Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1884-09-27
A GRUGB THAT TLoATED BACK PLEAS.
ANTLY.
New York Graphic.

When the supply boats had steam
ed past the Vicksburg batteries, al
lowing the Union troops toeross the
Mississippi below from Hard Times
/ TO Grand Gulf, BIair'S second divis-
ION of the Fifteenth Corps found It.
self, after forced march for water,
slaking It's parched thirst at the
Black.
On The further slope was what
had been handsome farm residence
with its steep pitched Southern roof.
wide galleries, and background OF
sweet scented magnolia grove. There
was no sound or sign OF life about
the house, not even the bark OF a
| ,log, friendly or otherwise, and ev-
cry shutter was closed. The house,
like hundreds OF others, seemed to
be deserted, and so 1t came that
Blair and his staff. took their we'll
won dinner on tho gallery OF the
house, well out OF the sun.
An officer who had gone round to
the rear to find well, became
aware OF a woman looking at him
from behind a quietly-opened door
"a woman of forty, dignified, lady
like, but haggard aud pailid with
heavy woe. The officer touched his
cap respectfully, as he told her of
his purpose there.
From what State are those
troops ?o she asked.
"Mostly from Missouri and Illi-
nois."
"Froln Missouri! Ny God /!
Brother fighting brother. VIII you
come in ?" When the officer had
entered she closed the door, and in
the semi-darkness asked in tones
half-chOked with sObs, 80 sir, can
l trust you? My boy is dying. o,
to lose him, to lose him! Can you
do any thing for himr You are
Southern man by blood DO this for
a poor Southern mother"
II will bring Gen. Blair to you
madam
Not two nliHutes later Blair and
his surgeon were by the bedside of
the widows son. He was but
lad OF sixteen, in the Confederate
artillery, and had been desperately
shot at Port Gibson. What could
be done was done, and when tho
men marched there was not want
ing in that wretched Southern home
such nutritious delicacies and nour-
ishing wines as Blair's mess and
the cOmissary's wagons could for
nish. The one touch Of nature that
makes the whole world kin had
met It's response, and Blair left with
blessings. But three ever knew OF
the cireumstance.Blair, the sur
geon, and the staff officer.
! Whether the boy so desperately
wounded lived, was thought of many
times in the years since then by
tho officer, ,as events of the wal, pass
ed panoramically before him ; but
the answer never came until three
weeks since. OF all places In the
world, it came to him at C0ney
Island, as he sat lazily smoking,
looking at the curling white caps at |
sea, and listening to Gilmore's Band
in the shell.
A stately looking man under forty |
came to where he was, and sat by |
him.
"Will you pardon me making an
inquiry ?'' the stranger said. "Were
you i'm the Union army, on Gen. |
Blair'A staff at Vicksburg ?"
The old officer answered "ycs'' 10
these. -a
"Wili you do mo the favor to go |
with me-? A, lady wishes to see
you"
BY the promenade wall the old
soldier was led to where n woman
Of sixty stood with younger
and \ boy OF twelve. The
slider lady extended her hand, and
AZ no placed his own within II, un-
that it was expected OF
him, he found 1t grasped convuls-
iyely. Looking up surprised, he
saw that the lady's eyes were filled
with tears. They were not sad tears.
You do not remember me, sir?"
az do not. madam, yet the voice
He paused.
Nor him ?" pointing to the state
y-looking man who had just accost-
Ell him. 81 do not wonder at that.
Carry your memory hack twenty
Dne years to where you crossed the
Black River on your march to the
Walnut Hills, and stopped to-"
He remembered her then.
"This is my son-the boy we
thought was dying. This IL his
wife and this-placing the boys
hand in his-is his son. Let US go
where we can sit quietly and talk.
My heart il too full. knew you,
sir, Instantly. i have never forgot
len you nor Gen. Blair, for you
saved all held worth saving then"
The old soldier had not anticipa-
ted 80 happy an afternoon. Such
honOrs are something to live for,
and the crumbs of bread so cast upon
the waters of life are worth eating
when they float back our way.
H..