Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1910-04-08
Civil War Stories
who Is My Neishbor e"


who Is My Neighbour"
Behold the happy warrior He who.
lifted high.
Conspicuous object in a nations eye.
Looks forward persevering % the last
From well to better, daily self-sur-
passed;
And while the mortal mist is gather
ing, draws
His Sreath in confidence OF heavens
applause.
This is the happy warrior.
For two days the battle of the VIII
derness had been raging. Slowly but
surely. every inch of ground contest
ed, the Federal forces pressed the sui.
len rebel foe before them. The citizens
OF the village, Warren, pallid with
anxiety for friends, scowled with bit.
ter hate and muttered curses at the
boys In blue, who marched slowly
through the village to an advantageous
position a few miles beyond. where
they were TO encamp for the night.
Shortly after the main body of the
army had passed, a group of officers,
accompanied by q squad of cavalry,
dashed through the village e. route
for the encampment
They had proceeded scarcely mile
when a Violent storm burst suddenly
upon them.
An old farm house about a stones
/ throw from the road was the only
building in sight With hasty order
to their men to proceed to camp. the
officers put their spurs to their horses,
and in a moment were under the roof
OF the porch, which. after the South
ern fashion, extended across the front
of the house
gaunt woman appeared in re-
Spouse TO their summons, of whom
their spokesman requested shelter
from the storm and something to eat
promising substantial payment.
Ushering them silently into cheer
| less room. devoid of furniture. except
few chairs and an old pine table,
| she motioned them to be seated, while
she placed before them a loaf of corn
| bread, some bacon and pitcher of
| water after which she withdrew TO a
corner of the room, where on a rude
| pallet protected from the keen noun
tain air by ragged coverlet, lay a
| sleeping child Crouching on the floor.
| she seemed oblivious to all that was
| passing around her.
The weary soldiers partook CRATE
fully of the coarse fare. seasoning
their repast with "reminiscences of the
| fight that day. They chatted. too,
| upon trivial subjects, and now and
then a laugh rang out upon the air
| True they had beheld blood and car
mage all day, but the strain was re-
moved for a little while, and they
thankfully accepted the respite.
One among the group, plain, quiet
man. whom all treated with Difference
mingled but seldom in the conyersa
| tion but as his keen eyes roved
around the humble apartment and its
miserable occupants, upon whom bit
ing poverty was so plainly depicted
his falcon glance grew dim. and his
head dropped upon his breast in APP
parently sad reflection
Having finished their repast the
officers arose, and, producing their
pipes. prepared to indulge in the sol
dier's luxury, smoke.
Rousing from his abstraction. the
quiet man spoke few words to his
companions in a low tone, pointing
to a rude porch at the back of the
! house. protected from the fury of the
storm. They having departed thence
| he approached the woman. who still
crouched on the floor
Madam" said he, gently, you seem
! to be in trouble Cannot we assist you
/ in some way
! Looking up with dazed. horror
! stricken eyes which seemed to have
lately gazed upon some dreadful sight
/ the woman slowly shook her head and
resumed her former position. The
Federal encampment cannot be far dis
tant," insisted the firm. kindly voice
IF you will tell me your name, you
| and this little one" pointing to the
sleeping child, shall be provided for "a
"All we want. Robby and me, Is to
! die" answered the woman despairing
! ly, land that laughing wildly, we re
/ likely to do before long Come" His
ing and passing swiftly through the
room, she crossed the hall into an.
| other apartment, followed by the Off.
! Ger.
Pointing to a bed wherein was
stretched the lifeless body of a man,
! she exclaimed
There's my grief Can you help
me? Can YOU give me back my nus
band, killed by your men this morn
| ing?"
/ Kneeling beside the dead man, she
abandoned herself to grief. The little
| boy. awakened by his mothers lamen.
tations, crept sobbing into the room,
whittier the other officers also came.
Motioning them TO retire, the man,
/ VINO looked into the lannon's mouth
unfiinching, with moistened eyes rails
/ ed the grief-stricken creature from the
| inanimate clay to which she chung so
| fondly, and, by gentle questioning. as.