The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-27


explained the situation a family council.
was called. Everyone understood that
DaVid's step was irreVoca bic and therefore
no one sought to discuss lis wisdom. Ap-
parently none of the sons doubted Il; at
all events everyone OF them was eager 10
follow David's example. But this wouldn't
do, of course. The father had passed the
age limit and therefore he must stay al
home, but il would be impossible for him
to carry on the necessary farming opera
tons alone and some Of the sons must
remain. II was David himself who point
ed this out. Not all could fight. he sad.
the Industries of the country must go on
despite the war. and the duty Of the loyal
stay-at-h home was as noble as that Of the
soldier. This was clear enough and the
night was given over TO heated discus
sion as to who should not enlist. II was
finally agreed that three should stay and
three should 60 the selection Of soldiers
and stay-at-homes to be based upon con-
siderations Of sound sense. Alexand r,
next older than David (who was the
youngesD had always been closest TO him,
and Alexander declared with flashing eyes
that no matter who else remained at
home he should go il David did. But the
final decision was that James and George,
who were married men, should stay at
home Thomas and William should follow
David's example and enlist. While Alex
ander should remain with his parents TO
help work the old farm. He finally yield
ed, though protesting bitterly
il was in the morning when the family
council was ready TO disperse. Mother
Henderson had sat weeping all night be
cause David her baby" was going to
the front, and she remained weeping
while Father Henderson kLelt and pray
ed aloud at the end of the deliberations.
No member of the Henderson family ever
forgot that prayer. Father Henderson
habitually spoke with a broad Scottish
burr, but in prayer or eXhortation he gem
orally dropped it for pulpit English"
clear and forcible In construction. In the
gray dawn Of that fell morning his die
ton was clearer and stronger than usual,
and al the conclusion of his prayer when
All arose from their knees, the mental at
mosphere was calm and clarified.
Then, taking David by the arm, Father
Henderson led him from the house and out
behind the barn. There the two had a
long talk, at the close of which the elder
of the two men said solemnly:
Now, David. 1 am sure you don't yet
appreciate what you have done; you don't
realize what you have to face. But you
are doing what Is right, and 1 have only
to say this: Don't falter. I don't want TO
see your face again unless you can come
home with honor"
Then the father kissed the son and they
shook hands with a grip that was like
clasp of steel
A Memory in Battle.
The memory of that paternal admonl-
ton remained with David B. Henderson
all through his soldering days. 1t was
weeks after his oompany-in which he
ranked as first lieutenant-had gone South,
before he was under fire, at Fort Donel-
son. Col Henderson had often confessed
10 his intimates that the crucial tests of
facing death, of advancing against flying
-g.,
him strange, uncertain feeling. But
above the roar of the guns the screaming
of the shells and the song of the bullets
he seemed to hear The solemn, measured
tones of his father:
Don't falter. 1 don't want to see your
face again unless you can come home to
me in honor"
tenants heart an inarticulate prayer, while
in wordless self-communion, he reasoned
out the situation, something to this effect.
You are in the place you should be in.
You are doing your duty. Face it. Don't
falter."
Then all fear rolled away, and when he
turned to encourage his men, some of
whom showed pale faces and uuivering,
ashen lips. he was cheerful, almost smil-
ing, and 1t was given to him to shout the
order in ringing tones:
CLOSE up, men! Close up!'
Then, with a dash, they made for the
breast works. here and there a man fall
ing by the side of their young leader till
eleven had been stricken. Just at the mo-
ment of triumph Henderson felt a sting
ing pain in the lower part Of the face, there
was a plentiful gush of blood-he had
been shot the first time he was under
fire. His jaw was broken and 1t was
thought for a time that he must surely
die However, a furlough spent at Hen
derson's Prairie, where he had the care
of his mother, pure air to breathe and
plenty of good country fare brought him
round right speedily and he was soon at
the front again. In the battle of Shiloh,
his brother Thomas, the second son of
the family was killed instantly; shot
through the heart in the thick of the fight
at the locality which has since been term
ed the Hornets Nest"
Henderson and Allison.
No two men have ever worked together
in closer harmony than Col. Henderson
and Senator Allison. The Senator likes 10
tell how and when he first saw Hender-
SON II was when the latter took his
famous band OF student recruits to Du-
buque.
some one said one morning that a
countryman wished TO see me-" says the
Senator, who was in charge of the Du-
buque recruiting station. Il asked that
he be shown in, and a tall, clean-limbed,
ciear-eyed youngster entered. He had n
lot of recruits with him, and he said his
name was Henderson. l looked at the re-
cruits: they were all right Henderson
had not only brought those boys in on mis-
own responsibility, but he had done it with
almost no expense to any one; his en-
thusiasm had been so infectious that The
farmers had been glad TO feed and trans
port them free"
That was the sort of chap Allison was
looking for and the friendship then begun
has never been broken. After the war
was over it was Allison who advised Hen
derson in politics and law; IL was ALI
son who suggested 20 Henderson that he
should run for Congress and backed him
up in the canvass; they have been toget her
in every campaign ever since and could
not feel bound together in closer friend
ship were they born of the same mother.
l. D. Marshall
DEMPSEY WILL CASE SETTLED.
] ~