The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-08-10
The Fate of a Recruit.

She is still beautiful, and though
far beyond the heyday of youth, she
seems like a girl, and is as tender
and gentle towards all the world as
she was long years ago, before her
life was thrown into an eclipse from
which for a time it seemed that she
could never emerge. But nature is
stern mistress, and often decides
that we shall live and labor at an
other task when our chosen one has
been taken away and we only covet
death.
You ask why she has never mar
ried. She is so charming in person
and manner; so beautifully supplied
with Natures and Fortunes choicest
gifts-how comes it that she, a para
gon, yet lives without mate, and
while pervading all about her with
the sweetness of friendship and
peace, throws out a barrier, invisible
but real, which none can pass?
You suppose it is love story
the old one of deception or incon-
stancy. Well, it is a love story, but
not the old one, because there was
no voluntary wrong, committed.
She lived right here on "The Hill,''
where she lives now, and was just
sixteen. She was the only child, and
her father became rich, SO the great
mansion of which she is now the sole
mistress is not the house in which Dick
Harper won her heart and got the
promise of her hand.
Dick was my schoolmate long be-
fore and in the winter of '63 we both
joined the same company, and were
sent to the Army of the Potomac.
We had seen service in the Guard, and
he was made a first and ] q second
lieutenant in the company of volun-
teers in which we were to serve. So
know the story as if it were my
own, and knew Dick Harper as well
as l did myself
And he was without exception the
noblest fellow ] ever met! He had o
face like some of those the great
Masters have dreamed of when they
were trying to paint face, and q
heart as pure and true as ever beat
in a mans breast. He was 1.-the and
active, but 10y no means an athlete,
and / never thought him suited to
the awful hardships of war. In fact,
tried to induce him not to go; but
it was just after Murireesboro, when
patriots were sorely needed, and he
said he felt he could not take shelter
under the Stars and Stripes unless he
did his part to save his country from
it's enemies. He was only a boy-just
twenty-but as full of ardor as an
old Greek, and trimming with pa.
triotism to his lips. He would feel
himself dishonored, he said, unless he
faced the foe that sought his coun-
try'sruin.
He was cheerful enough about it
all after his mother gave her reluct-
ant consent, until it came to the day
of parting with the beautiful girl who
loved him as such fellow deserved
to be loved. Then he completely
broke down because she chung to
him and declared he should not go.
Twas a strong man myself, five years
his senior and had been married a
year. My little wife said:
go, and may God watch over
you'll"
And though l knew her heart was
breaking, knew that back other grief
was a spirit which would prompt her
to shoulder a musket and fight by
my side if need be.
So Dick brought me along to cheer
him up and put a good face on things
for the girl, and | can tell you it was
a task that / wouldn't like to under
take again.
She allowed there were plenty OF
others to do the fighting, and that
there wasn't a bit of use ofhis risking
his precious life. What could one
single recruit do anyhow? And es-
pecially one SO unfit for hardships?
she asked in pleading voice that
would have melted the heart of a
veteran. His staying or going could
not make a particle of difference to
the country, while twas all the world
to her.
/ don't think ever saw any WON.
an take on as she did and have often
thought that she might have had
some vague presentiment of the Sc
quel, that was only known then to the
Infinite. But, at last, Dick tore himself
awayto cast his life willing sacrifice
upon the altar of his country
We reached the army in Virginia a
few days after Fighting Joe" Hook
er was placed in command, and a
good many of the regiments were in
a terribly disorganized condition.
Rockers presence had begun to re-
store confidence. but the frightful
disaster of December all along the
line had cast gloom over the Union
army which it was not easy to dis
pei.
To check desertion President Lin
coin gave up reviewing the decisions
of courts-martial, and the first shots
we heard fired were for the execution
of several poor devils who were to
serve as examples to the rest of us il
we tried to play truant
After charlottesville we began to