Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1889-05-16

Globe Democrat says: Nelson
Holden of Troupe county. Geor-
gia, joined one CT the first regi-
ments from that state when the
war broke out. He left behind
ayoung wife, having been mar
ried only a few months Holden
was a good soldier, and only
once during the war dill he Oh
tain q THROUGH and visit his
wife. lie was 81 home for a
short time III the summer Of
1863, and soon after he returned
10 the war be was taken Prison
er. Before Holden had au OPP
portunity of writing to lis wife
after his capture he was taken
Ill with a slow malarial fever.
when captured Holden bad
become separated from bis com
pany, aud his comrades thought
he had been killed in the battle.
Airs. HOlden's first notice of the
supposed death of her husband
was contained in some resOlu
tons passed by his company. a
copy of which was forwarded to
the family. Without making
any investigation Mrs. Holdesi
mOurued her husband as dead.
while he was lingering between
life aud death IN "a northern
prison. IL was many months
before he fully recovered from
the effects of the terrible fever
Holden was not released un-
III after the close of the war,
and, weak from kis long illness,
and penniless, he started %
make his way to the little home
in Georgia. He was compelled
10 seek employment several
times to earn money 10 continue
his Journey, and it was late In
the autumn Cf 1855 when HOi-
lien cane IN sight of the little
home. He was q wreck of his
former self, aud fully realized
that il would be difficult for his
own rife 10 recognize him.
Arriving az the home he had
left more than two years before,
Holden found it occupied by two
strangers. without disclosing
his identity he asked where Mrs.
Holden was. "Oh, she married
Chris Jones aud moved away
last spring." vas the answer he
received.
Holden was FRUSTRATED Oy the
shock of this startling inteili
geace, but without giving his
name lac turned and walked
slowly away from the little home
where the happieSt hours of his
life had been passed. He made
no fort to find his wife but con
tinued his Journey TO Clay eOun
ty, Ala. Holden worked awhile
rs a farm labOrer and finally
saved enough money to pur
| chase a small farm OF his ewn
In time the old love was forgot,
Ten and hc married again Hol
len pTospeTed and after "A fea
years owneG one of the pes.
farms in the county. Severa
children were born and 1t va:
not long until his FIRST marriage
seemed like a dream. AbOu
four years ago Grs. Holden Nc
: died, leaving FIVE children.
About q year after the dealt
OF his wife III. Holden sold
portion OF his farm to a ma
named Jones frem Georgia 1;r
Jones built a house and moved
his family to Alabama Sool
the two farmers became goo,
friends. but Mr Holden ha,
never been to the house of hi,
neighbor, and had never seer
his wife.
Less than a year ago yir. Jorel
died. His neighbor, Mr.. Hol
den, of course, attended TO tn,
funeral, and caused no little ex
element by going off in a deao
faint when introduced 10 tn,
weeping widow of the dead man
That was not the time or plac,
for explanations, and the mex,
day after the funeral Nr. Holder
called on his former wife, ant
this time the recognition wa.
mutual.
Mrs Jones' period of mourn
ing will expire in q few days
and then she viii be quietly mar
ried again TO the husband Of
her youth. She has three chill
dren living and IL. Holden Ia,
five. Only few of theiI mos.