The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-05-23

lldlC ItbOluJiOuS, NY utdl wy, JOu
may fall. l have seen many lad, as
bright and beloved as you, sink into a
drunkard's grave. Resolve-God will
bless you, and your mother will love
you for it,"
He looked down as he walked His
cheeks were fushed-his conscience
evidently approved Of the pointed adj
vice had given him.
"You are very kind, sir" he said, as
he looked up, " to take so much in
terest in my welfare. I'll think of it,
and if see you tomorrow let you
know"
On the morrow / saw him, but it was
in the midst of smoke, fire and carnage.
1t was when l knelt by gasping men to
hear their last messages ere the brave
blood they had so nobly shed had left
the warm chambers of their hearts for
ever. Late in the afternoon l was
called to captain who was frightfully
mangled by a shell.
Friend" he said, with difficulty,
81 am dying. l leave three boys
fatheress, if they are yet living" l
inquired his name-it was that of the
pet of the regiment. Poor boy, his
fatherl" [ sighed.
DO you know my boy, my Ernest?"
he gasped.
yes, l know him."
"Then if you meet with him give
him this letter. 1t is from one he will
never again see in this life. Tell him
to be better man than Ihave been. |
die" and with one great cry of anguish,
he threw himself forward and was gone.
Poor boy" l thought, lately so
full of hope and joy, this is the first
blow"
All day long and all the night, too, I
ministered to the dying. Many time,
as listened to the words of love and
tenderness, my heart seemed almost
bursting with sympathy and agony
" shall leave poor little orphan
child alone in the world" said one
"God will be father and mother to
it, my FRIEND" was my attempt at COM
fort.
Yes, yes-but still she will be a
poor little orphan" was the sad re-
Spouse.
q" Oh, if God would only spare me to
my little family" groaned another.
" was all their help, all their depend
ence. o my wifel my babesl who
shall console them?"
I" am the last one left to my mother,
and now | must die, and not even ask
her to forgive me-" moaned a sturdy,
red-faced man, who laid there with
both legs shot off and frightful wound
in the head.
Another would feebly strive to lift to
his lips the miniature of wife or child.
Oh, how many have l aided to perform
this touching, tender rite by guiding
the cold and alf-palsied fingers.
Please take that ring off--you will
send it-her name is inside was the
last exclamation of handsome young
man as he put his cold hand in mine.
My wife is here, here" whispered
another, as with a heavenly smile he
crossed both hands on his breast, his
lips stiffening the while. | thought he
meant to express the affection which
he cherished for her in his heart, but
on moving the locked fingers there,
Just under the red and clotted shirt,
was the photograph of young and
beautiful woman, in a little morocco
case hung round his neck by slight
cord of silver.
Mother will miss me-" was the only
cry of a young man, scarce eighteen,
and the tear trimming up to the lid,
the quivering lip, were too much for
me. l knelt down by him, my forti-
tude all gone and weeping like a child
But there was no need-ere the tear
had dried or the lip ceased its grieving
he was gone to tenderer care than that
of mother
have often wondered, as l moved
from scene to scene, each more dread
full than the last, how the brain could
bear the repeated encounter with the
worst forms of agony, how the heart
could suffer the constant strain of SYM
pathy upon its delicate nerve and not
burst. | have said to myself, "can |
witness this anguish, helpless to relieve
many moments longer?" And yet, when
the imploring eye turned toward me,
dimming and darkening in death, it
might be something-perhaps some
strong angel, has chained me to that
bed of suffering till the last convulsive
throe has ceased forever.
But | am wandering from my story.
My next impulse was to find my noble
young soldier. l had heard that he
was not wounded, but messenger
came to me in great haste, saying that
Ernest was in the hospital-a great
square barn that had been converted to
that servce-and had sent for me. l
lost no time in hurrying thither, and
soon found myself in the midst of
another scene of horror. | saw my
boy lying on heap of straw, which was
covered with coarse cloth. His face
was frightfully pale-traces of deadly
anguish convulsing his features.
go Mr.. -w he cried-drawing his
breath with spasmodic Violence" they
are all gone. My father, my brothers
Oh, what shall | dor"
" My poor boyp' | said, my tears de-
nying me further voice.
" How cruel, how cruel!' he sobbed---
"not to leave me one, only one"
opened my arms and gathered him
to my bosom, striving by the magnet
ism of sympathy to soften his anguish
somewhat. He lay quite still, but his
pent-up sobbing shook my whole frame.