Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-04-06
REN,S LEGACY.
Ben Granger was a soldier in the

Ben Granger was a soldier in the
-th Regiment Ohio Volunteers.
One night the boys were sitting
around the camp fires after a hard
laws march, when the mail came IN,
bringing letters from the dear ones
1t home.
Ben received a letter, but iustead
IF it being from his mother, as he
expected, it was from quite a dlI-
.erent person.
"Dear old friend Ben," it COM
nenced, "when this comes TO you
across the lines, l shall be sleeping
in a soldiers grave. The fact that
we stand on opposite sides IN this
struggle will, feel, make no dii-
ference with You, as concerns the
request am about to make on
know that since the death of my,
wife, my little daughter Ella mas
been my only care. When am
gone she will be without a protec-
tor. viii YOU take her to your
mothers home? Ileave ample means
for her support. For the sake OF
the past, L charge you to care for my
little darling.
"HARRY SMITH"
Ben Granger and Harry Smith
had been the best of friends since
their first acquaintance up to the
breaking out of the war.
Then they had chosen opposite
sides, each, no doubt thinking he
was right.
Their friendship had commenced
twenty years before at college.
Harry was ten years the elder,
and when they left college together
was a handsome, bearded man OF
twenty-eight, while Ben was
smooth-faced boy of eighteen.
Since then the friends had not
seen much of each other, for Harry
had married and settled down in
the city. while Ben had stayed III
! the country and lived happily upon
the old farm with his mother
sPoor Harryl" said Ben, as al
! these old memories came back t(
him, sitting there by the campfire
with the letter in his hand, "Pool
Harry" l will care for little Elli
as faithfully as though her fathe
had fallen in battle by my side
These are terrible times, when tn
best of friends are trying TO Gu
each others throats! Yes, httI
Ella shall not want for tathe
while l live"
SgWhat news from home, Lieuten
ant Ben?'' said the CHEEKY voice G
Charlie Lee, Ben's mess-mate, VIII
came up while Ben sat gazing INT
the fire. "Come, man, why do 70
| look so glum? How's your mothe
and all the folks!"
.'My letter is not from home"
"Ohl from your sweetheart, pc
haps? But, no, you say you neyC
had one. All! / have it you are goln
TO be promoted, and your letter
from headquarters"
s.Wrong again, Charlie. 1t is fro
neither sweetheart nor headqua
tersi,~' -, -, >,
"Here's the letter; you may res
, it for yourself"
Who ever saw soldier who Wou
not read letter when it was ole
ed him?
Ben watched the serious look tn
, came over his friends face as
read the letter.
Il declare, Ben, it's quite a I
nance; equal to the books. Is
-. won't YOU, an old bachelor vergil
anon forty, feel rather awkwa
with such a charge as this up
YOUR hands; for OF course you me
TO take herr"
j cot course; and as to the aw
wardness, L would do anything
tbe writer OF that letter, and besid
y she will be a companion for !
% mother in her old days"
"True, ] had not thought OF tina
That night Ben wrote a long
. ter to his mother, telling her OF
> friends request, and desiring her
write Immediately to the lady tea
er in the city, who had the girl
charge, and inform her of the chill
great loss, and her future life.
Two months later he received
answer, stating that Ella had
rived from the city, and appea
content and pleased with her Il
ct. home and friends, but was very
= at the loss Of her dear father.
Ben had not seen the girl thus
unexpectedly on his hands, for g
wears, and then only once. &
~ He remembered her rs 4 bris
winsome, golden-haired little c
ture, the pet and delight of sey
one that knew her.
ais Ever after this, his letters hC
carried few words for little I
G. and in each one he received
nty mother spoke of her in such 81
70 ing terms that he often found /
-ins self thinking OF the time when
son could 90 home and see this /
is charge thus left so unpectedly IL
DIE care.
9ch The time came sooner than hC
11s ~ nected. In the battle of Cor
aid both Ben and Charlie Lee '
,use wounded; the former not serioI
pril Int poor Charlie dengerously-
4 be Poor merry-hearted Charlie!
l0F was the fovorite Ofthe whole
<. ment, aud now, that there was
ger of losing him, every man vi