Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-05-24
..a. Listen to The Moclinr Bird and tie

steady tread OF TIE boys zs they passed
The var vas coming nearer, but it SEE med
~ If she only knew it Vas war, when Harry
marched away
Through i, all her synpathies were With
her own people q, the North; ane, from
hot word nov and thea as she grew fierce at
the unhoiy strife which was taking from her
all she held dear. she b-gan TO be an obi CT
# suspicion. Every ore grew fierce and
easily aroused. IL vas oDe long dream Of
terror for Marian until ;he "eruei var" Was
over and she vas ssnt home with the bitter
TESS of death in her heart.
Harry had neter ben heard from since
ihe hattie of Shiloh So netime- in dreams
she .zx the tremHious face # his father a.
he sto0d in his place sith the Guards and
waited. ~iih uncovered head, for the body
of Albert Sldsey Johnston 10 be carried to
its las, resting place
IL seemed as IL even the children felt bit
terry torsri her after that, ard she was glad
70 turn her face norths ari ard the only
home On Which size hal ihe Sigh claim.
Her great uncle was keeper of the Ugh
house on Light House spit Her welcome
TO bis home was sincere and for year she
lived with the two elderly people, glad of the
isolation. But by and BY healthy reaction
set in and she began TO pace the narrow SAM
.pit, that linked the lizii house rock to the
main laad, ike prisoner and gaze across to
the town with a hungry yearning for its peo-
pie. Then she decided to take her little for
tupe, so little that it was easily reckoned, and
20 to a celebrated school and graduate, that
she might be thoroughly fitted 10 teach
This accomplished. her hr-t situation was in
Merton and there she had remained
The long day was drawing to close when
Bart Leroy, a neigbbor's son, came in to
shos her hi. new violin. Miss Childs was
glad of the diversion until he began to play
His first selection vas Listen To the Mock
ing Bird" Oh, why did he choose that ahi
why play il over and over again 1t was
slow torture To hear it and couple of gay
bright-eyed girls were never more welcome
than when they came in to ask her
to go into the city TO see the Battle of Get
tysburg. I'VE want you TO go so much
Mamma said we might go if you would 90
with US, DO, please, dear Miss Childs. Papa
is waiting to take US. You know it is not
coming to Merton, SO it is really our last
chance"
Miss Childs had no desire to see the great
diorama but anything was better than her
present state of mind-than listening to
Barts play ing.
=
When the wonderful representation began
to unfold she regretted coming Tears crepr
into her eyes which had not wept for years
and as she saw the familiar colOrs she could
control herself no longer. Many faces were
turned toward the slight woman in soft
spring like garments, who, as the grand tab
leau of Little Round Top was disclosed
buried her face in her neatly glOved hands
and sobbed piteously A gentleman who sa,
near regarded her curiously. His keen
dark eyes flashed as the Confederate double
battle line swept out of the woods, and once
or twice a suspicious moisture dimmed their
brightness. The ride home was a silent one
The girls respected her grief while their
father wondered why she had never men
toned the los, of father or brother in that
battle.
Tine next evening. after an unusually tire
souie day in ti.e schoOlroom, her one servant
brought her card on which was penciled :;
Capt II. VI Field" strange name. He
called this afternoon and as | told him you
was at school he said he'd come again this
evening; that he must see YOU on business
The sound of the bell brought the me ,sage to a
close and with there he is now, " the servant
stepped to the door to wait upon the arrival
Miss Chids rose rather YEARLY to receive
her visitor. Every vestige of color left her
face as he made known his errand. There
was a certain dash and vigur about his move
menfs that belied his white hair, and one
would have hesitated to pronounce him forty.
Side by side, through mud and water
Harry Mansfield and struggled on that
fearful day at Shiloh. He was severely
wounded bu reached Corinth and, while
there he gave me this picture and told me-
of his love for young girl from the North. -
His listeners fingers closed over poor,
little amprotype of herself He t i me if
ever saw you to tell You of his u7dying at
lection The animosites of war have long
stree ceased-the blue and the gray clasp
hands, and were the struggle to be gone
through again, for one, should wear the
blue"
Still no answer. "He would have been
happier had he known that his love was re-
turned"
at was it was A burden had rolled
from her heart and she continued, but you
have not told me yet-how-he died
He is not dead-Malie, do you not know
me-IIarry. your boy lover;"
1t seemed too good to be true and yet she
was tullt convinced thAt tile stranger was
indeed Harry.
lie was wounded but did not die His
parents heard from him but kept the knowi-
edge from their governness. 1t was no part
of their plan feeling as they did towards the
Yankees that he ever learned her wherea
bouts short explanation followe Harry
Mausfcld's last remark, closing with-"and
| took this journey North for the purpose of
finding you. Fate dres me to see the Bat
tie Of Gettysburg and perhaps you, TOO =
No" said she, smiling, lit was Bart
violin. There he comes nov, and light
step fell on the veranda. Will
You help me entertain him as a
recomrense, Harry" TN being asked to
play, Hail Columbia, Dixie, Marselaise and
a medley of familiar airs were poured wi h
Astonishing rspiiity and correctness from
Bart's violin I'LL the evening air seemed full
of the very sweetness of the tones Captain
Mansfield tht n gave delicate and exquisite
rendering Of the "Mocking Bird with all its
initiative variations. Little Miss Chids
cried softly at this but her tears were of joy