The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1896-02-28


and months hc lay lowering between
,Ife and death. AZ last he was given
back to life. but regardless Of the fair
state ~ health 10 which he was re-
stored he was not himself II could no.
be- said that be was insane. but 10 him
sll the past was like a dream. lie had
no distinct recollection of his carly
home. and could not recall even bis
own name or tell 10 what regiment he
belonged The surgeons though; that
in time his memory Of the past would
be restored 10 him. but 81 was not
and not knowing where to send him.
he remained In the hospital as a nurse
until the close OF the war. Then. In
company with a hospital friend. he
drlficd 10 the far West, where by all
gonce he succeeded In acquiring a
small property aud making for himself
% home. Gradually. as the years went
by. glimpsos ~ the happy past came
back 10 him Visions Of the little
vlno-clad New England home torment
cd him by their obscurity. and Of the
mother who watched him through In
fancy there came an indistlnct remem-
brancc Before he loft the hospital he
had rcgalnod some OF his lost knowl-
edge OF books but In all hla study and
reading OF papers he never came across
anything that suggested a possible so
luton Of the mystery surrounding his
early life. until. ono autumn day, ff-
teen years after the close Of the war.
while reading bis daily Bible lonaon.
he cnmo across hla parting words 20
hls mother "illa banner over me II
love"
In an instant l.se a Fash Of Hight
from heaven that farewell scene on
the porch 90 the old homo returned to
him he remembered his mothers
rad f1co and her woria that called
forth hls declaration. Ills banner over
mo Do love" licf name and his own
seemed now familiar 10 him. and a
fcw moments Thought linked that
nccuo boo hia iiio with those OF hla child
hood and hIH onify into the army In
such r. way af 10 riyo him "a full plct-
uro OF tho plst up until tho time he
had been wounded in battle. lie scarce
W dared TO hope that his mother had
survived all those eighteen years OF
suspense, but anxious TO know the
worst. no hastily prepared Tor a visit
10 the East. and IN lees than twenty
four hours was hurrylng as fast aa tho
train could cnrry him towards the rir-
Ing sun.
Il was early I'm the morning OF
THANKSGIVING day when be reached the
little hamlet where all his boyhood
days had been spent few words OF
inquiry ut tho station gladdened HIS
heart with tho assurance that hln
mother was got alive Hut when he
reached the llttlo cottage where she
sllll dwclt he found II much more
dimoult 10 convince her that the gray
haired man who stood before her was
the roay-ohookod boy who eighteen
years before had gone away looking 10
young and hnndnome In his suit OF blue.
After relating his long. sad expert
euco. he said In his old boyish voice:
Mother, | am your loving. warm
hearted Nathan yet. your boy given
back from worse condition than
death. but In all these years Gods
banner over mo has been love. and II
was His love that directed me TO the
passage In Ills word. my farewell words
TO you. and through that banner over
mo opened up the dark rcccHsos Of my
mind TO the admlaulon OF the light Tor
which I Ind long been praying
Nevertheless. continually, thou art
with mo" repeated his mother, no
longer In doubt concerning thla son.
who had been lost. but was now found.
Truly His banner over you has been
love. All these years | have been
nghting against Him. would have
been thankful oven for the certainty
OF your death In His great love he has
denied me the grave for which I was
seeking. but iuetoad has given me back
my boy.
For years have not observed
Thanksgiving. because / felt had
nothing to be thankful for. but to-day
we will 20 up 20 Gods house TO give
thanks together; to give thanks for
tho banner OF love that has been over
VA all these years"
And II will he over us until the
end" returned Nathan.
"Yco. thank God. for my unanswered
prayer" replied the Old mother. God
rs love. now and oyermore."
/ -asaaa