Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-03-12

From Mrs Phoebe Yates Pember's Southern
Woman's Story"

After the battle of Fredericksburg,
while giving small doses Of brandy to a
dying man, a low, pleasant voice said,
MADAM" 1t came from youth not
over eighteen years of age, seeming very
i'll, but so placid, with that earnest, far
away gaze SO common to the eyes of
those who are looking their last on this
world. Does God in his mercy give
glimpse Of coming peace. past under
standing, that we see reflected in the
dying eyes into which we look with such
strong yearning to fathom what they
see? He shook his head in the negative
to all offers of food or drink or sugges-
tons Of softer pillows and light cover
Ing.
II want Perry" was his only wish.
On inquiry found that Perry was the
friend and companion who marched by
his side in the field and slept next to
him in camp, but of whose where
abOuts l was ignorant. Armed with a
requisition from our surgeon [ sought
him among the sick and wounded at all
the other hospitals. [ found him at
Odul u odChoCll, pun llllll III III dlHOu-
lance, and on arrival at my own hospi-
tai found my patient had dropped
asleep. A bed was brought and placed
at his side and Perry, only slightly
wounded, laid upon it. Just then the
sick boy awoke YEARLY, turned over.
and the halfunconsclous eye fixed it.
self. He must have been dreaming of
the meeting, for he still dlstrusted the
reality. Illness had 5piritualized the
youthful face; the transparent forehead,
the delicate brow so clearly defined, be-
longed more to heaven than earth. AS
he recognized his comrade the wan and
expressionless lips curved into the hap
piest smile-the angel of death had
brought the light of summer skies to
that pale face. "Perry," he cried,
PERRY" and not another word. but
with one last effort he threw himself
into his friends arms, the radiant eyes
closed, but the smile still remained-he
was dead.
Private Fisher had remained through
all his trials stout, fresh and hearty, in
teresting in appearance and so gentle
hammered and accomplishing that we
all loved him. Supported on his
crutches he had walked up and down
his ward for the first time since he was
wound, and seemed almost restored.
That same night ne turned over and
uttered an exclamation of pain.
Following the nurse to his bed, and
turning down the covering, a small jet
of blood spurted up. The sharp edge
Of the splintered bone must have sew
cred an artery. I instantly put my fin
ger on the little orifce and awaited the
surgeon. He soon came-took long
look and shook his head. The explana-
ton was easy; the artery was imbedded
IN the fleshy part of the thigh and could
not be taken up. No earthly power
could save him.
There was no object in OBTAINING DR..
-. He required his time and his
strength, and long I sat by the boy, I'M
conscious himself that any serious
trouble was apprehended The hardest
trial of my duty was laid upon me; the
necessity Of telling man in the prime
and fuliness Of strength that there was
no hope fer him.
1t was done at last, and the verdict
received patiently and courageously.
some directions given by which his
mother would be informed of his death,
and then he turned his questioning eyes
upon my face. s.r +.
How long can l!ve?"
"Only as long as I keep my finger up
on this artery" A pause ensued. God
alone knew what thoughts hurried
through that heart and brain, called SO
unexpectedly from all earthly hopes
and ties. He broke the silence at
last:
"You can let co. ~
But could not. Not if my own fife
had trembled in the balance. Hot tears
rushed to my eyes, surging sound to
my ears and a deadly GOODNESS to my
lips. The pang of obeying MIN was
spared me, and for the first and last
time during the trials that surrounded
me tor four years | tainted away.
lea drinkers will be grieved to learn