Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-05-30
D A Y

woods just below her. The guns near the widows house belched fire, the mass of men and horses advanced steadily. Another and another mass came after them until the entire slope was covered. An arc of fire from the batteries above them srnote the seeth- ing, surging waves of humanity men and animals dashed against each other in wild dismay, and the declining sun, seen through veil of smoke, seemed to hang motionless in the west as the wa vering, mutilated lines of assault faded away in a mist.
 Then a silence, a grim silence as fear full as the uproar of all the battle sounds, fell on the scene. The stiffness was oppressive. Birds notes were hushed. the shrilling of insects ceased All the earth was as silent as a burned out planet.
 As far as the eye could see the widow looked on broken fences, crushed wag- ons, horses lying in uncouth shapes vague specks that looked like broken and twisted fence posts. These last lay singly and in groups far apart from each other and at all angles. They cow cred the slopes whichever way she looked.
 She was gazing now across the hill where Gettysburg lay when another gust of rnusketry swept up the slope. Another followed and yet another faint CT still. Something battered on the bare rock. The leaves of the tree near her trembIed. then the rain that came to Quench the thirst of the wounded and dying descended.
 Was it the sweet relief from the steady roar the confusion, the multi plicity of shifting scenes and sounds and from that crushing silence that soothed and calmed the widow, or did nature send solace and blessed sleep with the rain? f
 At all events the widow slept
 When she awoke with a start the earth was dripping. She rose on the instant, all her faculties sharpened. There was no rain of iron or lead now. 1t was Gods merciful gift to man that refreshed and sweetened the slopes once more.
 She experienced no difficulty in pass- ing the weary, battle worn guards. They scarcely turned to look at the sic lent figure Hitting past them. K She turned a bend in the road, There. not 200 yards distant, she saw her house. A dull gleam of dying embers told her some one was lying there. Perhaps 1t was Battery B. As she neared the house shadowy forms resolved them- selves into tired men buried in sleep, the embers into neglected camp fires.
 But where were her sweet peas T Great rents were cut through the vines, half at least had been trodden into the ground by mems and horses feet. Yes. and there was a cap. She picked 1t up and beheld the letter B.
 Now she was seized with a horrible trembling. She put a hand over her heart and pressed on, on through her ruined plots and vines Not a sound was heard but the gentle plash, plash of the early morning rain-
 What if Jack were lying here? Sleep ing men were huddled near the dead and dying fires.
 She moved cautiously now. There just behind a clump of vines left stand ing-yes, merciful God, human form lay there. She ran toward 1t. The face. pressing the wet grass, was turned up quickly. There was no cry, not moan. as she rained kisses upon the cold lips. the eyes and cheeks of the dead man she found lying behind her sweet peas.
 The widow had found her son.