Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-06-04
THE TWO COLOR BEARERS

Philip Larrabee came of good stock.
He was descended on his fathers side
from one OF those hardy seamen who first
sailed under the now historic flag of our
country. In the memorable naval fight
OF Portland between the Yankee craft
Enterprise and the British brig Boxer,
Philips ancestor bore gallant and CON
spicuous part 1t was into his arms the
youthful Commander Burroughs fell. re-
tuslng TO be carried below; he, who
when the sword Of the vanquished enemy
was presented to him, clasped his hands
and exclaimed: Il am satisfied. die
contented
On the other side Of the family tree
the fires Of patriotism burnt equally as
bright
Time and time again had Philip. when
a lad. begged his father to tell him the
story Of that memorable fight on the vii
lage green at Lexington. where his grand
father sealed with his hfcs blood his de-
votion to just and noble cause.
The life Of Philip Larrabee like that of
his father. seemed destined to be an
eventful one, but one If those fatal cpl
iemlcS which periodic. sweep through
community left Philip and hi, sister
Martha, some three years his senior.
alone 10 struggle against a cold and un-
| synpa, hetic world.
Philip and his sister had a widowed
aunt who lived on the outskirts Of one of
those villages that SO pictureSquely sit
| on the rugged coast of the old Bav State
overlooking the blue waters that CON
tiuualiy kiss lis shore In the humble
abode Of this good woman who in every
way tried to heal their griefs and fl,
them for the stern realities Of life, the
two orphan children found home and
loving heart. Having "A natural taste
for the water, Philip soon became expert
IN the sailing of little craft.
Martha, under his tuition. in time
could handle a boat almost us WE'LL and
often size would. while Philip was away,
be seen at the helm managing it with
the ease and grace Of her brother.
Philips eighteenth birthday had come
and gone and he had now developed into
sturdy, well formed young man. One
evening he caIue home from the village
quite IAtc-an occurrence unusual for
him, for lie rarely missed sitting down
TO the evening meal with his aunt and
sister
nall.M Mcn@eE eEeYF5s Yslti It Is Rihti! aihter ociocE and
no sign of him yet.
But In this she was mistaken, for
glancing out of the window she saw
Philip rapidly coming mp the raal, open
the gate ami running up the neat gravel
walk leading TO the house, burst into the
room before her aunt had replied to her
question
Why, Phil: What is the matter:
Has anything dreadful happened at the
village" exclaimed Martha.
"Yes-ycs. everything has happened,
Fort Sumter hl, been fired upon-the
president mas called for troops, and
have enlisted.
As Philip said this he clasped Martha
IN his strong arms, and before she could
recover from her amazement AT the start
linz II ws. he pressed a warm and loving
kiss upon her lips and continued:
Don't discourage Inc from going,
Martha-please don't, feel as though
father and mother would rise up in their
graves and point their fingers at me in
scorn if refused to respond to our coun-
trys appeal would disgrace the blood
that flows through our veins if | now
failed to do my duty
Philip looked down into his sisters
face A bright smile greeted his glance,
and AS she tried to keep back the tears
she said;
Phil if you had done otherwise be-
ieve should have hated you as much as
now love YOU
The next twelve months were most
eventful ones in the life of Philip Lara
bee With feelings Of pride and JOY, but
! mingled with fear and anguish, Martha
| followed, through the accounts in the
| papers and letters from Philip, the move
/ ments and deeds of his regiment-e~-
| pecially SO when after one Of those des-
| perate ENGAGEMENTS that occurred in the
earlier period of the war she read Of
| Philips promotion to sergeant and color
bearer He had seized the regimental
fag from the hands Of him VINO relin-
auished it only in death and had bravely
carried it through the rest of that san
culinary day till victory at last perched
upon its tattered folds.
Philips regiment, thinned by death
and disease to less than one-half of its
original number, now enjoyed a brief
season Of rest.
In comfortable quarters, consisting of
log huts built from the neighboring for
est, they peacefully and quietly passed
the winter months in the beautiful val
ley of the Shenandoah. Spring drew
near, and as it approached active prep
aratious for the coming campaign were
begun During the commencement Of
these preparations Philip one day re-
ceived orders to report to the colonel OF
his regiment.
He found the colonel standing in front
the rough fireplace in his little quar-
tsrs, apparently in deep thought and
awaiting his coming. philip, said he,
turning and gazing steadily into his eye
as though he would read his inmost
thoughts, "the general has requested Of
me man, one that know to be brave,
discreet and to be depended upon un-
der the most trying circumstances He
desires him for a service which will not
only require nerve and courage, but will
at times place him in positions of the
most desperate and dangerous character
know no one in the regiment whom l
could so trustingly rely upon as yourself
Do you care to volunteer
Without moments hesitancy Philip
calmly replied, Colonel, am ready at
all times to serve my country in any ca
pacity duty requires"
As the colonel proceeded to unfold to
him the mission the general wished to
send him upon, and the manner in which
he was to leave, deathly pallor for a
moment overspread Philips face.
The colonel stopped. "Do you hesi-
later said he. ''This is to be voluntary
on your part; you are not obliged to go
if you do not wish to do so."
"No-no," Philip replied, Il wish to
go-it is my desire to do so, but was
thinking for a moment of Martha, my
sister, and of the pain she would suffer
when she hears of my being missing.
am ready, colonel. will try and do
my duty, bat if anything should happen
to me see that no stain is allowed to
rest on my name"
1t was late when Philip left the col
onel's quarters. As he did 90 the old
! veteran g1asped him warmly bI tn