The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1890-05-31

nowhere did Parsons exchange with
Buckley a single word save those of
absolute official necessity. Their com
pany was composed of their own towns
men, who all knew of the old feud, and
humored it so far as to exact no unnec-
essary companionshlp of the two fami
lies =; but all expected, and were justi
| fed in the exi eclatiOn, that each one
OF the eight would do his duty manfuIly
by his private enemy, as well as by his
chief friend, as against their common
foe.
During those fearful months of ditch
digging in the Chickahominy swamps
the two old men each saw a son sicken
and die. Side by side they silently and
sternly watched the last conflict which
their boys could ever wage. They
nursed alternately, each trusting the
other fully with the care OF his dearest,
but they spoke no word.
Amid the awful carnage of Fredericks-
burg each of the old men again lost a
son. Still neither broke the ice of the
long silence by speech; but while for
wears it had been known that neither
old man had willingly even glanced at
the other, some of their old nelghDors
began to notice that at times by bivouac
fire or on the weary march the one
stricken father would gaze at the other,
when that other was not looking, with
an expression that might have been
deemed one OF sympathy. Some
thought, too, that the rugged old faces
were softening, were becoming more
gentle and kindly that new and
sweeter light sometimes shone through
the eyes which SO long had sparkled
with unholy hate. But that was all.
The two remaining sons had broken
through their mutual reserve, and be-
came, at first civil, then friendly, and
at last inseparable friends and the old
men had seemed to take no notice.
For all one could see, they knew moth
ing of the changed relations between
the two young men, which yet was not
concealed from them in any way. If
known to them, the fathers certainly
did not resent it, as once they would
have done.
After Gettysburg the two old fathers
looked into each others eyes in mu
tual anguish of foreboding.
"Jason," said Eben, hoarsely-"Jason
where be our boys?'
"Eben," said the other, with tremb
ling tones, 81 d'n know, but we must
look"
And with lanterns and canteens the
two old men wandered over that hard
won field, raising the tramped wheat
that hid death cold form, turning a
stlhened corpse that had fallen face
downward, giving lift or drink to
some poor fellow who still had life
enough to crave help, and SO on through
all the dreadful hours, clinging to hope
yet fearing the worst.
In the gray morning, down under the
guns they had fought so bravely to
hold, lay the two silent forms. The
head of the one was pillowed on the
broad breast of the other, whose cold
white hand lay lovingly upon the dew
damped chestnut curls of his friend.
For moment DO word was said, no
motion made, but then, as with com
} mon impulse, both fathers knelt and
, kissed their boys. Each gave inarticu-
late cry, for each had felt beneath his
: lips the faint, Pickering stir of life re-
ceding, but not yet quite departed.
A search party with a surgeon at its
head heard the cry so full of hope and
anguish, and with the rough tenderness
and intelligent, ii hasty, care that men
e who have faced death and wounds learn
how to give, the two boys came back
to the lite they had SO nearly torsaken
And there, on the bloody field OF
Gettysburg, TWO solemniy glad old men
: turned toward each other with holy
light beaming from their weather beaten
faces, as the coming dawn of day
'beamed upward from behind the wood
ed hill tops.
Iason, what's that Old spring wuth ?
"Nothin', Eben, Jest nothin'l Let's
fill it upI'
"No," said Eben; "that would be
throwin' away the Lords gift. Let's
each on US gin the spring an a good
! strip O. land along it to the ole church.
. to sell for the poor or do anything else
n it wants to-"
agreed" said Jason adding, after
e a moments pause: "An' meow l wan'
y to tell ye, E5en, as I'd oughter ha' tolC
ye long ago, that 'twa'n't none O. me
, nor my boys thet killed that elem tree
e We was too proud to say so when ye al
y thought SO mean on u.s."
d Poor Eben groaned, but put out hi:
e hand, and after their long and cordia
If clasp of mutual appealing and forglving
o all tneir minds and strengths and heart:
a went to the saving of their boys.
h After weeks IN the hospital the son:
d went home on leave, and astonlshed al
o their towns people, not more by carry
r ing out the instructions of their father;
o of conveying to the church the disputed
o spring and many broad acre of fruit
y full land Herewith, than by their own
: lnseparable companionship.
o Eben and Jason fought on side b.
e side, talking little IN words, but sayins
e much in the eloquent language of kind
G ly deeds and sympathetic looks, boil
i to each other and to their comrades.
"Yew an Eben's made it up, hahn
II ye, Jasona" said an old neignbor, nov
q also in the ranks.