Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-11-27

returned to the old homestead, that he had
not seen since the war And what a time
they had How the gray headed servants,
forgetting the grand dinner, forgetting every
thing in their affection, crowded into the
dining room to see young MARS VIII" once
morel The whole plantation seemed to have
gone mad with Joy that the first Thanksgiv-
ing ever celebrated in Beverly Farms should
be 50 best. Indeed, for everybody the cup
of happiness appeared to have been filed to
the brim. But it was not so. There was yet
another surprise in store.
In the evening there was such gathering
around the big fire in the chimney place as
the old parlor never had witnessed. With
Dorothy on one side, and Margery-her usu-
ally grave face frightened by love-on the
other, each holding the brawny hand Of their
brother, and Kate in his lap, her eyes spark
ling with delight at the possession OF new
uncle, VIII recounted his adventures during
the preceding twenty years. He told them
how after the war he had found service on
an English steamship and, by reason of his
naval training at Annapolis, had been rapid
" promoted until he became a captain in the
Oriental and Peninsular company, but that
most of his time had been spent in voyages
between far distant ports in the east under
circumstances that did not permit him to
take a sufficiently long furlough to visit
home
Resides, he knew from the letters of his sis
ters that their financial condition did not re-
quire his presence or the abandonment OF a
profession that was yielding him more than
q competence. However, the longing had so
grown upon him to return to the scenes OF
his boyhood, he at last had resigned his COM
mission and determined that henceforth Bev-
erly Farms should be his home And to
think of IL, he added, THAT have found on
the night of my arrival Thanksgiving party
in Old Virginia brother-in-law turning to
Col. Hartley whom l have never seen and
this lovely niece. Verify, we all have reason
to be thankful
''But what's this, Kategn continued the
captain, toying with "a curiously wrought
locket which dangled among other ornaments
from a girdle around her waist.
That's trinket,n replied Kate, that be-
longs to Uncle Robert, yonder, and wear it
only by his permission. Tell the story, Uncle
Bob, for always love to hear it.n
at is an incident of the war; was the re-
joinder, land at a time like this one has no
right 10 recall sad memories or speak of such
a thing as battle and bloodshedn Urged by
the others, however, Uncle Robert proceed
ed: "After the assault on Pickett's division
at the battle of Gettysburg, among the pris-
oners who fell into the hands of my regi-
ment was one in whom became deeply in
terested- He was a large, handsome, brown
eyed man, a native of this state, and, like
myself, a major. Though desperately wound
ed, and with the chances of living all against
him, not a murmur of regret, save for his
family, escaped his lips. / often visited him,
but each visit revealed the fact that his hours
were numbered. One morning whils seated
by his bedside, he asked me TO hand him his
faded, gray uniform which hung at the foot
Of the cot | did So and taking from
one of the pockets a knife, he request
ed me TO rip place in the left breast
of his coat. There found bit of paper
wrapped around a small hard substance,
which on further examination proved to be
a little star. This" said he, looking at it
lovingly, was cut from the coat of Gen.
Stonewall Jackson, my noble leader. 1t was
my fortune to be one of those who bore him
10 the rear when he fell at Charlottesville,
and when his coat was removed / cut this
star from his collar and placed it where you
have just now found it-where it would al
ways be nearest my heart. / returned to the
battlefield and fought as | never fought be-
fore This souvenir l wish to leave with
you in order that you may sometimes think of
the Virginia soldier you have befriended
And this, %" said he, taking the crumpled pa
per, lis the last leave of absence Gen. Jack
son ever gave me. Should you ever have the
opportunity, send it to my wife" Before
another word was uttered a change passed
over his face and he became unconscious.
The next day he died. Shortly after that /
was transferred to the Army of the West.
When the war ended | had the two mementoes
inclosed in the little cs4ket that Kate now
wears
During this recital more than one pair of
eyes were moist, and the voice of the manly
soldier himself, who recalled this episode
trembled as he reached forward and openinC
the locket said: See here is the star of
Stonewall jackson, and here the furlouCh
signed by him permitting Maj. Albert Fair
fax TO visit home for thirty DAYS
''Oh, poor husband!n cried Margery, with
a great sob as she fell almost swooning in
the arms OF her brother Dorothy and Clara
assisted her from the room TO her own cham
her, where for n time grief held its SWAY.
But Marcery was made of sterp stufF and
ri -, - H. a.. ,,;.,a- = -
of such an hour as that and when She re-
Joined the company, the old calm was re-
storai and there WINS not "a trace il, tho s,-aa-