The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-09-29
take my life on the honesty of the

IL. 10 you KNOW INC culiu
"No; but Icannot help thinking. what
if that poor woman yonder were my
mother and this child little Alice?"
Mrs. r.. took the girl up to little
chamber which she told her should he
her own until the Lieutenant returned;
Kissed her and left. She felt impatient
with the dreadful turmoil and sorrows
of the war. This poor mother diving
alone rerhaps, and the child wandering
through the countryl Why was there
no one who could set it 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 al the strength of her
little heart 10 God to help her. And
on the other side of the mountain, in
solitary house, her mother lay alone,
her hands covering her pale, worn face,
while she too spake to the same Friend,
who had been her Friend in whom she
had trusted all her life.
Down the valley galloped the Lou
tenant-a STRANGER to them bo'h--
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 right?
At the end of the dav Lieut.. Graham
opened the gate Of the farmhouse. Mrs.
RI with Dora hurried TO meet him.
81 know Ivy your face you have sue
ceeded," she said.
"Yes; the General is the most inexor-
able of foes as far as men are concerned,
but he has wife and children Of his
own. Here is permit and IN order
for a guard to take the child through
the pass.
The officer himself rode with the
guard into the gap "Gcod-bv my IT.
tie prisoner. You will soon be with
your mother, and l hope you will find
that she viii not need the medicine you
are carrying her." he said, as they
parted
Dora'a eyes were fuil of tears. "You
have been so good 10 me- she said,
dropping Spots reins and holding out
both hands. Il wish ! could do some
thing for You"
ooh. be good to the first Yankee who
falls into your hands, you little rebel
he replied. laughing.
There is n sequel to our little story.
Mrs Nettley, with her daughter, re-
moved for safety to her brothers plln-
tation iii the eastern part OF the State,
where they remained during the war.
After n sllirmish which took place in
the neighborhood Maj Nettley's house,
being spacious, was taken as q tenn
porary hospital, to which the wounded of
both sides were carried. Dora and her
mother were busy among them, doing
what they cou d TO al leviate their suffer
ings until the surgeons had dressed
their wounds.
There WAS one young man of about
20 who was wounded in the leg Dora,
as she raised his head to give him n
drink of water, met his eyes. They had
q strangely amiliar look.
What is your name?" she said as
she took the cup from his mouth.
Felix Graham"
"Wnat regiment?"
Ensign. Fourth Michigan"
Dora ran to her mother, fairly
stammering in her excitement.
He is so like the Lieutenant at the
gap, mamma! And the same name!
And promised promised!"
Mrs. Nettley in her turn grew in
terested and excited. She went TO the
Commandant when the time came for
sending the wounded Union officers
away.
There is young man among them
she said. whose wound will probably
prove fatal If he is moved. / owe a
debt of graft ude, as | believe TO one of
his name. IL you will leave him | will
nurse him az faithfully and we'll as /
can"
Mrs. Nettley was n woman whose re-
quests were usually granted. Felix
Graham remained in her house for two
months.
Four yeIrs after the war was over,
our old friend, Col. Graham formerly
Iieutenant) came home TO MICHIGAN
from 8 III Francisco, where he had en-
gagged in business after his discharge
from the army.
1t was his first homecoming, and
there was gre,t rejoicing. and gather
ing Of all the Graham clan, big and lit
tie.
"But where is my new sister," he
said to Alice 81 wish | could have got
back j. time for the wedding To think
Felix went TO Virginia for wife, after
all "
Here they come" said Alice, as steps
were heard on the porch without, and
the boys rushed ont to meet Felix and
the bride with He's come! he's come"
The door opened and Felix, bearded
and sunbu ned, came in, shy chubby
young girl following him. Her eyes
were brown and oddly honest and frank.
Col. Graham his hand out, stopped,
perplexel
"Who ?-Doral" he said. "Dora?'
yes. Dora" she answered. Il kept
my pr MISE" laughing mischievously.
"You told me TO be good TO the first
Yankee who fell into my hands Here
lie is; / Thought the best thing ! could
do fof him vas to marry him"
Dora's mother and uncles followed
her 10 Michigan Since then there have
heen many family gatherings where the
Nettleys and Grahams--once such bitter
focs-rccall the events OF the war, seek
inc ONLY 10 remember how much that