Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1870-03-26
Mr.. Anlcrson,S column.
The Pay Of Glory,

ouuVh VI litiS IlofutHEf 4 o"iNt
zone compensation of our service came In
our leaves of absence aud our final discharge
II is sometimes well worth while TO have the
going away, and tie anxiety of the absence,
that we may enjoy the happiness OF the return
and reunion"
NV conratle puffcd at his pipe few mo-
ments while hc winked busly, and at last he
said,
There is another standpoint from which we
need to- hook at this thing. 1t is one thing for
man to endure absence from home, and the
dangers of war,-but he Is occupied all the time.
He is passing through danger, but he knows
the danger, and is not looking out lor unplea-
SAINT news 1t is quite another thing for the
wife at home She is not only robbed of her
supporter and proector-thc ivy robbed of its
oak-but she is left, with nothing exciting to
occupy her thoughts, in state of anxious ex-
pectancy for dire news, TlIe temporary scpa-
ration may, b. the chances OF war, become per
manent Days grow long as they make weeks,
and hope deferred malieth the heart sick"
well" said, this may come 10 the man
as we'll Now there was Col. Dalton, you re-
member him Col. he rot letter just before
the army started from Atlanta, stating that his
wife was, III iMd little child OF two Meeks old,
dead in the house. The doctor wrote the let
ter and said Come home at all hazards, if You
would see your wife alive Dalton went TO
Headquarters of Brigade and found the Gen
eral sitting on his camp-stool with his face
buried in his hands. lie broke in on the Cen
erals meditation with his grief and begged tor
leave of absence.
"Tlie General looked up with haggard face,
and pointing to an open letter on his mess
chest, said Read that Col 1t was letter tell
ing of the death of his wife, and the orphan
aye of his children who must be provided for
When the Col had read it, the General said
AZ can't go, Col, am bound hy my oath to
my duty. What do you think
dalton came back almost broken hearted.
The next time he heard from home was after
the command had reached the Atlantic
WAS his wife dead 2" asked the Colonel.
mo" said, "but it could make no differ
ence in the fact of his having suffered during
the whole march. Don't you recollcct how
gray Dalton got between Atlanta and the seaI"
The Colonel nodded his head, and then sat
quietly lor II time. Even his pipe went out
as hc sat so mplionless. All at once he said,
dalton must have suffered. There are few
of us who had families who can't remember
. just such experience in our history" lie wink
= ed ior some time-(hc always wtnkcd last when
he thought) and ut ! ST he said Quietly
"Comradc, you can't measure even The hor-
ror ot such AN experience us Ddllon's with
that of wife who is, wihal, the mother OF u
little dependent lamily,-On getting word OF II
battle in which her husband took part,-and
after days OF waiting, hearing that he is dead
or worse yet, is badly wounded and she cau't
get to him.
= Let me illustrate the thing by an experience
. that should speak OF to no one else,-und yet
I don't suppose have had il alone. You re.
member my own dear little wife
" u The Colonel sort oi choked up as he spoke
# He seldom alluded to her. l did remember
her sweet clinging little sylpl-like lady
v with u heart-full OF love. | know that tn,
7, COlonel's love for her was little short of wOr-
c ship. 80 did not speak, but simply nodded
3 of course he knew 1 remembered her.
About the time when my leave closed, just
. before our brigade left Nashville for Vicksburg
= and New Orleans, sat at home, and Jennie
was sitting vita mt, and 1 said,
"Jcnnic, you are heroine that You give w
| YOUR husband SO nobly. Talk of the women
r o., 70 SO tried TO cheer her up. Size said
~ am not going 10 cry,-you shall see how
brave an. 1t s daty for you to 20, then mJ
e duty is pla'n. You are not to 20 out Of IL rain
4 storm ui hon, 10 find sunshine III the greet.
ings of your reA iment. She gave nn excited
. lttlc laugh that was Tool enough TO thinR
was rather II light OL"
"Whcn cnmc to sa, good bye she kissed
/ me with joke aud laug,. ard was nlmos
piQucd To find thal ii sceme 4 hu" der ior me t.
keep tears back than for her. she kepl way
| ing her hand to me rs long rs roulI see th'
5 house, and like an old Tool was almost pro
{ voked that she did not take my goin-' mOie 81
= riOusly.
Il got to the depot just too late for the rain
5 There was no other Till the morning, ant,
{ could do nothing but 90 home again. | t0unL
{ no one down stairs, and went up to our room
Z There lay the liltlcwilc with her face in the
= pilloN. spoke 10 her but got no answer
u took her up und she wus scnscless. | bathed
:. her temples, and tried To bring her back IL
q consciousness. All at once sne said, very sad.
II ly and dreamiy,-
+ That dreadful dream again. Alone all
IS alone oh, horrid war! Maybe he'll be kill
U ed-nlOne! alone J she kept saying IL over ant
+ over again. All ut once she seemed To realz,
+ that she was not on the bed, and turned 10 IN,
v with II littc start, us held her In my arms.
y Then her eyes grew wild, and she shrank iron
i me, My God = she said, what have done
n o. am losing my mndl He,-seems-lo b
n -here,-and kn0w-lIes gone"
/, IL pressed her TO my heart, and tried by ca
l. Tess and voice To make her understand that
l. was relurned,-but her mind had been over
Ir wrought through her effort at sel-cOntrOl, an'
~ she Itll back ihin,ng again. laid her on tn
e bed and summoned medical advice. The doc
~ tu.r