The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1910-04-21

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woman, they explained that they had
been sent to bury her husband. In
those sad times all was done with dis
patch. A grave having been hastily
dug, in it the mortal remains Of the
poor victim of insatiate war was laid
to rest, his monument the everlasting
mountains whose towering peaks
pointed scaemnly to heaven, as If In
voking the vengeance of God upon the
d1abol1cal schemers who had wrought
the bloodshed and ruin which devas-
tated the land.
Who can fathom the despair of the
broken-hearted woman, as she gazed
upon that lonely grave? A widow,
penniless, friendless!
With rough sympathy, the leader of
the party informed her of his chiefs
commands to escort her in safety
wherever she wished to go. She shook
her head drearily.
Il have nowhere to go. l am a
Northern m No one would take
me in"
Perhaps" suggested the soldier,
you had better come to the camp and
talk to the General"
Acquiescing with the Indifference of
despair, the woman and her boy rode
off with the men, and were shortly in
the Generals tent. Here, yielding to
the kind questioning of the chief, she
disclosed her sad story. -.
Cha uyoc n 0yp1x1x,o~:~ L., b;ot.,
wooed and won by the Virginia farmer
eight years before. All went we'll I'M
til the rebellion broke out. "He never
believed in secession" she said, "but
when his State went he could not hold
back. He said last night it was bad
to fight against the old flag. Father
and mother are old and poor, but l
know they'd be glad to have the child
and me, if we could only get to lem"
The Generals eyes frightened.
"Give me their address," said he,
and l will see that you reach them
safely"
Entering an inner apartment of the
tent he returned in a moment with a
sealed envelope, which he placed in
her hand, charging her not to open it
until she reached her destination.
Shaking her hand, he turned hastily
away to escape her expressions of graf
itude.
The widow and her child, amply sup
piled with food, started Immediately
on their journey northward, guarded
by a strong detachment of soldiers,
who accompanied them beyond the
lines, and placed them upon the cars
which would convey them to their
journeys end.
Here, tenderly cared for by her par
ents, Mrs. Hunter lay for weeks in the
delirium of fever. At length, however,
reason was restored, and resignation
and thankfulness for mercies remain
ing took the place of rebellious de-
spair.
AS soon as her strength permitted
she ~recounted to her sympathizing par
ents the sorrows that had befallen her
and the kindness she had received
from those whom she had considered
her enemies.
Where i" the envelope, mother, that
the General who was so good to us
gave me?"
The mother brought the little pack
age which she had found secured in
her daughters dress, when she fell
half-fainting at the door, and at the
request of the invalid opened it.
A slip of paper in which were folded
two bank notes, whose amount to the
eyes of af1uence might seem insignif-
cant, to the impoverished widow beto-
kened food and clothing for many a
day. Inscribed On the paper (Which
has been carefully p%reserved) was:
For Robby Hunter, one of the orphans
of this cruel war. Pray for peace"
No signature was attached. But the
recording angel wrote the name on his
book in letters of light, and He who
said, "Inasmuch as We have done it
unto one of the least of these, We have
done it unto me-" will also say, well
done, good and faithful servant; enter
thou into thy reward" Modest and
tender, brave and merciful, c~oncealing
his good deeds beneath the mantle of
silence, when will the world find an
other like him, our own Grant?
The gallant old soldier has confront
ed his last foe-Death. But, though
the Great C%onqueror" has seized all
that is mortal of the hero. the immor-
tai soul that shone from the steadfast
ayes is beyond Deaths power to grasp.
Oh, may the prayers of the helpless
and suffering whom he has befriended
have assembled as holy incense to the
great white throne" lifting the shad-
ows of the dark valley through which
the nations beloved hero, weary with
earthly suffering, passed with unfalter-
ing feet, looking forward to the land
of Beulah-beyond.