Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-07-14
" You'll be Sorry for il Some Day,
Charlie"

W e were OF the TN NdNdll " anu Nhhiiit
was one Of the orderlies as hard boy as any
in the regiment. The Colonel had threaten
ed to send him to his company if he got
drunk again but then he was so brave aud
cool in danger, and every one knew that he
loved his Colonel.
One day in brisk little engagement, he
sprang before the Colonel just in time to take
bullet in his own body, and as he sank
down he said, " I'm glad, sir ~
In the hospital afterwards the Colonel's
eyes would moisteu as he stood by his bed
for Charlie wasn't killed outright-and found
how deeply melancholy had settled over the
poor fellow. Tie didn't swear any more, but
he wouldn't talk, and seemed petulant if any
one tried to find out what allied him and.made
him sigh so deeply. Even the Colonel couldn't
get at the secret that troubled him so.
One day they moved some Of the cots, and
Charles was placed close by the door
The Colonel came up very softly so as not
to waken Charlie if he should be asleep, and
found him lying with his back to the door
lie listened to see if the boy he loved was
asleep, and heard him say, all to himself
" You'll be sorry for it some day, Charlie
Oh God, amt | sorry for it! and there
came deep-drawn sigh that almost choked
into a sob
Then the Colonel went round to the other
side of the cot, and sitting down there, said 3,
" Now Charlie, you must tell me all about
it, 1t troubles you so much. You saved my
life, my dear fellow, aud its little enough you
will let me do in giving me this trouble to
carry away from you Tell me what you
mean, Charlie What is it you are so sorry
for ?"
Charlie took the Colones hand in both his,
as lac lay there on the cot, and he half cried,
he was so weak, as he said,
You'll think it's little thing, sir, for "a
man to be bothered with but 1t has har-
ried me for years, sir,--and it's made me
drink, and try to get rid of it by hazing as
hard as ever could, sir. | wanted to drown
it out, sir, but it won't drown out !"
Tell me all about it, Charlie said the
Colonel
when was boy in Sunday school, sir
way back in Massachusetts, said Charlie,
" my teacher-he was good man, sir--was
talking to US about being Christians, and
when he come to me, ] was sort Of bored, and
mad you know, and l swore at him and
his talk Then he looked at me out of his
sorry eyes, and kind Of gently, said, You'll
be sorry for it some day, Charlie you'll be
sorry for it some day !!
Charlie choked up with his grief for
time, and then he said, in despairing sort OF
way,
He's been dead-my teacher has-these
ten years, and ever since heard he was dead
somehow that has seemed to come up all the
time. When | go to sleep l can see hun
again, and hear him say it, Just as he did
then-a dozen years ago-and it's too late,
sir | can't take it back from him Oh
there's no hope for me, SIR J!
Charlie sank back on his little hospital
pillow, and covered his face with his hands
for a minute. Then, in kind Of desperate
way, he said,
" On Colonei, We 'T'eu 70 e, 80 "a prunN rum
o Una. dt ,0Igrs G%rt T p". et little catnsp ,of
sleep'l there L am pack III 'he olu cilss' 'ne
boys looking just as ,hey u'eu To- anu 'ne
teacher looks at me- Jusl SO SGIry' anu sa9 s ;
again, 1ou II DC soriy ioI soniS u1{ =
Oharlie va l oan s''"u ~ ''' '"N''N :
cam ~ ., = L.
Ihen Oharl,e saiu' III sor' ol ansiy ueSp'-
rate way, as 'housii nc was pio'oN'N ~,
lhat VIVA. lhe mater ,:,,.
Inc Uolonei tolu Ohari,e, very Aiuu.y' 'nae @
lhe ieaeher WASH peyo, ms tea'n' Du' -1 "'5
al nome WIN Jesus Snu Una. "neu no pl"ye
" 'iie uo"i i'oiu, "uu ~ - ~
could get double paraUn-irom 'ne ;eaGnel 81
ana Ehr5t-a' once iu1u ~ oAP,",ne" ,"e 10 -
"'n, 'ie 10y n, nI Ill, -
earth ior Jus' such as ne ""T mniie nc " w"s .
at 1t, ne whipped out iil',o i1S,anen' Saa @ .na'
ne Always car,ieu' a anu I'au ~ 0T"i,e ,ioni ,n
ooni 1'i 30 'iH3i L:3n .eL tho Fa;ha" IN
you' whatsoever ye shal ASK Tue ra'ncr III
my name nc WIN WIN give ~ ~ you L.. NC, .al
Cnsrhe iis.eneu, a. GIni n III ua' Lii IN
peeialiy while 'he Ooionel was 'e,i'Dg nun nun
why the verify was 'here anu 'iieh nc
"Do you believe 1t, Uolonel, just Us IA
says ?"
"Indecd do, Charlie" said the Colonel.
"Try it, ask the dear Lord, aud he'll do 1t.
You can get it all wiped out Why, poor
fellow. just dying on cross by the SIDE OF
Christ, called out to him to forgive, and he
did it," Then the Colonel read the story OF
the thief on the cross.
Charlie lay still little bit, and then with
his eyes shut, though tears were crowding
through, he said,
Oh, Lord, am sorry am sorry Oh,