The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1897-05-26

inheritance his broad green acres, an
unstaincd name, II nice sense Of honor
and the soldier heart. Almost from ba-
byhood our eyes Wonld hndle and our
hearts beat fast ut the mere mention Of
our hero fathers name and we often
talked together Of the proud day when
we, too, should shoulder musket and
bayonet and go forth to fight our conn
try's battles.
"Our mother with smiling lips, but
troubled eyes, would call us her span Of
warehouses; and gently stroke our curly
mancs-mino as brown as the ripencd
chestnut, Don's like threads of woven
! sunshine. Except for this we were as
like as twin peas in pod, alike also in
thought, in voice, in heart and almost
alike In name, for at homo wo We're
called only Don and Con-
1.-The cloudlcss days Of childhood and
early youth sped quickly by. Happy In
each ether, best with wise and tender
mother love, there WIS fair promise for
the future. into the midst Of this bright
ness came tho thundcrburst Of war. Al
most at the first sound Of battlccry I
felt my soul burn within me, and In
a fit of youthful folly and enthusiasm I
enrolled my name among those who
stood pledged to wear the blue for three
years, or until the rebellion was crushed.
Then, rcpcnting my rashncss, | FASTENED
home to confess my fault and beg
blessing where l had not asked consent.
Scarcely had | begun, with mingled
calls me, ard my fathers son must an
swer "RoadyW' when Donald's voice
broke in almost like an echo: Spare
me also, mother, to our country! She
has need Of all true hearts and strong
young arms Then was my very soul
made glad, for / had feared that Don
AIDS great love for our fair southland
would blunt his sense of right, that his
heart had gone ont to his country s foes
To find that we were one in this as in
all things else filled my cup Of gladncss
to the brim. But there came the dash
of bitter as | looked into our mothers
eyes, though her lips Wore the old low
ing smile ms she gently said:
" So both my boys love glory and
ahiNb ltNIii iii'llt Niltii liOhiiNi' iilNit
| burst forth: oh, mother, do not look
like that Are we not SONS of soldier
and of mother who has taught us to
listen first of all to duty's voice? Could
we sit at ease even MT your side while
our fair land is rent usundcr by traitors
and rebels?' | heard II muflled, choking
sound and turned to my brother. His
face had grown dark, his lips were
white and his eyes burning. i am one
Of tho rebels on whom you would set
your heel. TO the last drop Of my blood
| will resist tho tyrant and oppressor.
''Then as l turned away sick and sore
with disappointment he added gently;
Don't mind me, Con, old fellow. |
spoke in haste OF course there Is some
mistake | did not hear Alright. You
cannot mean to lift your arm against
our own brothers of the south? Shall
we not stand together, as always before.
side by side, hand in hand?' Ionly said,
Il do not touch traitors handp and
strobe away In bitter haste, not so fast
but that | heard in tones of longing
and Of love unspcakahle, oh, Con, my
brother! My heart flow back to him.
but my face WINS turned away, because
there was that in my eyes which oven
he might not see
For long hours l paced back and
| forth under tho protecting arms Of the
| forest giants in our grand old woodland
or lay with my hot temples on the
breast of mother nature until her tender
| touch had soothed my sore heart. AS
the shadows began to longthen hur
ried homewnrd, eager to feel again the
clasp of my brothers hand, But that
comfort was not to be mine. Donald
had gone away, mono knew whittier, and
our long search for him was all in win,
''As the days drew on when I, tee,
must say farewell to the old kentucky
| homo, there grew and deopcned in my
mothers eyes look | had once seen in
| an old picture of Rachel Weeping For
Her Children, but she was q soldiers
| wife, a soldiers mother, and could not
whisper 'Stayi' where duty Numbered
Cor 1t was sad, sore heart boro
away under tho gay blue jacket On the
tolls and hardships of camp life we
need not dwell. 1t is an old story.
hope Colonel Evcrett's son did not
shrink from any burdens duty laid upon
him or falter over the rough places that
lay in honor's path. But the long
marches, tho aching head, the weary
limbs, were as naught to the longing
heart the haunted heart that was pur-
sued always, day and night, by the old
yearninR cry, Oh Con, my brotherP
So the days went by one by one us days
are wont to do, whether they be joy
feightod or sorrow laden.
''One fair moon siNered evening !
felt my heart stirred by thrill of the
old fervor. To my eyes came back some
thing OF their former fire and light, for
tho enemy was Mt hand and on the
morrow I would fight my first battle
was ON sentry duty that night, and as
paced back and forth thoughts, memo
ries and conjocturoe crowded thick and
fast. | wondered if the gentle glance of
Lady Moon would fall tomorrow night
ON my stark, dead face or throw halo
round II proud young head. erect and
crowned with bay. thought of the
dear old homo. of my sweet mother, but
moro than MI of him who was MS the
other half of my heart l heard again
his cry. oh, Con. my hrotherl' surely
nearer and moro roal than ever before.
even gave start and almost turned
to answer. But fancy and vain thoughts
fled quickly before the actual evidence
of the senses, for | saw plainly not far
away the figure of man, and the
moonlight foil upon coat Of gray. A
spyp | thought quickly. and the ready
muskot flew to my shoulder. 'Halt' l
shouted, then again. and. rs the steps
Were only quickoned, for the third time
more loudly, Halt. or firer There
was moments silence, then sharp
report, a groan, heavy fall. ran for
ward, gently lifted the fallen head I'M
til the moonlight fell upon it and saw
n face rs like my own as the star in
heaven is like its image in the lake.
Then l raised my bloody hands to heav-