The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1875-11-06
CANTON MISSISSIPPI, NOVEMBER 6,

ing tear fell on it. She looked full OF
establishment at me, for | hurried from
her presence.
The same evening, | asked for leave;
which was granted the more freely, as
our regiment was soon to change quar-
tiers. left, and have not seen Laura
since.
CHOW tell me, nephew, did not the
grass bring sorrow and grief to me?"
''But tell me, for heavens sake, why
| did YOU hv?"
'Do YOU think Laura would ever
have consented to be my wife after
that proof of awkwardness, needless
ness and Stupidity" asked the general,
with Il frown of Indignation on his
brow.
but let it pass" he continued
Given at sixty years. | am not too
old to feel pain in the remembrance.
But wartime came on, and | still had
my Ali; he bore me safely out of many
Il fight, and helped me to these trifles,"
and the old man pointed to his power
ful chest, which was nearly covered
with decorations.
at was on Monday, I think when
we fought Il hard fight; of course ! was
leading my men; maybe | ventured
too far; the fact is, | was surrounded.
a blow fell on my right arm and dis
ahled ii; Il second on my head, and |
fell forward on the neck of my horse.
| only saw that the soldier who dealt
the blow rode Il beautiful gray
grasped my Ais name and became in
sensible-but the noble animal, feeling
that something was the matter with
his master, reared and banged through
the ranks that were spnging to seize
me from my horse and make me pris-
oner; he brought me to my own men,
who had rushed to my rescue, and they
afterwards told me of Ais heroic
achievement. | was obliged to leave
the field of honor before the end of
the war; this grieved me more than |
can tell; for the first time J cursed that
gypsy and all her kin, TO, was it not
again gray that brought on his back
i'll luck to me?"
One more fact, | was colonel then,
when got news that my father was on
his death-bed, and begged me hasten to
his side | took post-horses. The
estate of father was a two days drive
from the town where we were quar-
tered. l hoped to be in time by tray
cling night and day | could already |
see my native mountains, over which
the rising moon was casting its silver
light. when the horse suddenly took
fright at some shadow, and off they
went, upsetting the coach, which was
dashed to pieces. | contrived to dis
myself. What stood snorting
before me? Four grays, which had
been put on at the last statiOnl
"Without a word | walked on to the
next station, got horse and galloped
off / had lost full four hours by the
accident. | was in time to receive my
mother fainting in my arms-my father
had that moment expired.
The general rose, and with huge
strides paced the room; at last he
stopped before his nephew and said:
"The crotchet gsuys bringing i'll
uck to me, have long ago put out of
ny head; the more so, us | have been
old that the beautiful Laura would
nave become my wife in spite Of my
lwkwardness, or because of it-who-
,ver understood woman?'
But | never take the white chess
nen.'
"WeIl, nephew, you are going to
lllen's now"
eyes uncle"
"Well, then, l will accompany you"
This is glorious" his nephew +
him, adding:
cit is my crochet that all goes well
f YOU arc near me"
The general pressed his hand, and rs
t had grown rather late by that tale of
py-gones, they hurried away together.
Three weeks later the general had no
objections to be driven to church by
rays, to put the hand of sweet Ellen
Wilson in his nephew's-although he
Ised afterwards to say they had still
,rought i'll luck to him, having had to
rive, while still living, his whole for
une to his dearly loved nephew.
And when, two years later, the old
Incles had the joy to hold son of his
lephew on his knees, what was the first
PRESENT he made him?
A rocking horse-a gray.