Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-09-25

But while Harry fingered Sandy came painting
back and they dashed the cool water over the
pallid face and put the bottle to the boys lips,
and he revived and drank eagerly.
''Oh, you re very good to me, he murmured
'tDo you live round here? If you could get me
in anywhere, maybe could get well.''
Sandy told him their name and home, and
asked him his, and he said he was Dick 81 bley
of the Nineteenth Alabama and his home was at
Gulf City.
"Weli. guess you'd have done as much for
u.s." Tom responded. and Wen do what we
can for you. Keep still now
He spoke again to Harry, who ran off.
Mr.. fremont was sitting in front of the hotel,
listening to the thunderous uproar in the south
and anxious enough as may be supposed, when
Harry suddenly burst upon him, out of breath
and full of concern, but with this incongruous
i.oh. father, we've found Dick!''
Mr.. fremont a very distinguished and
dignIfed looking man, for all his jocular man
ner, but he stood up now and took his big son
in his arms and Rugged hum and laughed for joy
and amusement combined. He knew Harry 5
allusion was to n standing joke OF his which con-
sisted in remarking when he found Harry and
Tom Collins together, as he constantly did:
We'll, here's Tom and Harry again, but
where's Dick? It'Stime you found Dick
So now he answered laughing
"Well, WE'LL you have found Dick. have you?
l suppose you came down here to look for him?
But where is Dick?''
Harry did not laugh, but told his father in all
seriousness about the wounded Southern boy
and that he would certainly die there in the
woods if they did not get wagon and bring him
in for care and treatment.
Sandy and Tom stayed by young Sibley. who
dozed sometimes and sometimes talked in a
rambling, weak way of his beautiful Southern
home. his sister and his mother, of his father
who was general, and his four older brothers,
all engaged in the war.
This side of the hill was quite free from mis-
ses al first, though shells constantly flew over
and n cannon ball now and again came bounding
down the steep and crashing through the timber.
But bv and by these came thicker and closer.
and the boys made rude litter of couple of
poles with branches laid across, lifted Dick upon
it and took him up and started toward the town.
They stopped at the big spring, spouting in a
ceaseless str cam from a crevise in perpendicu-
lar rock wall got more water fol- Dick and drank
and laved his face and hands and their own.
Then they went on, resting now and then. till
they fell in with Mr.. fremont and Harry coming
to meet them.
They laid Dick on blankets in the wagon and
drove slowly back to the hotel, where they got
him into bed and called passing army surgeon
who dressed his wound and promised to look in
again when he passed that way in the evening
Mr. fremont got him some clean clothes, and
the boys took turns in sitting by him. In the
evening the surgeon pronounced him better,
and Mr.. fremont came out on the porch, where
the Northern boys sat together while the doctor
was within, and said:
doing well. Now, what are you going to do with
him? You must make up your minds, for I've
got to go home"
The boys were rather startled by this and
talked earnestly together.
Jpn tell you what. boys, Harry said finally
Pm going to ask the governor to let me take
him home.''
Mr.. fremont poohed and pshawed at Harry's
proposal, but IN the morning he spoke to the
surgeon.
him along if you will. He'll stand much
better chance than in our crowded hospitals,
and we've got enough to take care of, God
kuows!'
SO they took him North by short stages. Toms
father met them at Kewossett station and Mr..
fremont said:
well doctor we've all been tn tha 1rarr
and we've brought home a prisoner; but
think we've seen all the war we ever want to.
En- boys?'
And they all said yes, they had
Harry had an older brother in the army, and
his mother took the Southern boy in and did by
him as she hoped some Southern mother would
do by her boy If he came to her door in need.
Dick was gentle fellow and they all liked him.
Mr.. fremont would look in when the other bows
were with him and laugh and say:
''weIl, Sswny. here's Tom, Dick and Harry
together at last.'
Dick got well. and Mr.. fremont had him pa
rolled and exchanged, and sent him home safe
and sound
After the war, Sandy and Harry and Tom were
all invited to spend the winter holidays at Mag
nolia, the beautiful place of the Sibleys near
Gulf City, which had escaped the ravages of
war; and they received royal treatment and had
a royal time.
Aud that was not the end OF the acquaintance.
Dick came North to Southslope more than once,
and finally carried off Kate fremont to the gulf.
And Tom Collins retaiiated by going down there
some time later and bringing away Victoria
Sibley to the North, where he kept her forever
after.
And now there are whole tribe of younger
Toms. Dicks AMI Harries, Hates and Vicks ut
and Magnolia, all of whom are
cousins. and all of whom have been taught to
pray thai war may never again divide brother
from brother in bloody strife, but that peaces
and goodwill may reign in the land and North
South, East and West dwell and rejoice together
pncer one proud flag.