The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1885-06-04

abe thought u better 70 ssmAiu thet -
might be With the other two children Il
case the house should bs struck and burn
I'd. II cost her struggle 70 send her col
forth on such . perilous journey. aud be-
face vas very pale - she kissed him
Away sped Charley through ths garisa
elaneing With wonder u The great furrovI
the shells had plovsd. climbed the isnc<
aud started 10 run With oil bis might "
Yards Mr.. Piersoa's house. which ~
half mile distant He had scarcely leil
the garden fence. however. vhsa anethsl
shell came tearing through the shrubbcry
be had just passsd and burst clos 70 ~
house. The mothers heart stood piill fou
an instant : aud there WAS cause for il.
One Of the flying fragments struck posi-
Charley, and be fell 70 the ground With Z
CRY Of "Oh. mammal" Down i the cel-
lar The mother heard Tho cry a hsr vssnd.
ID boy. and 10 monest chs ~ knesIlsG
by his side. II was : sad tight for I
mother TO look upon. The cruel piece oi
iron with its ragged edges had stripped :
great piece Of flesh from the back Of his
ankle upward. completely severing the
cord aud laying bare the bone. He vas
lying upon his fsce. and the blood was d
ready staining the green grass where be
had fallen. Speaking words Of encourage
msnt, she removed bis shoe and the frag-
msnt OF stocking, and hastily bound mp
the wound with stripes torn from her cloth.
ing. Ia this way she stanohsi the Aow Of
blood and quisted his fears, though she
csuld not alleviate his pain.
Nov. Charley. ! must 90 up to Mr..
Persons myself. for shell may strike
the house. aud then Mary aud Robby will
be burned. I'll put you behind that tree,
and you will not be in much danger"
"Bnt you'll run. mamma, wont your
and the tears trickled down Charley's
cheeks, though he tried very hard TO keep
them back The tree was large cheat
nut. and its generous trunk afforded .
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 fleet feet returned to Charley; Becky
and Berry Pierson. aged II and IL, with
true, girlish heroism, returned With her.
Notwithstanding the bursting shells. On
the way they passed several negroes shell
tered behind stumps and stones; and Mrs.
Cages vainly begged them to follow her
and assist in the removal Of the wounded
boy. They found Charley behind tAe tree.
and he said. "Oh, mamma, In 90 glad
you've come back" He could not walk
at all. aud he was weak from pain ssA loss
OF blood. So his mother and tho two
girls carried him in their arm a. hsst
they could. Down the hill bali blinded
BY the smoke and stunned by the wwinl
explosions. slowly moved the strange pro-
cession. They wsded the little stream in
the hollow, stopping moment to bathe
Charley face and hands. aud carried their
burden up the hill to Mr.. Persons resi-
dence.
by this time Mr.. Pierson had reached
the fort, tho firing ceased. The other
children were sent for. and il few mo-
ments the rsgimental surgeon snd hospi-
tal steward came galloping down TO ex-
press their sorrow 1t what had happened
and to render assistance. The surgeons
protfered services were most gladly sccep.
ted. When be was ready to examine the
wound, the mother said:
'Now, Charley, IL will hurt you to have
the wound dressed; but it must be done;
and You must try aud bear II. " will
soon be over.
I'll try" said Charley, iii you'll be
sure, mamma, aud not let my leg be cut
Off.
She pressed him TO her heart. and as
sured Lin with loving words that there
Was no occasion for no serious an opera.
ton.
''Sine TO ms mammal
why. Chni iey--I-I-d -don't believe l
can sing now" shs ialtered.
"You must. mamma. you mustl Please
sing TO ms just the same ~ you always do
and Ill keep awful still, 7 and lie reached
up and put his arms plesaiinsly around
her neck.
There was silence ia the room ~ the
little sufferer persisted in his strange re.
quest. Tien the mother closed her eyes
aud tired TO sing. Her voice was tremul-
GUS At first. but by y mighty effort she ex.
pelIed from her mind every thought save
tho remembrance Of her love for her
wounded boy; and she wss soon able To-
sing TO him almost as sweetly snd softly
~ II 10 her own quiet home. The boys
arms gradually relaxed aud he lay back
again quietly upon the blood stained bed.
With his head resting bali upon bis pill
low and half upon bis mothcr's lap. His
eyes were closed. and his pallid face had
lost something Of the roundness and full
ness which marked II in the morning The
mother wss bending over him With one Of
his hands in hers. Ga the other side Of
the bed sat Berry pierson. isnning Char
ley's face Al the foot stood the surgeon
and the steward. Clustered around the
room we're half dozen neighbors looking
oD with sympssLetic ave stricken faces
When the mother began TO softly sing
The song she knew be loved, there ~as .
soiema hush ip tbs room, and every eye
was hlled with tears. Even the rough Id
Surgeon, As ir cns svsy sttr bloody baud.
ages. vas seen 20 inrn away his bread snd
hastily draw bis sleeve scross Bis eyes .