The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1894-07-03
Our Gmnlilp Story.
FOR ROY'S SAKE.

kEaSOo dho ldu ulOo
after four years of married life, leav-
ing TO the husbands care two boys
Henry and Roy. But so numerous
were his business duties, that Mr..
Roberts soon found that he would be
unable to give them the parental
attention necessary To their proper
training I; 80 he had made o second
matrimonial venture, his choice this
time being and industrious and thrifty
kinswOman, of rather uncertain age
and disposition. Miss Martha Willis
was intensely Northern in every fibre
of her being, and hated everything
misingly, and when she became Mrs.
Roberts, her feelings in this direction
abated not q whit.
Henry, the older of the brothers,
had the laughing blue eyes, golden
hair. and fair complexion Of his
Southern mother, while Roy was an
almost perfect image of his father. 1t
was NO wonder, therefore, hat tho
stepmother who saw in the boys strik-
ing representatives of the two sections,
should o o learn to hate the one rs
.%ardently as she loved the other. Moth
ing-that love could desire to make the
one happy was left undone, while no
opportunity to make life unpleasant to
the object OF her ill-will was allowed
to pass unused. But through it all
the brothers remained faithful to each
other N confidence and love.
One June day in 1862, a party Of
Confederate cavalry, well-mounted,
crossed the Ohio River and at night
cemped lear tho town of H, above
mentioned. Henry, now about nino-
teen years of age, had been intrusted
with the management of his fathers
farm, and returning late in tho day
from his work, he pissed the Con-
federate camp. Ho was hailed by u
jolly young "Confed" and invited to
turn soldier. The next morning when
b company rode away, Henry won't
to homo folks conveying the informa-
ti2Dthat hssnad joined the Southern
service.
What little inclination there might
have been in the mind Of Mr.. Roberts
on the receipt of this information, to
take a charitable view of tho case was
dissipated by the Jealous arguments of
his wife, SO Henry was declared dis
inherited and orders we're give that
his name be mentioned no moro in his
childhood's home.
The terrible slaughter of Gettysburg
had ceased at last and tho crash of
Sohahoo was S~ucCScucu ny Gne pltllui
walls Of the wounded and dying. Just
whore the last dreadful charge had
done its fearful work, lay u youthful
form, whose uniform of blue was being
stained q rich crimson by the life blood
which flowed from n ragged hole, in
his side, while the half-stiiled groans
hat would break from his white lips
told of the mortal agony he vas suf-
fering.
just beside him clothed in a ragged
suit OF gray lay another youth, who
remained so still he seemed to be
dead but presently he sat up and
looked about him In a dazed sort of
way, while q dark bruise across his
forehead showed where a dubbed
musket had struck, telling him into
insensibility. The boy in blue turned
~beseechingly to him and said
Please get me some water, If you
can"
The Confederate quickly unslung
his own canteen, which contained
considerable water, and gave it to the
thirsty Federal. Refreshed by the
draught, he turned gratefully toward
the one who had favored him in q
moment he had raised himself on his
elbow, q great, hungry, hopeful look
on his pale face, while he cried, in an
anxious, trembling voice:
Who are you"
II am Henry Roberts," answered
the Confederate.
"And l am Roy !"
And then the Confederate went
down on his knees, and the blue and
gray were joined in a sweet embrace.
The battlefield, the war, the years of
separation were forgotten, and they
were boys again in each others arms.
Who shall try to picture the scene
which love drew there amidst the re-
voting exhibitions of the results OF
civil hatred and trife?
Presently Roy gently loosed his
arms from his brothers neck, and
said
Henry, l will soon be dead, hut it
is all right. will be with our sweet
mother; but you are u poor, homeless
home ?"
"Alas Roy" was the sad response,
81 have no homo now"
But IL you tell papa that | asked
you in my dying hour to go home and
sent you to him, he will take you
back.w
"No, he will not believe me. but
will drive me away" said Henry.
a spasLn OF pain, Terrible to behold,
seized the dying boy, and for a while,
1T seemed that he would rally no more;
but his work was not yet done, and
God spared him.
After awhile he said, in a weak,
voice
Henry, there is a letter in my
pocket from papa. Get it and my
pencil for me, and | will write him."
Tho articles wore found, and, sup
ported by his brothers. arm, the dying
boy wrote on, the black part of the
paper.
DEAR FATHER: / am dying on
the battlefield of Gettysburg, in
Henry's arms. He wants to come
homo, and my dying request to you is
that you take him bank, and make him
your boy again. Goodbye. Roy"
This effort about exhausted Rows re-
naming strength, and when the letter
was folded and put away in the safest
place tho gray rags afforded, the
head sank lower on his brothers
breast, the eyes began to close YEARLY,
the trembling arms crept around
Henry's neck.
"Its q long journey for you Henry"
he murmured, but | will soon be at
home ~ and then he was still, while the
sobs that burst from the brothers.
heart intensified the sadness of tho
dying scene. Presently he whispered
Sing Rock of Ages Henry, won't
you 2" and directly the sweet, manly
voice was heard changing the dear
old refrain-
Rock of Ages, cleft for me-,
Let me hide myself in thee.
And as the soft twilight gathered