Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1894-01-08
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q rushing torrent they dashed forward
to the head of the column together. Be-
fore these overwhelming pillows tho enc
my gave way in the greatest confusion.
But at that instant of certain victory a
ball struck Dunbar in the chest. He
fell and was borne from the field by his
aids, while his men, remembering his
last command, paused not for one look
at their dying commander, yet no Scot
fish clan ever fought with fiercer deter
mination to avenge their chleftaln's
death than did that band, led on by his
mourning brother.
How the battle terminated needs no
repetition. After the fight George and
Ralph fastened to the spot where the be-
loved brother lay. He recognized them
and calmly smiled, but could not speak.
Life was almost over, but his earnest
eyes spoke to Georges heart, and kneel-
ing by his side he replied to that look. 81
will tell Lilly all you said last night, and
as long as we live Ralph and l will al
ways tenderly guard her and your boy!
Will we not, Ralph" The young cap
tain pressed his lips to Eustaces brow
and sobbed aloud. Many an older cheek
was wet with tears. A few more faint
loving son, the devoted husband, the
truly Christian patriot. yielded up his
life for his countryl
] make no attempt to describe the
mourning in the camp or the anguish at
home when Ralph and Rose brought the
remains of one SO deservedly loved and
honored back to the stricken family
Such sorrows are all too well understood.
Very grievous was this loss to Mr.. and
Mrs. Newton, who had given him a sons
place in their hearts, but having unre-
servedly given him with their other sons
to their country's cause, knowing that
he went to face death, they could, while
bitterly grieving, still say, "Thy will be
DONE"
Of the wife, whose heart was knit to
her husbands from earliest childhood,
the young babe, who was never to know
his fathers face, may not speak. Hers
was sorrow that mortal may not tres
..szs upon. God only can bind I'D the
UrOKen nearU. by his love ner soul may
-will-fnd rest and peace.
The night before this sad battle Eus-
tace had sat for more than an hour with
his brothers and Rose. She was to re-
main in temporary hospital at a suita-
able distance from the field, ready to give
care and attention to such of the wound
ed as the next mornings battle must
bring her. From this sweet sister, who
had so nobly followed them, they had no
secret. They knew that the morrow was
full of peril and would dawn upon one
Of the most fiercely contested fields of
the whole war.
After some time spent in this discus
sion Eustace turned the conversation to
the anxious hearts at home. He read
them letter he had received that even
ing from his wife, in which she spoke
with a mothers pride of his little son and
with much tender longing that he could {.
see the child if only for an hour. In
closed was a picture of the babe in her
arms. Rose and her brother were en-
thusiastic in their expressions of delight
at the evidently faithful picture of their
loved sister and their little nephew.
Their loving remarks were occasionally
mingled with a laughing reprOach of
Eustace for concealing his possession of
such treasure.
But George, noticing that he had been
unusually silent during this joyful, balf
playful conversation which the letter
stood that the husbands and fathers
heart was yearning for one look upon
those he so dearly loved, and doubtless
thoughts of the coming struggle min
gled with other emotions. A significant
look from George sufficed to check
Ralphs humorous speech and gradually
change the conversation. But Eustace
noticed the change and understood the
reason. He looked up and tried to smile
upon them in his old, loving way, but
suddenly dropped his head upon the
table beside him.
For many minutes all were silent.
God only knew the storm that swept
over that motionless figure, but when he
raised his head the darkness had fled,
the storm had passed, and a holy calm
shone upon his face-a peace such as
close communion with God only can
bring had TRANSPORTED him, and years
will never efface that expression from |
the minds of those who sy1npathized |
with what they knew must have been |
the agony that preceded it. Rose will |
tell you that from that hour she felt |
assured that the golden gates had opened,
giving him a foretaste of the glory so
soon to be realized.
After a moments silence Eustece
calmly referred to the great burden that
had weighed upon his heart for hours
and remarked that he had been under
the impression that he should fall in the
struggle. He had been anx-
ious to speak fully to them, but had
waited till he could feel that his own
heart was resigned to his Fathers will.
Now he could speak to them with COM
posture.
He then urged upon his brothers the
of entering upon the NOR