The Wilmington daily Republican., 1895-09-13

have mittcned me II II hadn't been thai 1
had tho finest colt In the county.
The summer / left college there came 10
me an overwhelming sense Of patriotic
duty.
Mother was the first TO notice my ab-
sentmindedness, and to her 1 first confded
the great wish Of my early manhood. 1t Is
hard for parents to bid a son go forth to do
service upon the battlefield, but New Eng
land in those times responded cheerfuliy
and nobly to Mr.. Lincoln's call.
The Eighth Massachusetts cavalry was
the regiment / enlisted in. A bakers
dozen Of us boys went together from the
quiet little village Nesting In the shadow
Of Mount Holyoke. From Camp Andrew
I--wrote back piteous letter, complaining
OF tho horse that had been assigned to me-
Iwanted Royal. We had been inseparable
in times Of peace--why should we not
share together the fortunes of wari
Within a fortnight along came Royal, con
Quoted In all dignity by-you would never
guess-by Judge Phippsi Full Of patriot
Ism and cheer was the judge.
Both Of ye are thoroughbreds, said
he. "Ye'n come In under the wire FIRST
every time, know ye will"
The judge also brought mo a saddle
blanket which Susie had ornamented with
wondrous and tender art.
So Royal and went into the war to.
Eether. There were times OF privation and
of danger; neither Of us ever complained.
! am proud to bear witness that in every
emergency my horse boro himself with
patience and valor that seemed actually
human. My comrades envied me my
gentle. stanch obedient servant. Indeed
Royal and became famous as inseparable
and loyal friends.
We were in five battles, and neither OF
us got even SO much as a scratch. But
one afternoon in skirmish with the
rebels near Potomac mills bullet struck
me in the thigh, and from the mere shock
fell from Royals back into the tangle OF
the thicket The fall must have stunned
me, for the next thing knew was alone
deserted Of all except my faithful horse.
Royal stood over me, and when l opened
my eyes he gave faint whinny. hardly
knew what to do. My leg panied me ex.
cruoiatingly surmised that / would
never be able to make my way back to
camp under the fro Of the rebel picketers,
for discovered that they were closing in.
Then 1t occurred to me to pin q note to
Royals saddle blanket and to send Royal
back to camp, telling the boys of the
trouble l was in. The horse understood
Ap tsils vi no ehhopchf cuhsOlOub VI tio
import of the mission upon which he had
been dispatched.
Bangi bangi bangl went the guns over
yonder, as il the revengeful creatures in
the faroff brush guessed the meaning of
our maneuveriug and sought to slay my
loyal friend But not bullet touched
him-leastwise he galloped on and on till
lost sight Of him.
They came for me at last, She boys did.
They were formidable detachment, aud
how the earth shook as they swept along
1--WE thought you were a goner sure"
said Hi Bixby.
81 guess 1 would have been II 1t hadn't
been for Royal, said I.
81 guess SO myself" said he. "when
we saw him stumbling along all bloody,
we allowed for sure you were deadl''
IAN bloodyf" cried. "Is Royal hurt1'
"As bad as hoss can be" said he.
In camp we found them doing the best
they could for him. But it was clearly of
no avail. There was q gaping, ragged
hole in his side Seeking sucoor for me,
Royal had met his death wound. forgot
my own hurt. thrust the others aside
and hobbled where he lay.
"PooY old Royl'' cried as threw my.
self beside my dying friend and put my
arms about his neck. Then patted and
stroked him and called him again and
again by name and there was look in
his eyes that told me he knew me and wa.
glad was there.
How strange and yet how beautiful II
was that in that farotf country, with my
brave, patient, loyal friends nuttering
heart close unto mine neither saw nor
thought of tho scene around mel
But before my eyes came back the old,
familiar places, the pasture lot, the lane,
the narrow road up the hill, the river
winding along between great stretches OF
brown corn, tho aisle of maple trees and
the fountain where we drank so many,
many times together, and 1 smelled the
fragrance of the flowers and trees abloom,
and heard the dear voices and the sweet
sounds of my boyhood days.
Then presently a mighty shudder awak.
ened me from this dreaming. And cried
out with alright and grief, for felt that
was alonc.-Chicago Record