Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1872-10-16

lhe metc mfthoIy ~ " hhoc the speak
er shut his eyes with a shiver, as if h
felt the agony Of shattered bones, rent
flesh and piilcss knife.
" Never Mid that Tell how you got
comfortable" said Mil,, shaking her
head at Rose.
/ wasn't comfortable for three months
ma'am. Don't mind telling about il.
cause Tom done so we'll. and I'm proud
of him." said the rover. with kindhhs
eyes. "Things of that sort are hard
enough done well, with chloroform and
everything handy. tBut laying on the
bare ground, with nothing right, and a
scared boy of surgeon hacking away at
you, it's torment and no mistake. | never
could have stood it If it hadn't been for
Tom. He held me close and steady as a
rock but he cried like a baby the whole
time, and that did me good. Don't know
why, but il did. As for Parkes, be gave
out at once and went on for help. III
never forget that place if live to be
hundred. Seems as ie could see the
very grass tore up; the muddy brook
they laid me by the steep bank, with
Parkes creeping up Toms face, wet and
white, but so full of pity; the surgeon,
with his red hands and all the while such
roar of guns | could hardly hear my
self grOaning for some one to shoot me
and put me out of misery"
" How did you get to the hospital 2"
asked Uncle Ben, anxious to get over
this part Of the story, for Rose was now
as pale as if she actually saw the scene
described.
Don't know, sir. There come a time
when | couldn't hear and move, and what
happened then I've never been very clear
ABOUT. | didn't know much for day or
two ; then was brought round by being
put in transport ] was packed with IL
lot of poor fellows, and was beginning to
/. wish I'd stayed queer, till l heard Toms
voice saying Never mind boys, put me
down anywhcrcs, and tend to the others.
can wait That set me up. I sung
out and they slowed him alongside. It
was so dark down there 1 could hardly
see his face but his voice and ways we're
just as hearty and comforting as ever, and
he kept up my spirits wonderful that day.
D was pretty weak, and kept doing off ;
f but whenever woke | felt for Tom. and
t he was always there. lie told mo when
t Parkes came with help, he saw me off,
and then went back for another 60 at the
s rebs but got ball in the breast. and
was in rather bad way, he guessed. He
a couldn't lay down, but sat by me, leaning
f back, with his hand on my pillow where
}. | could find it easy. He talked to me
all he could, till his voice gave out; for
he got very weak, and there was dread.
$ full groaning all around u.s." .,s
u know, know. | went aboard one
' of those transports TO help, but couldn't
@ stay, it was so terrible" said Uncle Ben,
!. with groan at the mere memory of it,
i THAT was a long day and thought
c it was my last; for when night came
G felt so gone | reckoned | was most over
" Jordan. gave my watch to Tom as a
= keepsake, and told him to say goodbye
Y to the boys for me. | hadn't any folks
y of my own, so it wasn't hard to go. To,(
IF had sweetheart, an old mother, and lott
Is of friends but he didn't repine word
!. only said " Ifyou do pull through, Joel
l. just tell mother done my best, and give
ID Hctty my love- Ipromised and dropped
a asleep. holding on to Tom as if he wa.
my sheet anchor. So he was; but canttel
\. all he done for me in different ways"
For minute Joel rowed in silence
,e and no one asked question. Then h,
h pushed up his old hat again, and went on
IN as if anxious to be done.
"Soons ever woke the next morning
to looked round to thank Tom, for his blau
ket was over me. He was sitting as
co left him, his hand on my pillow. his fac
of towards me, so quiet and happy looking
couldn't believe he was gone. But b
m was, and have had no mate slnce."
9 Where did he live ?" asked Rose, q
he softly as if speaking Of one she ha
~ known and loved.
IS. cover yonder," and Joel pointed to
III little brown house on the hillside. VA
.es care his mother and Hetty there ?
it " Hetty married number of yea,
re ago; bat the old lady is there
me- "And you are visiting her ? +"
RI. II live with her. You see Tom W;
4 all she had f; and, when Hetty left, it ",
-. only natural that | tried to take Tom
no place. Can't never 6ll it, of course b
In | do what | can, and she's comfortable
on $50 she is the old mother who thin
led SO much Of you? Well she may" sa