Daily Kennebec journal., 1870-07-29
NO. 179.


enjoyed them! But once, in the midst OF
all, felt frightened feeling come over
me, and / knew / had turned pale, for
Drusilla said, ''What is the matter, aunt
| Fairfax ?n
! said nothing, but it was this; kind o.
like the ghost of a step, going champ,
champ, over the frozen snow kind o. like
the ghost of voice saying. "Let me lie
on the floor before the fire, and give me
any kind ct a crust;" kind o. like seeing
some one that had mother, dropping
down upon the wintry road, and freezing
and starving to death there. That was
what it was, but put it away and only
thought of Charlie
| We drew up together by the fire when
tea was done. and he told us things about
the war I'd never heard before. How the
soldiers suffered, and what weary march
es and short rations they somtimes had.
And he told me how his life had been set
upon and he was badly wounded and how
| at the risk of his own life, fellow soldier
had saved his, and carried him away, fight
ing his path back to camp.
I'D never have seen you but for him.
said my Chalie, 'And if there's man on
earth love. it's Rob Hadway-the dear
est, best fellow. We've shared each 9TH
er's ratons and drank from the same can
teen many time; and if ever had a
brother couldn't think more of him.
"Why don't you bring him home to see
your mother, Charlie ?" asked l. .Why,
I'd love him, too and anything could do
for him, for the man who saved my boys
life, couldn't be enough. Send for him,
Charlie"
But Charlie shook his head and covered
his face with his hands y =
ssT
whether Rob Halfway is alive or dead to-
day. While was still in the ranks he
was taken prisoner And the prisons are
poor places to live in, mother; I'd give my
right hand to be able to do him any good;
but can't find any trace of him. And he
has a mother, too she lives at Greenbank
poor old lady. My dear, good, noble
Rob, the preserver OF my life" And l saw
Charlie nearly crying.
Not to let us see the tears he got up and
went to the mantlepiece.
"Great heavens! What is this ?n And
turned and Charlie had the tobacco pouch
the man had dropped, in his hand.
where did this come from?n said he.
II feel as though / had seen ghost.
; gave this to Rob Halfway the day he saved
me. We soldiers had not much to give,
you know, and he vowed never to part
with it while he lived. How did it come
here, motherp'
l fell back in chair, white and cold,
and said |, "a wandering tramp left it
here; never your Rob, my dear, never
your Rob- He must have been an impos-
tor, wouldn't have turned away person
really in want Oh no, no, no; it's
another pouch, child not that, or he stole
it. A tall fellow with blue eyes and yell
low brown hair. wounded, he said, and
going to his mother at Greenbank. Not
your Rob-
And Charlie stood staring at me with
clinched hands; and said he, ut was my
Rob, it was dear old Rob who saved my
life; and you have driven him out in such
a night as this, mother. My mother, to
use Rob so!'
Curse me, Charlie, said 7; "curse me.
if you like; I'm afraid God will. Three
times he asked only for crust and a place
to lie, and | drove him away. |. land
he's lying on the road now, Oh! if had
knowp; oh if | had KNOWN"
And Charlie caught up his hat. "I'li
find him if he's alive said he. ''Oh,
Rob :! my dear friend.n
And then-I never saw girl in such
furry-down went Drusilla on her knees,
as if she were saying her prayers, and says
L
says to me, 30, Aunt, I've been trembling
with fright, not knowing what you'd say
to me- took him in the kitchen way. l
could not see him so faint and hungry and
wounded, put him in the spare chamber
over the parlor, and / have been so fright
ened all the while"
Lord bless YOU, Druslla," said Charlie,
and "Amen" said |. And she, getting
bolder, went on And took him up hot
short-cake and apple sauce and tea, said
she, land took him candle, and a hot
brick for his feet, and told him to eat and
90 to bed in the best chamber, Aunt Fair
fax, with the white counterpane."
After this, Charlie, not being migrate
full, nor poor, neither, helped Rob into
business. And he got over his wounds at
last, and grew as handsome as picture,
and to-day week is going to marry Drli-
slla.
I'D give you anything have" said |,
land | won't refuse you even Drusilia,
when he asked me, telling me he had
loved her ever since she was so kind to
him on the night I've told you of.
And Charlie is to stand up with him, and
| am to give Drusilla away, and Rob's sis
ter, from Greenbank is to be bridesmaid,
and have guess that some day Charlie
will bring her home to me, in Drusilla's
place.
don't drive beggars from the door now.
as | used to, and no doubt I'm imposed
upon; but this is what l say Better to
be imposed upon always, than to be cruel
to one who is really in need of your help"
And I've read my Bible better of late, and
know who says, Even as ye have done
it unto the least of these, yo have done it
unto me-"