The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-12-27

Tue IOTHI vi u Doy VINO was Tying In
the matted grass, with his face bur.
led in his arms, which were folded
on the ground.
"Col. Davis" said the man, "hless
my soul, if here isn't rebel drum
mer boy. and l guess he's done for,
poor little fellow"
The tall man stopped for mo-
ment, and the boy raised his head
slowly.
"Col. Davis" ne said. "Col. Da-
Wis who said DaviS?"
Toe men gathered about him and
began to examine his wounds. One
of his limhS hal been ain14t entire
iy shot away 10y Il cannon ball
"YeS, GO fnratles," sail the little fell
low, feehly, "you are right, / guess
l6hr dos,eI fs,r.sg h,s ,oa,,, ~
Something in the boys voice at
tracted the leaders, attention, and
caused him to bend down and exam
inc his face.
"Col. Davis ; which is Col. Davis 2"
inquired the boy: this time with
great difficulty, for his strength was
nearly gone.
81 am Col. DAVIS" answered the
tall man.
The boy seemed to be searching
his face i'm the darkness,
Eyes, you are right, Mr.. Davis,
life is only matter of toss and win
toss and loss, at best; have tossed
and lost again. The ball did the bus
mess for me, and Pm goner. Won't
you tell the other men to go away,
colonel, for little while-I want to
talk t" yon alone.
Davis spoke few words to the
men, and they withdrew to a short
distance.
II am so glad that I've found
you,' said the boy, when they were
atone. Ppm ready to die now that
pve found you. Do you know, I
came after you. We heard that you
had enlisted in the army we didn't
know which army it was ; hut Flora
told me to follow you, to find you
somehow. and to tell you"
TELL me what, Jack ?'
"Why.to tell you-bend your he d
down closer, colonel, l can't speak
much longer-to tell you-to tell you
that you made a mistake. 1t was
something about what the doctor
said, and she never meant for you to
go away. She cried long after you
had gone, and her face grew pale and
sad. She tried very hard to find
where you had gone. but she couldn't
and she told me to find you and tell
you you had made great mistake,
and to tell ynu to come back, Mr..
Davis, to come back very soon."
"Yes, Jack, and l will take you
back with me-"
"No. colonel, shall never go back
again, but will die happy if you
will promise me just one thing"
II will promise you anything,
Jack"
"Promise me that you will 60
back"
Eyes"
"And promise me that when you
get" Jack had with difficulty
drawn himself up to a sitting posi-
tion, and had both arms around Da-
vis's neck-"promise me that when
you g~t back you will make-make
Flora your wife,"
Eyes, Jack, l PROMISE" said the
Colonel. who was deeply affected.
"Now you must not talk any more,
and will send one of the men for
the surgeon to dress your wound"
The surgeon came. but his services
were not needed-the drummer boy
Was dead.
The speaker ceased. He had evil
IDENTIFY finished his strangely told
story. and looking into his eyes I
saw they were filled with tears. His
wife came up just then attircd for
leaving,
"lf you have finished your story"
she said. II think we had better G l."
ayes, have Finished" he replied,
and we both rose to our feet.
"But General" I said, "do you
know that this story is true ?"
EYES," was the reply.
"Dld you know Davis ?"
Eyes, knew him very well. Poor
fellow, how l sympathized with him.
My wife knows the stony to be true,
for she also knew Davis"
glanced inquiringIy at the lady,
and she replied very frankly.
Eyes, the General is right. / knew
him, sympathized with him and loved
him, and love him now"
She placed her hands on the Cen
erals arm in way which could
not mistake.