ing John-his
courage. self denial. sobriety. and untal!-
inc kindlinesS OF heart; always winding
up wish: Hes an out an out fine teller,
ma'zm; YOU see If he aint had some
curiosity 10 behold this piece of excellence
and when he came. watched him lOr 4
night or two. before made friends with
him for TO tell The truth was little afraid
Of the stately looking man. whose bed had
% be heightened 10 accommodate his com
manding stature; who seldom spoke,
uttered no complaint. asked no sympathy
but TRANQUILITY observed what went on
about him; and as he lay high up on his
pillows. no picture of a dying statesman
or warrior was ever fuller of real dignity
than this Virginia blacksmith. The only
time | saw his composure disturbed, was
when my surgeon brought another 10 eN'
anime John. who scrutinized their faces
with anxious looks, asking the elder. Do
YOU think | shall pull through, sir'" Il
hope So. my man" And rs the two pass
cd on, Johns eyes still followed them.
with an intentue.s which would have won
a trucr answer from them had they seen
il. A momeutary shadow fitted over his
face; then came the usual serenity, aS il
in that brief eclipse he had ACKNOWLEDGED
the existence OF some har,l possibility,
and asking nothing yet hoping all things,
left the issue in Gods hands, with that
submission which is true pieiy.
The next night as | went my rounds
with DR. T., happened to ask which man
in the room probably suffered most; and
To my great surprise. he glanced ut John
Every breath he draws is like \ stab
for the ball pierced the left lung, broke a
rio. and did no end of damage here and
there So that the poor lad can find neither
forgetfulness nor ease, because he must
lie on his wounded back or suffocate. II
will be a hard struggle and long one,
for he possesses great vitality; but even
his temperate life cannot ss'e him; | wish
il could"
"You don't mean he must die, DOCTOR
BLESS YOU, there's not the Slightest
hope for him, and you'd better tell him SC
before long women have = way of doing
such things comfortably. so leave it tc
YOU. He won't las; more than day oil
two at larthes;."
After that night, an hour Of each even
ing that remained TO him was devoted to
his ease or pleasure He could not talk
much, for breath was precious, and ht
spoke in whispers; but, from occasional
conversations, cleaned scraps of pri
yatc history which only added to the re-
spect and affection felt for him. Once
he asked me to write letter, and rs
settled pen and paper, said, with an ir
repressible glimmer of feminine curiosity
.'Shall it be wife or mother, John?"
Neither. ma'am; I've got no wife, and
will write to mother myself, when get
better. Did you think was married be
cause OF this?" he asked, touching plain
ring that he wore, and often turnee
thoughtfully on his finger when he lay
alone.
Partly that. but more from settled
sort of look you have, a look which
young men seldom get until they marry.
II didn't know that; but I'm not 81
very young, ma'am, thirty in May, anC
have been what you might call settleC
this ten years. Mothers widow, In
the Oldest child she has, and it wouldn'
10 for me 10 marry until Lizzy has home
OF her swn, and Jacks learned trade
for we're not rich. and ] must be father u
the children and husband to the dear OLE
woman, If can"
mo doub, you are both, John; ye
how came youto go to the war; if you tel
so? Wasn't enlisting as bad as marrying
mo, ma'am, not as see it, for one i
helping my neighbor. the other is pleas
inc myself. | went because | couldn'
help it. I didn't want the glory or tn