Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-01-23

L a.
good medicine for man who has been
drenched by cold rain, ordered some
prepared, and hope you will join us in a
glass before supper. But if you have
any conscientious scruples we shall re-
specJ them, and at once send the bowl
from thereon"
81 have no such scruples," [ re-
sponded. "It is the abuse and not the
proper use of stimulants that forms the
basis of my temperance creed, and there
are times when brandy is blessing, and
this is one of the times. L shall join
you most heartily"
At the close of my speech the old gen.
tleman gave place to his wife, who adj
vanced and filled the goblets to the
brim, while Lillian handed them around.
When each of the gentlemen had been
supplied with full and foaming beakers,
and the ladies with smaller glasses only
part full, the father said to the son,
"Give a toast, Walter-one suited to
fhe occasion"
The doctor complied by saying:
''May the acquaintance begun to-
night ripen into friendship before
which all sectional and political preiu-
dices shall dissolve and disappear and
may that friendship live and flourish in
the hearts of all present when this cruel
war shall exist only as sad and sorrow
full Renaissance.
81 most heartily indorse the senti-
ment you have so beautifully expressed, Z"
I responded, and beg leave to quote
from a Northland poet in reply:
|
And our children clasp hands where their fathers
| crossed blades"
| A reverent and fervent Amen burst
from the lips OF the old gentleman as
he touched my glass with his and raised
it to his lips tears rolled down the fur
rowed features of his good wife, and
tears stood in the blue eyes of the beauti-
full Lillian, and the long silken lashes
that curtained those heavenly orbs
dropped and quivered like the dew
laden willow fringe that hides from
sight the crystal waters OF a spring in
the valley of Eden-the Eden of my
| childhood.
Supper being announced at this mo-
ment, the old folks led the way, and the
doctor, taking my arm, followed them
into large, old-fashioned room, which
served as both kitchen and dining room.
It was most cheerful and home-like
place; the table, which stood in the
center of the uncarpeted floor, presented
a neat, inviting appearance to soldier
who had been on short rations for some
days, and who had eaten nothing for
twelve hours. Ham and eggs, and de-
icious corn cakes, done to turn, with
sweet country butter, and coffee with
real cream, constituted the bill of fare
1t was ample, and I did full justice to it.
The evening hours flew rapidly past
on downy wings of friendly converse,
| till the old clock in the corner announced
the hour of II, when the thoughtful
mother mildly suggested that the Major
was doubtless tired and would like to
retire. [ disclaimed any thought Of
WEAKNESS, and indeed I uttered but the
simple truth in saying that I had not
been so entirely refreshed for weeks. It
is passing strange what power there is
in good-fellowship to restore the wasted
energies Of the body as well as the
spirit. So we sat another brief, a
delicious hour-and then the good
nights were said, and 1 retired to sleep
and dream. The blue-eyed Lillian
formed the web, and horrid battle-scenes
the wool of my visions. The beautiful
girl had scarcely uttered dozen words
during the evening, but she had been a
most eloquent auditor. She had sat al
most directly opposite me, and my eyes
rested upon her face as addressed 9th
er members Of the group, and they did
not fail at any time to meet sympa-
thetic response from her heaven-tinted
orbs; nor was there the least embar-
rassment in this, for her countenance
bore such perfect expression of inno-
cent interest as to reveal spirit at once
modest and pure as an angel.
In my dream bloody battle was
raging. My ears were filled with the
boom of cannon, the crash of small arms,
the scream Of shell, and the shrieks
and groans Of dying men. The scene
changed. [ wandered over the fields of
carnage. The dead were thick about
me. A groan reached my ear, and
bent my steps in the direction whence
the sound came. A soldier, in gray uni
form, with Lieutenant's strap upon his
shoulders, lay upon the ground, with
his head resting upon the lap of a
woman. [ said, eff I can be OF any
service, please command" A pair of
blue eyes were lifted toward my face,
and a voice, sad but musical, said, Z" Oh |!
[ am SO glad it is you you are SUR
geon as well as friend, and my brother
is dangerously wounded" Those eyes,
that voice could I be mistaken? No, it
was Lillian, and the wounded young
officer her brother. What JOY, what
happiness to be able to serve her aye,
perhaps save the life of her brother
the son of my friend.
A rap on my chamber door dispelled
the vision, and the pleasant greeting of
DR.. Jewell restored me to my normal
state. But my dreams remained as
vivid memory Of startling reality. I
could not but believe that it was a pre-
settlement, and, although kept it locked
in my heart as sad, though cherished
secret, I resolved to ask Lillian for q
picture of her brother which she had
shown me the evening before. So, just
as was on the point of leaving, said,
''Miss Lillian, [ wish you would give
me photograph of your brother. It is
possible Imay meet him, and if should
it would prove my passport to his friend
ship 81 will, she replied, ''for you