Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-11-21

/ mad clOuueu, Dut not eIVltly spur
ed, fair, clear complexion, and
hestill retained a frank and won
derful winning smile, and out OF
his eyes looked a dauntless spirit,
which evil associations had failed
to corrupt or captivity to subdue.
He was, in a word, boy whom
every woman would have been
drawn to and have loved, whom any
man might have been proud to call
his son.
His name, lie told me, was Ar
thur Perry, his home in Ohio, his
mother widow. He was drum
mer-boy, had been captured some
months before while with an am
munitiOn train, and had endured
all the privations of prisOn-life ever
since. Sickness had broken his
constitution, and reduced him to a
shadow. He was weak and fever
ish. His one great desire was to
get home to his mother, whom he
seemed to idolize. Taking my hand
| he said,-
1T was pretty hard, sometimes,
when there wasn't anything to eat
and was sick, and it was wet and
cold. Sometimes l was so lone
some and hOmesick l couldn't help
crying, and it seemed as if l never
should get home. But it's all over
now. Pm going home to mother.
l wish you knew her, lieutenant.
She's the dearest, loveliest mother
in the world, and oh, | do love her
so. Do you suppose she'll know
meT
'Why, of course she'll know you,
and she'll be very proud Of you,
too,' replied.
Doyou really think she will ?
You don't think these will make
any difference, do you?' he asked,
chokingly, as he pointed to his
crippled feet.
NO, no, no, my dear boy. She
will only love you thousand times
the more
I'm glad you think so, lieuten-
ant and he went on to picture his
coming hOme-hOw his mother
would fold him in her arms and
kiss him again and again, and how
his little brother and sister would
listen to his stories with wide-Open
eye, and how he would run out to
! see his old school l-fellOws-here, as
the thought of his poor, useless
feet flashed through his mind, his
voice faltered, a tear stole out from
under the long lashes, as he laid his
= head on my shoulder. But it was
only for a moment. The brave
little soul was up again.
o you see, l aint used to it yet
J.. he said, with a pathetic smile, as
r he brushed away the tears. AS hC
q talked of his far-away home his
eyes grew so bright and he SCENE.
+. so fresh and strong that began tC
4 think perhaps he would live tC
q reach home. But he soon wearieC
, and fell into a restless sleep, hi
K head still on my shoulder, his hands
s clasped about my arm, as if he fear
r. ed that some way in his sleep he
Y might be taken away.
O AS l passed out, asked the sur
n geOn if it would not be well to send
"a for his mother. He said it would
q. be useless, as the boy could not
d possibly live the week out. That
(. night l obtained leave to remain al
q the hospital for day or two.
!. When / wentdown next morniu
# my little friend was expecting M
Il and when he saw me coming, hi
face lighted.
# 'GoOd-mOrning,' said |, 'hOw di'
% you rest last night?'
n Pm glad you've come early, lieu
g tenant. I've had the stranges
A dream, and it was splendid too.
n. want to tell you about it,
d, His eyes were unnaturally brigh
b, his cheeks flushed, and his who'll
e. face aglow with pleasure at m
coming and excitement about hi
le dream. bathed bis face and hands
le brushed the clustering hair, ant
ly told him meanwhile thatI was goin
10 to take care of him for a day or tive
ID aud was amply paid for it by hi
e. delight and grateful happpiness
es 'And now,' said l, 1ets hear tha
ly wonderful Dream
You see,' he began, after yo
ut left me last night | went right
I'd sleep, and thought was some
bit where else, only | didn't knO'
or where it was, bat could look u
ee and see the stars in the sky.
is. seemed to me there we're never s
If many before. And they kept twinl
10 ling and twinkling 80 that though
k. something must be the matter, an
found out some way that the
1t, we're all very angry because th