Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1885-05-21

y -
her sen forth on such psrilous srrand.
and her face was very pale as she kissed
him. Away sped Charley through the
garden, glancing with wonder at the
great burrows the shells had plOwsd,
climbed the fence and started to run
with all his might toward Mr. Persons
house. which was half a mile distant.
He had scarcely left the garden fence,
however, when another shell came tear
ing through the shrubbery he had just
passed and burst close to the house. The
mothers heart stood still for an Instant
and there was cause for 1t. One of
the flying fragments straek poor Char
Icy, and he fell to the ground with cry
of "Oh, mammal Down in the cellar
the mother heard the cry of her wound
ed boy, and In mOmepI she was kneel-
ing by his side. 1t was sad sight for
mother to look upon. The cruel piece of
iron with its ragged edges had stripped
a great piece OF flesh from the back OF
his ankle upward, completely severing
the cord and laying bare the bone. He
was lying upon his face, and the blood
wae already staining the green grass
whore he had fallen. Speaking words
of encouragement, she removed his shoe
and the fragment Of stocking, and has
tily bound up the wound with strips
torn from her clothing. In this way
she stanehed the flow Of blood and quiet
ed his fears, though she could not allie
viats his pain.
Now. Charley, must go up to Nr.
Persons myself, for shell may strike
the house, and then Mary and RObty
will be burned. I'll put you behind that
tree, and you will not be in muc h
| danger
But you'll run mamma, won't your"
And the tears tricklsd down Charle,s
cheeks, though he tried very hard to
keep them back. The tree was a large
chestnut, and its generous trunk afford
cd pretty ample protection against the
shells, two of which had struck near by
while Mrs. Cages was binding up The
wound. Arriving at Mr.. Persons she
dispatched him In great haste to the
fort, while she with swift feet returned
to Charley. Becky and Berry PiersOn,
aged II and Is, with true girlish hero
Ism, returned with her Notwithstanding
the bursting shells. On the way they
passed several negroes sheltered behind
stumps and stones, and Mrs. Cages vain
ly begged them to follow her and assist
In the removal of the wounded boy.
They found Charley behind the tree. and
he said, "Oh, mammal I'm 80 glad you've
come back" He could not walk at all,
and he was weak from pain and loss Of
blood. So his mother and the two girls
carried him in their arms as best they
could. Down the hill, half-blinded by
the smoke and stunned by the awful ex-
plOsions, slowly moved the strange pro-
csssiOR. They wsdsd the little stream
in the hollow, stopping a moment to
battle Charley's face and hands, and car
ried their burden up the hill to Mr.. Pier
sons house.
BY this time Mr.. PiersOn had reached
tho fort, and the firing ceased. The
other children were sent for, and in a
few moments the regimental surgeon
and hospital steward came gallOping
down to express their sorrow at what
had happened and to render assistance.
The surgeons prOffered services were
gladly accepted. When he was ready TO
examine the wound, the mother said:
"N0w, Charley, it will hurt you to have
the wound dressed but it must be done,
and you must try and bear it. 1t will
soon be over"
'Pll try said Charley. eff you'll be
sure, mamma, and not let my leg be cut
off,"
She pressed him to her heart, and as.
sured him with loving words that there
was no occasion for 80 serious an OPP
GRAFTON,
"Sing to me. mamma. Sing to mew
"Why, Charley-I-I-dOn't believe
"sn sing nOw," she faltered.
You must, mamma, you must! Please
sing to me just the same as you always
do,and I'll keep awful STILL And h(
reached up and put his arms plsadingly
around her neck. There was a silence
in the room as the little sufferer persist
cd in his strange request. Then TIT
mother closed her eyes and tried to sing
Her voice was tremulOus at first, but b.
mighty effort she expelled from he
mind every thought save the rsmsm-
brance Of her love for her wounded child
and she was soon able to sing to hin
almost as swestly and softly as if il
her own quist home. The boys arm
: gradually relaxed and he lay back agar
quietly upon the blood stained bed. witt
his head resting half upon his pillow
and half upon his mothers lap. Hi
eyes were closed, and his pallid face hat
lost something Of the rOundnsss an,
fullness which marked il in the morn
} ing. The mother was bending over hin
J with one of his hands in hers. On tn
a other side Of the bed sat Berry Pisrsol
: tanning Charlsy's face. At the foo
i, stood the surgeon and the steward
8 Clustered around the room were half
dozen neighbOrs looking on with sym
, pathetic, aws-stricken faces.
a When the mother began to softly sin
/, the song she knew he loved there was
d solemn hush in the room and every ey
Q was filed with tears. Even the rOug
r old surgeon as he cut away the bloed
bandages was seen to turn away hi
J, head and hastily draw his sleeve aerOs
d his eyes number of times, and th
steward was hardly able to distinguis
: his instruments. Under the soOthin
o effect of his mothers voice the boy al