Huntsville gazette., 1885-08-29

| O8ETOu plCkSQ up An OlQ DaSKeC anu
fastened to bring the stones to the
grave. In short time he had them
all there, and together they laid them
along the sides Of the little graves, and
at the foot of them.
At first the woman seemed not a lit
tie embarrassed at the strangers pres
ence, but as he kindly assisted her with
the stone and sod, brighter look came
into the inexpressibly sad face, and she
spoke freely to him of the past.
just now Carroll for the first time
noticed the writing on the stone, As
he did so, change came over his
face, and his lips shut tightly.
| I'm memory of Walter Raymond, +"
it ran, 'who fell at Shilo April 9th,
1852"
Beneath was simple inscription,
which showed that he and Carroll had
fought under opposite flags.
cit was along time ago" the woman
| ventured to remark, as she saw him
making out the figures, .though when
l came here this morning, it seemed
but yesterday"
''Then this is your husbands grave?"
said Carroll, not so much now with the
wish to know more as to keep back the
bitter recollections over which he had
so little control.
Eyes, sir, this is my husband 8
grave" she replied; and pointing to
the smaller ones, land these are my
children's."
"Are all of your family here, then?'
continued Carroll, his heart touched
once more. now the unpleasant surprise
was over.
mo, sir, not all; there is one left.
We had but two when he went away
a girl and boy-a fine boy. The baby
he never saw, but he wrote often then,
and of always coming back to see it. "
''Was it long before the battle that
you heard from him last?" asked Car
roll, still struggling with his feelings.
"Oh. no; the very night before Shi-
lob he sent long, hopeful letter-'twas
so good! and-then it was the last.
Somehow, feared it was the last-he
spoke so often of the baby-and-
so tenderly of-me."
Carroll did not look up. He had
stopped down again, and was busy
with the SOdS and stone.
"'Twas in that letter." she contin-
ued, after little. 'that he first seemed
to fear how his life would end. Some
how it seemed he could not end that
letter; but finally, in one corner away
along the side. he spoke of the names
we talked of for the baby, and then
there was-'Good-by'
Her voice faltered here, but the
trembling hands kept on placing the
stones.
'War is cruel, madam-too cruel, "
Carroll could not help saying. as the
sad story brought all that terrible past
before him. ''1t must have been very
hard for you then, and none to help
you"
'Oh yes, sir; and then it came
what had dreaded from the time he
left. To be sure, they did not tell me
how badly he was shot, but oh, l knew
and left the children with neighbor
and started for the camp. When l
came into the hospital tent he was say
ing: Helen! Helenr and thought he
knew me, but he didn't. He had been
saying it all along, they told me. Well,
the doctor could do no more, they
said, and so they left me with him.
All that long night held his hands,
so white and cold. and l thought of
the little ones, and of the empty home
there, and but I cannot tell you!
Somehow it all came back, every little
thing he had ever done for me.
"It all seemed so plain-I could see
him doing up the chores at the barn
again, and then coming up the path
with the pals in one hand and leading
little Walter with the other. When he
came through the woodshed. and into
the kitchen, could hear his steps so
plain, and the door open and shut
just the same rattle in the latch
''Oh, l thought I should die! And
when cried out to him they told me
l must 60 away if l made noise. So
kept still, though it seemed my
heart would burst.
"Well, along towards morning, as l
sat looking at his pale face. all at once
he opened his eyes and smiled, just as
he used to. Then his lips moved, and
could just hear him say:
"'Yes, | have come; / always told
you would come back Now, where
is the baby, Helen? Then 1 held my
ear close to his lips for long time,
but could hear no more, and when
l looked again, he lay SO still!'
Carroll could not see the stone he was
trying to place; still he kept his head
bowed, and worked on as we'll as he
could.
"Well, 1 brought him home," she con-
tinued, land when they laid him in our
little front room it did seem as though
the children would awake him here.
And that winter we brought the baby
here and laid it beside him. was so
tired then wanted to hug the poor
little thing up to me, and lie down
there with them. But it wouldn't do;
| there were two left and they must be
fed. So did the best could for them
till-oh. it don't seem so long No,
but then it is; yes, it is seven years ago
tomorrow since we brought little
Walter here. He was such little man
so like his father!'
Here the wrinkled hands stopped
| laving stone, and when Carroll looked