Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1880-01-13
-sTAUNToN SPECTATOR AND GENERAL ADvF

en- stove, and ought to have been very
comfortable, but I wasn't. Something
seemed Juggling at my heart all the
time.
I gave the fire poke, and lit another
candle to cheer myself up and went TO
my work basket to get the sock l had
been knitting for my Charlie, and as I
went to get it saw something lying on
the floor. I picked it up. 1t was an
old tobacco pouch, ever SO much like
the one I gave Charlie, with fringe
around it, and written on it in ink
From G. F. to r. H., and inside it was
q bit of tobacco and q rumpled old let
ter and when spread 1t saw on the
top, MY dear son.
KNEW the beggar must have dropped
it, and my heart gave one big thump as
though it had been turned into ham
mer.
Perhaps the story was true, and he
had q mother. I shivered all over, and
the fire and candles and the nice COM
Portable smells might as we'll not have
been at all. was cold and wretched.
And over and over again had I to say
to myself what had heard my pastor
say so often: Never give anything to
chance beggars. my dear friends; al
ways bestow your aims on worthy per-
sens, through well organized societies."
before could get bit of comfort. And
what an old fool was to cry, I thought,
when found my cheeks wet.
But did not cry long, for, as I sat
there, dash and crash and jingle came
sleigh over the road, and 1t stopped at
our gate, and I heard my Charles
voice crying, 'Halloa, motherv And
out went to the door, and had him in
my arms-my great, tall, handsome
uniform with his pretty shoulder straps,
through any hardships. He had TO
leave me to put the horse up, and then
I had by the fire my own son. And
Drusilla, who had been up stairs and
had been crying-why, I wonder p
came down in 1utter-for they were
like brother and sister-and he kissed
her and she kissed him, and then away
she went to set the table, and the nice
hot things smoked on q cloth as white
az snow; and how Charlie enjoyed
them! But once, in the midst of all, I
felt frightened feeling come over me.
and I know turned pale, for Drusilla
said, "What-is the matter, Aunt Fair
fax?
said nothing; but it was this: Kind
o. like the ghost of step, going champ.
champ, over the frozen snow; kind O.
like the ghost of voice saying Let me
lie on the floor, and give me any kind
of crust: kind o. like some one that
had mother down on the wintry road,
and freezing and starving to death there.
This is what it was. But put 1t away
and only thought of Charlie.
We drew up. together by the fire
when the tea was done and he told
things about the war I'd never heard
before-how the soldiers suffered, and
what weary marches and short ratfons
they sometimes had. And then he told
me how his life had been set upon by
the foe and badly wounded; and how,
der had saved him, and carried him
fighting his path back to the camp.
I'D never seen you but for him. says
my Charlie. And if there's man on
earth I love, it's Rob Hadaway-the
dearest, best fellow! We've shared
each others rations and drank from the
same canteen many and many times
and if I had brother couldn't think
more of him.
why didn't you bring him home to
see your mother, Charlie ?" said L
l'Why, I'd love him, too, and anything
1 could do for him, for the man who
saved my boys life, couldn't be enough.
Send for him, Charlie.
But Charlie shook his head and COW
cred his face with his hand.
Mother said he, I don't know
whether Rob Hadaway is alive or dead
to-day. While was still in the ranks
he was taken prisoner; and military
prisons are poor places to live in, moth.
en-. I'd give my right hand to be able
to do him any good, but I can find nc
trace Of him. And he has 8 mother
too, and she is fond of him! She lives
at Greenbank-poor old lady. My dear
, good, noble Rob, the preserver of my
lifep
And / saw Charlie wac nearly crying.
Not to let us see the tears, he got UP
and went to the mantel piece. did
not look around until heard cry
Great Heavens = What is it p
And I turned, and Charlie had ths
tobacco pouch the man had dropped, in
his hand.
Where did this come from p said he
i feel as though had seen a ghost.
gave this to Rob Hadaway the day he
saved me. We soldiers had not much
{ to give you, know, and he vowed never
to part with it while he lived. How
did it come here, mother p
i And fell back in my chair, white
and cold, and said I:
! "A wandering tramp left it here. New.
er your Rob, my dear; never your Rob,
my dear; never your Rob He must
have been an impostor. wouldn't
have turned away person really in
want. Oh, no, no; it's another pouch,
child, or he stole it. A tall fellow, with
blue eyes, and yellow brown hair
wounded, he said, and going to his
mother at Greenbank. Not your Rob. u
And Charlie stood staring at me with
clenched hands; and said he:
!, 1T was my Rob! it was my dear old
Rob- who saved my life, and You have
driven him out in such night as this
mother! My mother, to use Rob so!'
Condemn me, Charlie said Icon
denim me if you like-I'm afraid God
will. Three times he came back three
times he asked only for crust and .
place to lie, and drove him away-I,
if had known!'
i And Charlie caught up his hat.
Il I'll find him if he is alive said he.
'Oh! Rob, my dear friend =
/ And then-I never saw the girl in
such taking Down went Drusilla on
her knees as if she was saying hel
prayers, and says she:
Thank God, I dared to do It'll
| And says she again to me:
oh! aunt, I've been trembling with
fright, not knowing what you'd say to
me- took him in the kitchen way. /
couldn't see him go faint and hungry
and wunnded, and I put him in the
spare chamber over the parlor, and I've
been frightened all the while.
Lord bless you, Drusilla! said Char
lie.
Amen said I.
And she, getting holder, went on:
i On Ia and annlo.sase ond ton said sha