The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-08-18

"Silence 70 said Mr.. Gibbes, with stern
but trembling voice, The tears were in his
own eyes. The little child now missing was
very dear to them all, and moreover, was
deemed a sacred charge, as he was one of
the orphan children of Mr.. GIbbes' sister,
intrusted to him on her death bed.
The waiIing ceased there was silence
broken only by sobs, and the master asked {:
''Who Is willing to go back for the child ?''
No one spoke Mr.. Gibbes turned to his
wife for counsel. AS the two talked in low
tones, Mrs. Gibbes called her husbands at
tention to Mary, who was kneeling with
clasped hands, In prayer at the foot OF the
bed. In moment, the little maid rose and
came to them, saying calmly:
"Mother, I must go back for baby"
"Oh, my child, +" cried the mother, In agony,
'T cannot let you |"
"But mother, must" pleaded Mary,
''God will care for me.''
It was fearful responsibility. The guns
yet roared constantly through the darkness ;
the house might now be in flames; it might
be filed with carnage and blood. Mrs. Glib
bes turned to her husband. His face was
buried In his hands. Plainly she must de-
eide 1t herself With streaming eyes, she
looked at Mary
"Come here, my child" she called through
her sobs. Mary fell upon her mothers neck.
One long passionate embrace, in which all a
mothers love and devotion were poured ont
and the clinging arms were opened without
a word. Mary sprang up, kissed her fathers
forehead and sped forth on her dangerous
mission of love.
The rain had now ceased, but the night
was still dark and full Of terror, for through
the trees she saw the frequent flashes of the
great guns. The woods were filed with
booming echoes, so that cannon seemed to
be on every hand. She few on with all
speed. Soon she heard the crashing trees
ahead, and knew that in a moment she
would be once more face to face with death.
She did not falter. Now she was again In
the fierce whirlwindi All around her the
shot howled and shrieked. On every side
the branches fell crashing to the earth. A
cannon-ball plunged into the ground close
beside her, cast over her heap of mud, and
threw her down. She sprang up and press
ed on with redoubled vieor. Not even that
ball could make her turn back.
She reached the house. She ran to the
room where the little child usually slept
The bed was empty Distracted, she few
from chamber to chamber. Suddenly she
remembered that this night, he had been
given TO another nurse, Up into the third
story she hurried, and, as she pushed open
the door, the little fellow sitting up in bed,
cooed to her and put out his hand.
With tears running down her cheeks,
Mary wrapped the babe warmly and started
down the stairs. Out into the darkness once
more onward with her precious burden
through cannOn-roar, through shot and
she'll Three times she passed through this
iron storm. The balls still swept the forest
| the terrific booming filled the air.
With the child pressed tightly to her brave
| young heart, she fed on. She neither STUN
bled nor fell. Tie shot threw the dirt II
| her face, and showered the twigs down upor
| her head. But she was not struck. In safe
| ty she reached the hut, and fell exhausted
! across the threshold.
And the little boy thus saved by a glrl'i
| brave devotion, afterward became Genera
| Fenwick famous in the war of 1912.