The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1873-06-05
Patriotism and Virtue.
BY CARL BRRNT.


battered veteran in blue appeared
at her door, and meekly asked fol-
a cup of cold water. ''I'ore soldier!
/ know in reason that you are
tired and thirsty, and that you
would be powerful glad to get d
drink of water, not to speak OF 6
little 'suthins' to mix with it."
THANK you, mum; but | be-
long to the Daughters OF Temper
ance and can't drink, unless it il
little in the way of medicine
and l do feel very weak, as
have marched more than forty
miles today"
Forty miles! The laws have
massey! How could you do it! Why,
it would kill my mule"
sit is very hard: but We gel
used to it. l wouldn't have mind
cd it if l had anything to eat"
"Sakes alive! DO come in and
cit down. Pore soldier"
The good old lady brought out
a black bottle, from which the bat.
tered veteran poured a teaspoon
full into glass of water, and took
a vigorous pull at the bottle when
her back was turned. Then che
placed befure him a substantial
supper of ham and eggs and corn
bread and coffee, upon which
lie advanced in gallant style.
"And you are mighty young to
be a soldier" she said, looking al
him beningnly over her spec,a-
cles.
"Yes, mum; l am the only
son ofmy widowed mother: but my
country called me, and my duty
to my country is only second to
my duty to my Creator"
"Sho ! Why, you talk as Ieort
as a minister"
81 was studying for the ministry
when the war broke out"
81 had anotion thatthe soldiers
were all so wicked; but Pm glad
to find ont that they amt. You
have seen power Of tightiD', !
reckon"
"a CRATE deal, mum. 1t hard
for Christian to take life; but
the enemies Of our county must
be punished"
"Jess so. Have you ever been
woundedl"
avery often. l was once shot
through the heart"
Through the heart ! Lawful
eakes! Didn't it kill youl"
mot quito. The intercostal
muscle was penetrated longi-
; tudinally and extravasted with
variouse veins; the bullet ranged
across the left lobe Of the arach-
mold artery, producing a commln-
uted fracture of the anterior pro-
cess oflhe cerebellum, and caus =
ing lesion Of tho spinal .viscera
and the hypophosphates of the
tibual, and that delayed my re-
co.ery."
"You don't mean to say that
you lived through all that!"
81 was spared, mum, to be an
humble monument OF the mercy
of divine Providence"
"Shouli think 80. What was
that noisei 1t sounded like some
body down the cellar"
"Nothing bot rats. Don't be
alarmed, Madam. ! am here anu
will protect you. l once defen-
ded tho house of a widow when il
was attacked by a dozen guerillas.
was obliged to kill seven ofthem,
and the rest ran away"
"Do tell! Should think you
ought TO be an officer"
THE President has tried t.
persuade me to accept a com
mission as general, but ! have
believed that l could serve my
country better in my present
sphere. Thank yon, l don't care
i'll do take spoonful Of that.
must be going now, with my
thanks for your kindness. 1t i
nearly time for our evening
prayer meeting, and l must b'
there to open 1t. Have you sucl
a thing as a pocket bible to spare
Mine was destroyed in the las
battle, by being struck by
bullet in my coat. pocket. 1t wa
the last gilt of my beloved moth
er, and saved my life"
Lawful sakes! which pocket
Tho behind pocket, mum.
"What blessed thingit is t
have Biblel There is ono tina
belongs to my Matilda Jane; bu