South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1874-12-04

the enemy which might pu, thctn in the
saddle. When the firing had subsided. VIC
retired TO our quarters, aud on entering nv
room found the soldier boy asleep. He
had made his pale, 10 ore corner of the
room, aud was lying with his face towards
mo. As the dim light of tho candle which
| held ia my hand fell upon his features.
they wore such a sweet, child.ike expres-
sion OF innocence and beauty that bad in.
voluntarily paused and gszed upon them,
as If en'raoeed by the picture. | bad been
10 many trying scene, Witnessed human
suffering IN many forms-gbas,ly wounds,
tue dying aud the dead, on the battlefield.
bnt there was something in the face of The
sleeping boy before me, and the associations
OF time and place, far more touching than
these. The sensihiiities Of my nature were
softened, the tenderest emotions nf nv heart
were awakened, aud as g'Eed upon ais
fair face l felt that ] could take him 10 nv
arms aud nestle him to my bosom.
went cautiously to bed, bnt long hours
elapsed before my eyes were closed in sleep
the vision Of beau'y still haunted me.
L awoke Just os the gray lisL. Of dawn
peePod through the wiadjws, AMI, hearing
The cracking of the fire, raised my head
and saw ARTHUR, already dressed. sitting
by 1t. Up 50 early, my boy ? said |. He
answered, yes, [ thought | would get IN
aud kindio fire before you got up In a
'hor; tine, as | was getting out of bed he
Left the room, saying be would 70 out and
sec what was gong on. saw no more Of
him I'll. breakfast was over, and in reply
TO my inquiry whether be had breakfIs,ed.
be told me- he had been with the bows and
shared their rations. He then asked ne
II ho would be allowed horse to ride. |
told him he would AMI pat myself 10 the
ptiCs Of choosing oae thought suitable
for rider of his age and delicate frame.
During the day my duties were active.
aud | saw nothing Of ARTHUR till after
nighifall, AMI then only for moment
while he was dismounting from his horse.
when | retired for the night, | found that
ARTHUR hal preceded mr, and the same
sweet but sad scene was presented that had
so much affected me the night before. |
need not gay that looked upon it with like
emotions. Tue next morning, when | a.
woke, ARTHUR had risen and was sitting
by the fire, as be was the morning before.
Watched bis face, as tie sat gazing upon
the ire, and | savan expression of sadness
HIT across his features and a rising tear
noisten his eye. He is thinking, [ thor.
OF home and the dear ones he might never
see again When arose from bed he left
the room, saying, Il will 60 aud look sf,er
my horse
The day wore on, and was one OF unusu.
al activity. Tae demonstrations of the
enamy indicated a general assault in our
lines The necessity required constant and
rapid communication between headquarters
aoi orr works | saw ARTHUR several
times 10 bis saddle, bearing orders and re.
porte to and fro. The day, however, end
ed without any decisive results, aud worn
down with fatigue, | retired early to my
quarters. When | entered | found the
place for ARTHUR's palat in the corner
vacant. The Incident ordinarily would not
have affected me. But my feelings had be-
come so much enlisted in behalf of the
youth that bis absence atonce filed mo with
painful anxiety. | lay down, but could
not compose myself to sleap-,ho image of
Tie boy would not leave my mind. | got
up and went out TO inquire after him, but
heart | returned to my lodging Hours
passed away before fell into an uninter-
ruptcd tdul slumbar dreamed of dear
ones far away, Of faces familiar 10 me in
boyhood days, II brothers and sisters. Of a
mother, now cold in the grave. ARrHUR's
face also appeared to me, but IL wa not
the Isc' OF ARTHUR sleeping on the PAL
let IN the corner Of the room
I' vas now pale, aud his features were
contracted by suffering. stood by him
aud caught with deep anguish the broken
sighs oud faint whispers that came from his
lp'. 5 arjled by tie dream, awoke to
near knock at my door, aud voice
saying:
We have heard from ARTHUR
What have you heard Z said ! spring
ing from my bed.
'Hs was shot from bis horse, late this Of
tcrnoon'
dressed myself hurriedIy and went out
to realize what had been fireshadowcd 10
my dream learned that, after receiving
his wound DO had been carried 10 The near
est hospital, and mounting my horse, rode
rapidly 10 Che place. As ] entered the
hospital | met The surgeon 10 charge, who
said
i am glad you have come. A ycnth
has been brought here wounded. aod beg
gad me TO send for you Immediately, which
I wss about doing
what is the character Of bis wouad p
! euqgirol.
Io replied that no had not examined IL.
but was about doing so when arrived
Come 60 with me, said he We passed
down tho room, between rows Of hunks on
either side upon which the wounded ,yc,o