Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-02-27

regained conscious my mind was so con.
fused that | could not think. knew
that / talked incoherently, therefore |
said but little.
One day while / was sitting in my
room, a man was shown up by one of
the servants. Mr.. and Mrs. Metford
were away from home, having gone over
to a neighbor's house.
''Don't you know met" said the
man.
II don't think that ever saw you be-
fore" l replied
He looked at me and smiled sadly.
"What do yo mean, / askedP'
81 mean nothing offensive. You know
Abe CathamY"
"Never heard o, ,hfal."
81 am sorry, for had hoped that you
would recognize me"
Chow can recognize you, sir, when
this is the first time we have ever
metz"
He shook his head and muttered some
thing which sounded to me like "poor
fellow" Then he startled me by say
ing:
II have been your keeper for
years."
'NTy keepers"
eyes; am connected with the Mis-
souri, Insane asylum"
II don't dispute your position as
keeper, but can assure you that have
never seen the institution. / am st.
Louis land man."
"Let me tell you something that has
just come to light You were wounded
at the battle of Antietam.
"Shiloh." "
"At Antietam. You and young Vir.
ginian, who to some extent resembled
you-a man named Hockersmith fell
close to each other. In the report Of
the killed and wounded, you were put
down on the dead list and this man
Hockersmith was reported to be wounded.
You had been struck by piece of shell
and was upon recovery of the
wound, found to be hopelessly
insane You went to Richmond,
but your supposed relatives spurned you,
so l have heard; and, after wander
ing around, you went to Missouri and
was placed in an insane asylum where you
remained until few weeks ago when
you escaped. Your name, have learned,
is Norval Metford, and 1 have come to
tell your parents, after satisfying myself
that it is YOU"
The room began to turn around. The
mans voice sounded away off at great
distance He seemed to be shouting,
but could not catch his words. Then
some one, dressed in red tight breeehes,
came in and danced on the back of q
chair A blacksmith led in horse and
began to shoe him. His bellows roared
and his anvil rang so loud that had to put
nv fingers in my ears. His fire began to
gradually darken, and, with sudden
puff it went out, leaving me in black
ness of atmosphere. l CROPPED around,
but could find no opening in the wall. l
cried aloud for lamp and I cursed the
blacksmith for allowing his fire to go out
with such cruel puff Crawling around
on my hands and knees, | found match.
l kissed it. | pressed it to my heart.
"Thank God !" | cried. "Thank God
that once more there shall be light in the
world" Tears streamed from my eyes.
| tried to light the match. The tears
had dampened it, and with the feeblest
little glow, it died away, leaving me in
despair. l heard voice, low and
sweet.
"Who are you9" I asked.
A tear fell on my forehead, and clasp
ing my hands, turned my face upward
Whose tears are those falling upon
mel" / cried. The voice, soft and sweet
sang, but the tears continued to fall.
"Oh. can you not give me lampi"
cried in agony Something touched me-
1t was lamp, cold and dark, but
hugged it close to me and took care lest
my tears should fall upon it. | placed
it on the floor and with my hands
clasped around it, l lay down and
prayed. A feeble little glim flickered
between my fingers. The lamp grew
warm. I removed my hands. The
little blaze fickered. and then yes, oh,
glories of heaven, then-there came a
giant burst of light, flood of magnili-
cent illumination. l lay on bed. The
sun shone into the room. A face-my
mothers face was bowed over me.
''Thank God /" she exclaimed and en-.
circled my neck with her loving arms.
My father was there, too, looking upon
me.
"There, DEAR" said my mother, "keep
very quiet. For weeks you have how
cred between life and death"
| closed my eyes and warm recollec'
tions poured over me. l could remem-
Der it all how left that dear home and
went into the army.
am sitting in my room looking out
on the grassy slope where | played so
MANY years ago. There is the old tree
where used to swing in the cool shade.
hear my mother singing in the sitting
room. They say my father laughs again,
as he did when l was boy. Those old
people are in heaven of happiness,
The physician says that few days from
now | can resume the business of life.
Can any one doubt the existence of q
God? Who but God could have
planned such joy? My mother enters
and presses her lips upon my brow.
"You haven't the slightest symptoms
of fever. Norval, DEAR" she says.
Angelic womanl She cannot keep hel
arms from around my neck when she
comes near me. Now she goes singing
through the hallway There stands my
father at the gate. Something has
amused him, for he laughs as he die
{ when was boy. Yes, my name il
Norval. "-ArkanSdW Tra0eler.
A Village Moved.
Rv tha recont Snanish earthoual<es ;