The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-05-09

And there arc hearts which beat with pain IN
spoken
TIN from Is cage the tired soul has broken,
Their only rest "a found In endless Night
a BORDER STORY
OF tile Misunderstanding a Private nous.
By Mistake.
Sew lori Tribune.
Itwas midsummer morning in 1864
Out in the fields and over in the city Il
was seorching hot. But in Mrs. Gayes's
house, protected as 1t was from the rays o.
the sun by the abundant foliage Of the
great oaks which surrounded It, the heat
was not oppressive. Mrs. Cages was in
the sitting-room reading paper. The
elder daughter was in Washington.
Charley-the elder son-who was then
near twelve years ofage, was playing with
the dog on the porch. Itwas q peaceful,
quiet picture Of Virginia country life.
Suddenly there came a loud, whistling,
screaming sound, followed by a terrific ex.
pl0sion directly over the house.
"Why!" calculated Mrs. Cages, as she
started from her seat, "what a heavy clap
Of" thunder, she was about to say, but
the unmistakable humming, twanging
sounds which followed close upon the ex-
plosion, with the falling Of leaves and
broken branches from the trees, told her
1t was a shell from some heavy gun.
"ltit possible the rebels are making an
attaek?n abe said.
The children now came running in from
their play, and one OF them cried out,
"oh, mamma, the lightning has struck
the trees" Mrs. Gayes went out on the
porch and looked and listened, but moth
ing could DO seen or heard,
at was a, shell, = said she. 81. expect q
gun at one Of the forts went of accident
..Well,n said Charley, "when they load
their guns ! wish they'd point them to-
ward Richmond. They ought TO be as.
hamed Of themselves"
u cont think we shall be troubled any
mort" said the mother 40 ehe returned TO
the sitting room, followed by the children.
She Ind but Just resumed her seat when
mother shell burieditself in the earth a
few rods from the house and burst, throw
lng nm cloudslnf dust and dirt.
"What can itmeanG" said Mr.. Cages.
''lknow whst,itmeans, mamma cried
Charley. 'sThat New York regiment which
has Just been sent over TO Fort Smith has
put IN n target In our geld, and the fell
lows are firing at it.i wish ! was gen.
VuaM.housel" The boy was right in his
surmise.
Come down into the cellar with me,
all of you" shc said; and they obeyed
with alacrity. After she had quieted
the negro servant, who was alternately
praying to s'de good Lord and to "Missus
GayesH To sage her, abe said;
"Charley, you must rln up TO AF. Pier
son's lust as last as you can, and ask him
10 go around to the fort and have the firing
stopped. And you remain at Mr., Pier.
sons until | send for yon. Don't come
back. You are not afraid tog are your"
s'No, mamma, I'm not afraid, answered
the brave little fellow Us he clasped his
mothers hand p little tighter,
a"Iknew you wonId not be; and now as
soon Us the next shell comes want you
10 CO." When It came she Kissed him,
md said, "Now, my brave boy, run
She would gladly have gone herself, but
she'thought it better 10 remain that she
might be with the other two children in
case tho hoase shpHla be struck and burn
ed. It cost her struggle to gend hef son
forth on such q perilous errand. and her
face was very pale as she kissed him.
Away sped Charley through the garden,
ylancing with wonder st The great throws
tho shells had ploHghea, climbed the fence
and atartcil % mn With al lis might to.
ward Mr., Piersoil' 8 l,opse, which pss half
a mile distant. He had scarcely left the
garden fence, however, when another
she'll came tearing through the shrubbery
he had Just passed and burst close to the
house. The mothers heart stood still for
! monlept zgng there was cause forit One
Of the flying fragm enis etrck poor Challey
and he felllto the ground with acry OF "Oh,
mammal" Down in,the cellar the mother
heard the cry OF her wounded boy, and in
anoment she was kneeling by his side.
II was sad sight for a mother to look
upon. The cruel piece Of iron with its
ragged edees had stripped sgseat piece Of
tlesh from, the back Of bis atikle upward,
completely seyering tho cord aud laying
bare the bone. He was lying upon his
face, and the blood was already staining
the green grass where he had fal.
len. Speaking waFde Of encouragement.
she removed Lis ahoe and the ffagfnentoi
stocking, and hastily bound up. the wound
with strips torn from her clothing. In
this way SHE stspahed the flow Of blood
and quieted hiS fears, though she gould
not alleviate bis pain.
Nov, Charley, ! must go up to Mr..
Persons myself, for shell may strike
the house, and then Mary and Robby will
and Won viii not 81 81 In much 'i dangss I
II nBut you'llrun, mamma, won't you?
And the tears trickled down Charley's
cheeks, though he TIED very hard to
keep them back. The tres ~sssa large
chestnut, and it's generous trunk afforded
a, pretty ample protection against the
shells, wv d. which had struck near by
while Mrs. 6ayes VA binding up the
wound, Arriving at MI Fersopis, che
dispatched iimiih greet haste %. the fort,
while she, with swift feet, returned to
Charley. Becky and Berry Pierson,
aged se;epfeen and eighteen, with true
gfrlIsh heFatsR, Fekatasd WITH her not
withstapdlpg the bursting sheels. IN
the way they passed several negroes shell
tered behind stutaRs and stones and Mrs.
Cages yainly begged them 70 follow aeFI
and assist In the removal 1.-THE wounded
boy. They found Charley behind the
tree, and he satd; sob, namMai pmso
dad you've come back.p he could not
walk AZ al, snl he wRs weak from pain
and loss q blood. SO bis mother sad the
two eirls carried him In their arms as
best they could. Down the hill, half
blinded BY the smoke and stunned by the
,aTla esptosi9Hs, S,sSy IE saaSSsssa thsI