The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-11-06
Selected Sturp.
The Romance of a Handkerchief.

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blanched and her pale lips parted in
breathless excitement. Don't you
hear the booming of the guns, mamma?
They cannot be more than mile away
Oh what dreadful thing war isl"
And she dropped the roses she had
been gathering in her dainty white
apron into promiscuous heap upon
the table, whence their delicate per-
fume soon permeated the entire room,
as they lay neglected there. 1t was the
morning of August Ia, 1864, hot and
sultry when IIume's and Kelly's
brigades of Wheeler's cavalry, who
were raiding General Sherman's com
munications, captured Dalton after
spirited fight, taking two hundred pris-
oners and destroying considerable army
stores.
A glance at her mothers pale face
told Ethel that she was not unmindful
of the truth that an engagement was
taking place only a mile or two away,
whence the din of battle was borne to
them on the air.
" If worse comes to worst, we must
do the best we can, dear, replied her
mother. /" Be calm and considerate,
whatever the result In the mean
time we must arrange to give all needed
assistance to the wounded, be they
friend or foe, for if the battle lasts long,
there may be need of our help" And
LAYING down her sewing, she went to
her chamber and, unlocking the drawers
of an old-time bureau, commenced
taking out rolls of old linen and pile
of old sheets, from which to prepare
lint and bandages. Taking them in
her arms, she carried them down to the
sitting room, where she and Ethel
scraped from them a snowy pile of lint
and prepared bandages which were
rolled ready for use.
Few words were spoken by mother
and daughter, as the thoughts of each
were busy with the hopes and fears in
cident to the occasion, for the loved
from under that roof had gone forth to
share the fate of war, whether for de-
feat or victory.
Mr. Merwin had joined the confeder-
ate army as colonel at the outbreak of
the war, and his two sons, Clarence and
Wimot, were not long in following
him, though the latter was a mere boy
of only sixteen. In all probability these
two brothers were in the engagement,
lOl luC1 DCIOuSOh w LlulnC DllSdQCs
In the midst of their preparations for
the wounded, old Caesar came in With
cleaning eyes showing their white
circles, like the rings of Saturn.
Dey say de Yanks done cum ter
Dalton, an dey's fitin' right smart
down near de meetin' houses by de
woodsl' and his rheumatic legs forgot
their lameness, as he hurried into the
kitchen to impart the news to his deaf
wife, old Milly who was busy with her
morning work.
Don't get excited, Caesar" replied
Mrs. Merwin, with pale lips, as her
trembling hands rolled the bandages
that Esther tore from the sheets, " but
remain about the house until after the
sound of firing ceases, for we may need
you"
"Ya-s'm," replied Caesar, bobbing
his gray head from between the half
closed door, before shutting it, as he
hurried across the back yard to the
kitchen, which was built separate from
the house of his master, few yards
distant, according to the custom at the
South in the time when the slavery
system was in vogue.
About noon a messenger came hur-
riedly-a confederate cavalry soldier,
bearing the tidings that the federals
had taken refuge in fort near the
town, they having been driven back by
the confederates to that point, where
they were strongly fortified.
But we will rout the Yanks from
their retreat Tomorrow" he added
loosely, although his face wore an eX.
preston of pain, for he had come tC
bear sad news with that of victory tc
the inmates of the Merwin plantation,
and had preluded his mission with the
sweet before the bitter.
elbow about my sons-do you know
anything of them?" asked Mrs. Mer
win, anXiously scanning his features.
Z" l believe Clarence is well and safe
but-your younger son, Wilmot, has
been slightly wounded. The surgeon
wished me to say to you that the wound
was not serions, but that he had advised
his removal to your home, and | am
sent to inform you that you had better
send for him as soon as practicable, as
there are very poor accommodations il
the vicinity of the battlefield for the in
jured."
Although Mrs. Merwin had kept W
DrdNe nedrI all uay, InlS luIeHl2enCt
proved the weight that overbalanceC
the seeming equipoise of her nerves
and without speaking word she Leaned
back in her chair, deadly pale, the work
falling from her trembling fingers
Restoratives were administered, which
had the desired effect, and she sooI
opened her eyes and spoke in low tones
With Aunt Miles assistance, Ethe
soon had her mother made comfortable
in bed, and leaving her in that excel
lent nurses care, she and Caesar started
for the battlefield in the family carriage
which contained pillows, blankets an,
other necessary comforts for conveyin!
the wounded soldier to his home.
Arriving at the scene of battle, Ethe
was transixed with horror at the tel
rible sights The soldiers detailed T.
bury the dead were busy at their work
while the wounded had not yet all bee
carried from the field. Dead bodies i
all conceivable positions were lyin
here and there, and in many instance
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