Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-04-06

I'd turned pale, for Drusilla said, 9" What is
the matter, Aunt FairfaxW
said nothing but il 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 Of a
crust kind O. like seeing some one that had
mother, dropping down on the wintry road,
aud freezing and starving to death there.
That was what it was but l 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 Ia never heard before. How the sol.
diers suffered, and what weary marches and
short rations they sometimes 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, fighting his path back
to camp.
I'd never have seen you but for him."
says my Charlie" And if there's man
on earth love, il Is Rob Hadway-the dear
est best fellow. We've shared each others
rations, and drunk from the same canteen
many time ; and if ever had a brother, l
couldn't think more Of him."
Why don't you bring him home 10 see
your mother, Charlie 2" said 1. why, Id
love him too, and anything l 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 hand.
Mother" said he, " l don't know vheth-
/ cr Rob Hallway 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 good but / can lind
no trace Of him. And he has mother too;
she lives at Greenbank-poor old lady. My
dear, good, noble Rob, the preserver Of my
life {" And saw Charlie nearly crying
Not to let us see the tears, he got up and
went to the mantelpiece.
"Great Heavens what is this2" And
turned and Charlie had the tobacco pouch
the man had dropped in his hand.
"Where did this come FRONT" said he. al
feel as though had seen q ghost. gave
this to Rob Hallway 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, mother2"
| fell back in my chair, white and cold,
and said |, "a wandering tramp left 1t here,
never your Rob, my dear, never your hob.
He must have been an mposter, wouldn't
have turned away person really in want.
o! no. no, no; it is another pouch, child ;
not that, or he stole it. A tall fellow, with
blue eyes and yellow brown hair, wounded, he
said and going to his mother at Greenbank.
Not your Rob"
And Charles stood staring at me with
cenched hands and said he: 1t was my
Rob, it was my 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 %
Course me, Charlie" said |, course me, il
you like, I'm afraid God will Three times
he asked only for crust and place to lie,
and drove him away. l, land he's lying
on the road now Oh if | had known; oh
if | had known"
And Charlie caught his hat. an find
him if he's alive" said he. "Oh, Rob! my
dear friend"
And then-I never saw the girl in such q
aurry-down went Drusilla on her knees, as
if she was saying her prayers, and says she,
" Thank God, dared to do it! And says
t to me, 90 aunt, I've been trembling with
fright, not knowing what you'd say to me.
took him in the kitchen way. l could moi
see him so faint and hungry and wounded
put him in the spare chamber over the par.
Ior, and I've been SO frightened all the while.
" Lord bless you, Drusilla," said Charlie
} and AZ Amen" said l. And she, getting bolder
went on, " And took him up hot short-cake
/ and apple-sauce and tea" says she, " and
took him candle, and a hot brick for hii
feet, and told him to eat and go to bed in ths
best chamber, Aunt Fairfax, with the white
counterpane."
( After this Charlie not being ungratsful
, nor poor either, helped Rob into business
And he got over his wounds at last, and grew
e as handsome as picture, and to-day week
t is going to marry Drusilla.
"Id give you anything | have" said
e 4" aud won't refuse you even Drusills," when
, he asked me, telling me he had loved her eve
since she was so kind to him on the night I've
told you Of
, Aud Charlie is to stand up with him, anC
o | am to give Drusilla away, and Rob's sister
I from Greenbank, is to be brides maid, and
have a guess that some day Charlie will brin;
J 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
r but this is what say, " Better to be imposet
upon always, than to be cruel to one who i
,. really in need of your help" And I've rea'
d my Bible better Of late, and | know who says
o Even as yo have done it unto the least 0
] these, ye have done it unto me-