The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1880-06-02
THE DEAIi :DEAIl oEl.

chose which yehave y up.
on our own hands, but9a llisll q
few years ago ragged SO g.fercs-
| ly, between the Nortl1 aad Ehe
Southern States Of Anse Itwas
my fortune TO serve on medical
staff yitka portion Of Northern
army duringmost Of terrible
struggle; 9nd. it is ass 10 soy
that many personal ii sscsme
under my fosice, Wkia never
leave my memory.s ~ S them,
however, made 81 ps An im-
preston upon me gs hielss j
am about to describe,
Toward noon on the ||erpne
=. slsa ~ " NJ.
young soldier was brought in from
the battlefield, where by some mis-
chance he had been overlooked and
abandoned, while comrades Of his, far
less grievously wounded than he,
had been sheltered and tended before
nightfall. The poor fellow had lain
all night and during the long scorch-
ing hours ofthe morning, amid heaps
=
of dead, both men and horses, suffer
ing from the loss of an arm, and 9th
er wounds. An army surgeon is not
as rule man prone to undue sen.
timent or to feminine softness at the
sight physical suffering; and / am
not conscious Of any weakness that
makes me an exception IN this par
ticular. There was, however, in this
youths expression Of countenance
something which struck me irresist-
IDLY, and with the strong glare of his
large, bright eye, Gxed my attention
and awakened my eager interest,"
lie was a tender youth, tall, yet
gracefully made, with head which,
as the novelists phraseit, would bring
ectacy to the soul of q sculptor; and
every feature nodded to the true type
of manly beauty. A single glance
gave me this summary outline of my
patient before l had time to ascer-
tain the nature or extent of his in.
juries. A very brief examination
soon told me that the life which for
hours had been ebbing SO painfully
away was well nigh spent, and he
must have read the awful truth in
my face, for he whispered to me
family and sadly, as | rose:
SIS there, then, no hope?"
Alas! there was no hope; but l had
not speech to tell him SO; for some
thing was rising in my throat and
choking me, and moisture in my
eyes was binding me; and the only
reply l could give him was a shake
of my head. The brave spirit which
had nerved him through the fight
had kept him up till now; but now,
when the dismal truth had broken
upon him, there passed over his pal
lid face a look of mingled disappoint-
ment and which it was painful be-
yond expression to witness. l lost
no time in giving him such surgical
aid as his desperate condition called
for and his waning strength could
bear. | had hardly done SO when an
unexpected voice addressed him:
"My own dear boyl my brave, he
roic boy!"
The tone was of CHEEKY encourage
ment, yet feebly Disgusting the woe
of q breaking heart; for it was his
mothers voice that spoke, and her
lips that kissed his fevered brow
Gently she turned back his disorder
ed and blood-stained locks, dissemb-
ling with evident effort the mothers
anguish, lest she should add another
sorrow to the pangs Of his dying
hour.
"My mother!" be cried with almost
frantic delight @lsit you, my moth
er? How came you here2 Is you,
am dreaming2" and as he spoke
he threw his only remaining arm
around her neck and kissed her
with all the rapture Of child
"Thank Godw he continued, in
snatches, as his failing strength al.
lowed him-"thank God for this
blessed joy, that I see your face once
more, my mother. All last night,
as | lay amid the dreadful sights