Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-03-23
His Grateful Country.


fro ii an agony Of grief.
But what is it, Aunt Tildas Tell
me what has happened since morning
to grieye you so? Is Jem sick ! or
Uncle Bob?"
Here came fresh outburst of woe
from Aunt Tilda. ssDat's it, Miss
Jane, honey, dat's it. Bob. he's
done gone off to list. and I'll nebes
see him any more. neber. neher-'
ssWhat, Uncle Bob gone? When
did he gos' and the fair young face
grew sad indeed. Maybe you are.
mistaken, Aunt Tilda. Uncle Bob.
was not missing two days ago.
NO. deed Use not mistaken.
Marse Henry, he done told me hiss
self dat Bob's gone two days, and
Bob he said las time he's here. eff he
jes had one chance he'd go; but ]
neber spected he meant it, Miss Jane.
eos he laugh and tole me he's only
sayin it to tease me, but / feel like
he's neber goin' to come back no
more; and Jem he's way down the
ribber, and dar amt none left 'cept-
in me, and the tears flowed afresh.
Few conld realize the old woman 5
sorrow as Jeanette Gordon. Since
the beginning of the war heronly BROTH
er had been killed, her lover was even
then in prison, and her father had
gone but week before to fight for
what he deemed was right. Left
alone in the old home place, her only
friend and eonfidante was Aunt Til
da, who had been her nurse, and who
tried hard to fill the place of the
young mother who died when Jean
snette was but baby, eighteen years
before.
Aunt Tilda herself had known
many a sorrow, but the greatest was
when Jem, her own boy, had been
sold to a planter s'down the ribber,
and it seemed then as though life
could hold no more bitter grief. But
now ssBob," her sole man, the
very sunlight of her life, had gone,
and no one could feel the weight of
bitter misery that utterly oyercame
her faithful heart, as she realized
that she was indeed alone. Vainly
Jeannette tried to soothe her. 1t
seemed as if words but added to her
grief. So her young mistress deem
ed it best to let her indulge her sor-
row for awhile, and walked slowly
from the cabin.
Half an hour afterwards little Jake
ran into the cabin to say that, ssMiss
Jane she say come up to the house,
and come right quick "a message
which Aunt Tilda forced herself to
obey.
I've been thinking, aunt Tilda, 2
said Jeannette, kindly, when she en-
tered the room, s.that now, since
there is SO little for you to do here
for me, perhaps you would like to
work for some one else, Noi dom
stop me; wait until I tell you my
plan. If Uncle Bob does come back.
why you would feel right proud if
you had some money of yonr own te
show him; and if he should not come
back, why then, Aunt Tilda, you
would have some money for your
self. There, that will do, Aunt Til
da; | know all yon wish to say. You
see remember all the kindness you
have shown me. Now you can go
and let me see how much you car
earn for yourself and Uncle Bob.''
The plan proved entirely success
ful. In her eagerness to help Boz
Aunt Tilda forgot the weary days of
waiting, the heartburnings and fears
that her mistress knew only too well.
.sAfter ALL" thought Jeanette.
ssAunt Tilda is all the mother ever
knew, and ] am glad. so glad,
thought telling her to earn some.
thing for herself. Poor old Aunty
she was always good and kind tc
me-"
So the days sped on at the farm
house, and many were the rumors
of defeat and loss that reached them
from the "boys in gray, but nothing
definite. Once in while Captain
Gordon managed to send word that
he twas WE'LL" that was all. To
Aunt Tilda no news came. but she
toiled on, day after day, content II
she could save little more for Bob
when he came back. It was ended
at last The weary days of waiting,
of fear and dread were ended, and
Jeannette knew that her brave young
lover was sleeping in soldiers
grave. and her father, who returned,
came home only to die.
To faithful. loving old TiIda NO
news came, and day By day the light
of hope faded from her face, and the
old mark of love was abandoned.
Two months passed, then the third
dragged slowly on, and she felt that
Sue was indeed alone
Bot at last, when all hope had
gone and life seemed dark indeed,
Bob returned. But it was not
the light-hearted. laughing Bob" Of
olden days Tilda Iejoiced over; but
wreck of his former self be was
50 thin. % wretched, 30 utterly brok-
en-. Il seemed miracle he had reach
ed home alive. He had been ID d
hospital. be said--in the smallpox
hospital al Cairo.-and be non had
returned. 4 beIDless. l,zs.lxen fIown