The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-07-30


For he had never seen before
That baby in the mirror door
What kept the Two, so near, aSunder?
He leaned toward that golden head,
The mirror border framed within,
Until twin cheeks, like roses red,
Lay side by side, then softly said
~ can't get out; can you-come In"
The Drummer Boy.
1t was on the morning of September 81,
1868. Few rising suns ever shone up n a
more terrible scene than that presented this
morning on the battlefield of Chickamauga.
The forms of hundreds of brave men lay cold
and silent in DEATH remaining as they had
fallen in the heat of the conflict, while
bravely fighting. The silence of death
brooded over the field, and death indeed
was there in all its terror-silence rendered
doubly 80 by the closing echoes of the terri
BILE carnage of the past two days. The
wounded had all been cared for as far as
possible, and now was consigned to the sur
vivors the solemn duty of laying to rest the
last remains of their beloved comrades
There lay husbands fathers, brothers, with
no one to shed parting tear except their
sturdy companions III many weary cay OF
toll and bloodshed.
Suddenly there rang out upon the scene
of stiffness the sound of a drum, long and
loud, rolled out the morning reveille, star
thing both men and officers, coming as it did,
from the midst of whore all was thought to
be silent in death. The surgeon was sent to
investigate. Far out among the dead he
found a little drummer boy. Pale as the
silent bodies around him he lay resting
YEARLY upon his drum. The surgeon saw
at q glance all would soon be over. Both
legs had been broken by shell, and from
the mangled limbs the current of life was
fast ebbing away. Strong man that he
was and USED to death in all its va
rious forms, he could not tell
the boy that his suffsrlngs would
nd ho
back, he requested an officer to go and break
the news. The officer went to the boy, and
placing his hand softly upon his shoulder,
said: MY boy, you are badly wounded: but
you will be better soon" II know it" an
swered the boy; ''all night long have lain,
and God only knows my sufferings through
the long weary hours; but prayed that He
would let me live to see the morning sun,
that might once more beat the reveille to
summons the men to dutv, as l have so often
er."
"God is very merciful,'' kindly answered
the officer.
.'He is always good" said the boy, ''but
know what you mean by my being better
soon. I am going to die, but / am not
afraid of DEATH"
tYou are brave boy,' said the Offices
but why are you not afraid to die?" The
boy placed his little trembling hand in his
bosom and drew forth small pocket Bible.
he answered "She told me to read it every
day, and / have done so. know that
Jesus is waiting with open arms to receive
me. That is why am not afraid to die. l
want yeu to carry it to her and tell her that
have obeyed her, and that die without tear,
only sorry that 1 could not once more see
her dear face, and bear her kind, loving
voice. Oh, the Bible! precious book divine?
Would to God that all mankind from 1t
would learn thy holy will, and enjoy thy
blessed promises!-Christian.
Chips for the Children.
"Why." asked a governess of her little
charge, do we pray God to give us our daily
bread? Why don't We ask for four days or
five days, or q week?' Because we want it
fresh,' replied the ingenious child.
A schoolmsster to a pupil: "But, my
dear child, how is it that you don't get on
with your reading? When was your age |
could read fuently without spelling word. u
Probably" retorted the boy, you had a
better master than l have.'
A little girl was once asked Little girl
how do you get into bed so quickly" She
replied, 81 get all undressed, and then
put out the light, and then l cry, Rats
rats and that frightens me 80 that jump
right into the bed as quick as a WINK"
A well-known local preacher In q surbur
ban town, while instructing class of urchin.
do everything; whereupon one of then
asked: .'Can God make rock SO big tha
He can't lift it?': The boys question re-
mains unanswered.
e A petite blne-eyed maiden, who was nurs
ing her fifth Christmas doll, and listening II
her mother and some female friends talkins
about domestic broils and divorces, created
rather pleasant sensation by remarking
well, ma Tn never going to marry I'm
going to be q widow"
New Haven Register: This dear chill
dren, is the shoe of Chinese lady; see hov
little it is; what a narrow sole it has" 'Pl
bet it isn't as marrow as Deacon IS
Father says his soul will fall through cracl
in the floor some day and get lost" was tn
listening. The superintendent put tn
Chinese shoe in his pocket, and requeste,
he school to sing Pull for the Shore.''