Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-12-21

s'You viii have ride Of twenty miles
in the hot sun, lieutenant" said Mrs.
R. ''Do you know the chldF'
mo, but ] can't help thinking what
II that poor woman yonder were my
mother and this little child AliceFn
Mrs. R--took the girl up to a little
chamber which she told her should be
her own until the lieutenant returned;
she kissed her and left her. She felt
impatient with the dreadful turmoil and
sorrows of the war. This poor mother,
dying alone perhaps. and the child wan
dering through the eountryl Why was
there no one who could see il all right?
In the meantime Dora had hidden her
basket, locked the door, and kneeled
down by the side Of the bed. She was
praying with all the strength Of her lit
tie heart 10 God TO help her. And on
the other side of the mountain, in q SOL
itary house, her mother lay alone, her
hands covering her pale. worn face.
while she too spake 10 the same Friend,
who had been her Friend in whom she
had trusted all her life.
Down in the valley galloped the lieu
tenant-a stranger to them both
prompted, he thought, by casual like
ness Of the child to his sister. Yet was
there not some one who heard their
prayers and made of this man the agent
to answer them. The one who could
and would in His own good time set all
this turmoil and all others rightp
At the end of the day Lieut.. Graham
.,,aual tha .ratn az tb.. fn rt,, hnno,.
R--with Dors hurried to meet HIM.
II know BY your face you have sue
ceeded." she said.
''Yes; the General is the most inexo-
rable of foes ~ far rs men are concern
ed. but he has wife and children of
his own. Here is permit and an order
for guard to take the child through
the pass"
The officer himself rode with the
guard into the gap. ..Good-by, my lit
tie prisoner. You will soon he with your
mother, and hope you will find that
she will not need the medicine You are
carrying her. he said. as they parted.
Dora's eyes were full of tears. 'You
have been SO good to me-" she said,
dropping Spots reins and holding out
both hands. Il wish | could do some-
thing for you"
"Oh, be good to the first Yankee who
falls into your hands, you little rebel :"
he replied, laughing.
There is a sequal to our little story.
Mrs. Nettley. with her daughter, re.
moved for safety to her brothers plan.
tation in the eastern part of the State,
where they remained during the war.
After skirmish which took place in
the neighborhood, Major Nettley's
house being capacious, was taken as q
temporary hospital, to which the wound
ed of both sides were carried. Dora
and her mother were busy among them,
doing what good they could to alleviate
their suferings until the surgeons had
dressed their wounds.
There was one young man of about
twenty who was wounded in the leg.
Dora, as she raised his head to give him
a drink of water, met his eyes. They
had strange familiar look.
"What's your name?' she said as she
took the cup from his mouth.
''Felix Graham"
"What regiment?'
"Ensign. Fourth Michigan
Dora ran to her mother, fairly stam.
mering in her excitement.
HE is SO like the lieutenant at the
gap, mamma! And the same name! Ant
/ promised! / promisedr'
Mrs. Nettley in her turn grew inter
ested and excited. She went to the
commandant when the time came fol
sending the wounded Union officers
away.
There is a young man among them, y
she said, whose wound will probably
prove fatal if he is moved. I owe deb
of gratitude, as believe, to one of hi.
fanily-or at least to one of his name
If you will leave him I will nurse him as
faithfully and we'll as l can.''
Mrs. Nettley was a woman whose re
quests were usually granted. Fell,
Graham remained in her house for two
months"
Four years after the war was over
our old friend, Colonel Graham Gorm
erly lieutenant), came home to Mich
igan from SanFranciscO, where he hat
engaged in business since his discharge
from the army.
1t was his first homecoming, ant
there was great rejoicing. and gather
ing of allthe Graham clan, big and little
'.But where is my new sister?" he
. said to Alice. Il wish ! could have go
back in time for the wedding. To thinE
Felix went to Virginia for a wife. aftel
air.
Here they come," said Alice. as step
were heard on the porch without, anc
the boys rushed out to meet Felix ant
the bride with ''He' come! he's GOMEZ
The door opened and Felix, bearded
and sun burned, came in; q shy, chubby
young girl following h.m. Her eye!
were brown and oddly honest and frank
Colonel Graham, his hand out. stopped
perplexed.
"Whop-Dora!' he said. "Dorap
.sYes, Dora" she answered. II KEEP
my promise" laughing mischievously
"You told me to be good to the frs
Yankee who fell into my hands. Herr
he is; thought the best thing / coult
do was to marry him.
Dora's mother and uncles followed
her to Michigan, Since then there have
been many family gatherings. where thu
Nettleys and Grahams-once such bit
ter foes--recall the events of the war
seeking only to remember how mucl
that was human, and tender, and broth
erly, was mingled with the terror ant
misery Of that far-off time Youth
Companion.
iy -------------s'' = -szs.-------
The obliging visitor to show that h
really is found of children and that tn
dear little one is not annoying him Il