The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-06-14
LONG AGO.
By MRS. sALLIE A. RAMAGE.

BY MRS. SALLIE A. RAMAGE.
"Give her q hearty welcome, mother, Tor
had it not been for her mother 1 should
have been dead long before this. She has
been good and kind to your boy, and you
will not forget this, will your" and the
young man raised his eyes earnestly, low
ingly to the kind face that was so much
like his own, only softer and older with
the wrinkles that were netted over it.
"Where did you find her, Nathan, and
who is she?" "Six weeks ago. I was ter
ribly wounded in my arm in fight in the
edge of the woods. Some rascslly Tory
took good aim at my heart, and but missed
that to tear my elbow to pieces, and while
/ was still in his reach, famed my ankle
Joint. 1 crswled and staggered mile,
lost in the underbrush, until just as L was
ready to die from exhaustion, saw a farm
house not far from me. L was crazy with
thirst, and crept forward as fast as could
to beg a drink of water. But before. /
could say a word on the threshold 1 fell
unconscious, and must have perished
there had not Mrs. Winthrop and Faith
taken me In and nursed and cared for me
like brother. They were alone in the
house, hall Wild with fright, for they heard
the army was marching towards them,
and yet they stopped not moment until
they had relieved my sufferings and was
comfortably resting. All my long illness,
for 1 have been very sick, they h We
been as tender and kind and pity
fn0 fha
unfortunate, and have shielded and hid me
from the Tories half a dozen times when
they were in the house, and once Mrs.
Winthrop, at the risk of her life, kept
them out of the cellar where 1 had been
concealed for two nights. But a week ago
she died suddenly, without a moments
warning, and there was none to take Faith.
Her mother had died without word, but
a faint farewell" :" and she was thus all
alone. Shs clung to me with all the love
and trust of sister, aud shrunk from
those about her. who seemed to look with
coldness and scorn on the poor little Eng
lish girl, whose mother they called "proud
and naughty, ;" and told her would bring
her home to you. 1 must start soon for the
army. and that will leave you and father
alone again, and L thought you would ike
to have a daughter. At least for my sake
be kind to her, though am sure you will
learn to love her when you know her."
"Where Is her father?" 81 have never
heard. 1t has been q year since she has
had word from him, and she thinks him
dead. When we found Mrs. Winthrop
dying in her chair, she held in her hand
letter that Faith said was from her father,
and she has kissed the few words till the
sheet is nearly worn out. Once or twice
have thought maybe he was in the army,
an officer with the British, but she shrinks
with pain from mentioning him. So we
will not hurt her by asking. but will let it
60. Mother, are not the June pears ripen-
ing yet? When 1 crept up the
lane from the battle, the trees were full
of blossoms, but 1 promised Faith
that you would give her some fruit before
anybody else. Everything about the old
place is just the same. 1t seems to nae
things brighten in your smile," and the
strong hand reached out aud clasped the
restless fingers that were never too weary
TO work for "my son." and the quivering
lips bent to kiss the white brow where the
thick hair laid in glossy curls.
"Yes, Ethan, the poor child shall have
home here, and welcome. Father gets
mighty lonesome w:sn you are gone, and
~ appears W Inc liho dS III bno WOIh 10 koI-
ting too much for me, and L shall be glad
to have somebody around to take a step
now and then. L just told her to lie down
and rest awhile and / would call her in
time for supper. She looked so lonely L
could not help but kiss ber. II seemed as
If she reminded me of Alice, for she would
have been just about her age If she had
lived, nigh on to fifteen. Father will be
glad 70 see you; " o had most given up all
hope when we heard you was captured,
but he rode down to town to hear the
news. Now you lie down; it's right cool
here, for that morning glory Is so heavy it
keeps the sun out, and II you can go to
sleep, sll right, but I'll go out and get you
some pears and fix the supper" and with
another kiss the gentle mother was gone.
Upright, godly people were they, liv-
ing a quiet, country life, doing every
duty that devolved upon them, en-
ioyine the blessings, and resigned
to all the dispensstions of Providence. 1t