The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-06-05

' No nanny. I'm not afraid answered
the brave little fellow IS be clasped his
muther's hand a little tighter.
d" l knew you would not be and now as
soon ss the uext shell comes / want you 10
GO When it came she kissed him and said
q" Vow my brave 10y, ruuT'
She would have gladly gone herself but
she thUught &c better to remain that she
might be with the other two children In case
the house should be struck and burned. It
cUst her a stragEle to send her son forth on
such a peTilous errand and her face was
very pale as she kissed him. Away sped
Charley through tie garden, glaBcing with
wonder At The great fuuuws the shells had
plouehed. eumled the fence aud started to
run with ali his might toward Mr.. Persons
house. which was half mile distant He
had scarcely left the garden fence. however
when another shell came tearing through the
shIubOsTy he had just passed and burst close
to the house. The mothers heart stood still
for an instsnt-aud there was cause for It.
one of the flying fragments struck poor
Charley, and he fell 10 the ground with cry
Of " Oh, mamma 20 Down in the cellar the
mother heard the cry Of ber wounded boy,
and In a moment she was kneeling by his
side. u was a sad sight fOT a mother 10
look upon. The cruel piece Of iron with its
ragged edges lad stripped great piece Of
flesh from the back OF his ankle upward,
completely seyeriug the cord and laying bare
the bone. Re was lying upon ms face, aud
the blood was already staining the green
grass where 1r had fallen. Speaking words
OF encouragement, she removed his shoe and
Lhe fragment OF stocking and hastily bound
up the wound with strips toru from her
clothing. In tins way she stEunched the 1oW
OF blood aud quieted bis fears. though she
could not alleviate bis pain.
" Now Charley, / must 20 up to Mr.. Pier
sons myself for shell may strike the bouss,
and then Mary ana Bobby viii be burnt
IN put you behind that tree, aud you will
not De il much danger"
But you'u run, mamma, wont you?''
And tears trickled down Chs-ley's cheeks,
though he tried very hard 20 keep them
back Tie tree was large chestnut, ard
its generous trunk afforded a pretty ample
protection against the shells, two of which
fel. near while Mrs. Hays was binding up the
wOuad. Arriving az Mr.. Persons she dis
patched him IN great haste 10 the fort, while
she with swift feet returned TO Charley.
Becky and Berry PIeTsOn. aged seventeen
and eighteen with true eirlish hernsm, re-
turned with her, notwithstanding the burst
+ ing shells On the way they passed several
j negroes sheltered behind stumps and stones,
and Mrs. Hays vainly begged them 90 follow
( her and assist in The removal Of the wOucd-
I ed boy They found Charley behind the
tree, and he said, " on, mamma I'm so
: glad you've come back" He could not
walk at al, and be was weak from pain aud
. ! lss Of blood. So his mother and the two
+ girls carried him in .heir arms as best they
could. Down the hill, bali blinded by the
smoke and stunned by the awful explosions.
slowly moved the strange procession. They
Waded the little stream In Sac hollow, stopp-
iug a moment to bathe Charley's face and
hands, and carried their burden up the bill
to Mr.. Piers0n's house.
By this tune Nj. Piers0n had reached the
fort and She firing ceased The other child
ren were sent for, and in a few moments the
Tegimeniai surgeon and hospital steward
came galloping down 70 express their sorrow
al what happened and to render assistance.
The surgeons proffered services were most
gladly accepted, hen be was ready to ex-
amins the wound, the mother said
Nov, Charley, it viii burt you to have
the wound dressed but d must be done,
and you muss try aud bear It. It win soon
be over
"I1l try,'' said Charley. "if you'n be
sure, mamma, and not let my leg be cut OF. 81
She pressed bin to her heart, ana assured
him with loving words that there was no &C
casion for go serious an operation
''SiBg to ne, mamma Sing to me r
VIII. Chsriey-I-I-don't believe can
; sing now" she faltered.
r,ur+ ma nnu,, r--r, r-rrsf r1f..--
> sing to me Just the same rs you always DO,
and III keep wful STILL And ne reached
uD and put ms arms pieadingiy around her
neck. There vas silence in the room as
the little sufferer persisted in HE strange re-
qnest. Then the mother closed her eyes and
sried to sing Her voice was tremulous al
first, but by s mighty effort she expelled
from her mind every thought save the re-
mem5rauce Of her love for ber wounded
child and she was soon able 10 sing 70 hin
almost as sveetly and softly as IL in her own
quiet home. The bows arms gradually r.
is<sd and he lsE back again quietly upon
, the blood stained bed. Btb his head restin,
half upon bis pillow and balf Upon hi,
mothers zap. His eyes were closed, and hl.
pallid face had lost something of the round
ness and fulluess which marked it 10 the
morning The mother was bending oYeI
him with one OF his hands in hers. On the
other side Of the bed sat Berry Pierson fan
] ming Charley's face. At the foot stood the
surgeon and the steward Clustered around
the reOm were half a dozen neigbbors look
ing on with sympathetic, awe-ztIicken faces
When tie mother began to softly sing ths
song she knew be loved, there was a solemn
hush in the room, and every eye was hlied
, with tears. Even the rough, Old surgeon, a
; lie cut away the bloody baudage. was spsn {
turn away his head ard hasti. uIaW hls
sleeve across bis ewes Ii,, ssi- % distin-
and tie ste ward sfts Under the soothing
ealsn Ms llesuaother's voice the BOY allowed
! enec.., ..,8und 10 be dressed aud the cruel
Stitches to be taken Later in the day he
dropped 8sleeD ana awoke considerably re-
, freshed. He was uncnmD Dlatuing through Il
, all and the fOrtitude tn which be bore his
suderings excited the admiration Of every
one.
a In the cool Of the evening Charley WAS
! taken heme in an ambulance, sent Tor thai
. purpose from the fort The officers did
{ everything in their power To atone for the
suffering they had SO carelessly, but unin-
Q tentionaily caused. The surgeon and his as
: sistants attended him tenderlv and carefully
until he was well. The surgeon offered &
Z procure his mother pension, but Mrs Hay;
e declined saving that she was too thankfn
a that her hoy was alive to think OF asking ait
from TIE Government Charley was sOOi
70 able TO walk with the aid OF crutches, bu
D, could not dispense with their use fUr man.
e months.
a. Ms. HAYS. now an aged woman, loves 3
] eel OF thOse periious times One OF be