Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-01-29
.The GirIILeft Behind ME-"

j. II. S. in the JOnesb0ro tGd.) Netcs.
In the spring of 1861 1 was a II year-Old
boy, going TO school IN the town OF Fay-
etteVille. The war bugle had been sound
ed, and every one galused lawyer of that
town was blowing of his elOquence tell
ing US what a noble thing 1t would be for
fellow to 20 ~ the front and be shot
down on the altar OF his country; how his
name would be printed In history, and
what hero he would be, though dead.
and II he should stay at home, when the
boys came back he would be called a
traitor and coward. Alter four years
experience, ! have decided that had
rather be living coward than dead
nero. But their elOquence had the desir-
ed effect on me. l wanted TO die for some
thing, / did not know what, so | enrolled
my name on the list of the Fayette Grays.
OF course, / like all boys Of my age, had a
sweetheart, a hazeleyed, brown-bared
beauty. Ii there Is anything | have a
weakness for, It IL brown hair. All my
sweethearts have mad brown hair, ana
don't know black-haired woman on
earth tEat has any use for me. To say
loved that girl, does not express it. ! ac-
tualiy loved ali her relations. all the neg
rOes on her father's place, all on account
OF her. | used TO go berry hunting, and
would walk up and down the brooks with
her gathering flowers. 1t fact | was all
the time with her, and how she did sing
and play for me every night, and would
generally close by singing "NO One To
Love. Ne One " Caress." That would
get next to me every time. Then l would
move up TO her and explain. When | told
her | lad joined the army, we both cried,
but she SAID she knew | had done right,
but it would break her heart 20 see me go,
and made me promise to come home often.
We r.rnrufagH "a a a zach nfhup "a
when the war WAS over we would get
married and be happy the rest Of our
lives. She helped 10 make my uniform
and get me ready for the front. The day
came tor our company TO leaVe--the sad
dest hour Of my lie had arrived, | went
70 her 10 bid her good bye. As took her
by the hand she fell on my manly bosom
and wept. ] also wept. The scene was
a very affecting one. some Of the oldest
inhabitants who witnessed IL shed tears,
also. She said she loved me, and she did
not care who knew It. | kissed her good
bye and tore myself away. 10 was no
harm to Kiss n girl during the war. /
sometimes wish the war was gong on
nOW.) Twice a week the mail man would
hand me q nice little white envelope, and
M II ! would lind wrlUen GA per'unied
gilt edge paDsr words u love. After read
INK, would place them next 10 my heart,
ana AT hiknL uitdul bl uti anu tue happy
meeting that was 10 come; but the course
of true love never did run smooth. One
day the ugliest aud latest man in our
company was discharged, Tor what |
never knew, unless IL was for ugliness.
lie went home. He lived on an adjoining
farm, where my ideal lived. soon the let
tiers began 10 gut scarce, then they ceased
altogether. This / could not understand.
But one Of the boys who came from home
explained the mystery. She had married
the fellow who had been discharged. iris
WAS an awful blow 10 me, but / mustered
up courage, got mad, burned her letters
10 the campfire, threw her picture intotle
creek aud said things Of ''tne girl left be-
hind me-" did not commit suicide, az
many would nave done, but coneOled my
self with the idea that there Was a. good
fish in the sea as was ever caught out
OF H.. When / remembered that the sea
was full u Dish Of all kinds, remembered
there was star fish, mullot, ehad, whale,
big hsh, little 1sh, electric lsh-she was
Of the electric soi t.atleast she gave me an
awful shock. She 10 now the happy mother
Of eight dirty-faced boys, aud her husband
b. bailiu 81 bis district