Year: 1864

| shoulder straps llke tHIAFJ OVchS, anu
know about as much Of war, III be
bound You ought to have seen our
captain in ~, and


Il was thinking father replied Jessie,
interrupting him, for she knew by expert
ence what the length of bis story would
be. when be began fighting his battles
over again. 1 was thinking Of what a
dreadful thing, war was, and-and-'


Jessie said a young man, dressed in
The garb of a common soldier-one in
the rauks-as he entered the open door
without ceremony, though With diff
dent, almost confused manner Jessie, I
came to ask favor of YOU.


Favor Walt broke in the old man,
while his daughter sat with downcast
eyes and crimson cheeks. Favor? III
she dosn't grant It, it will be the fra
time she ever refused, for my Jess is just
as kind hearted as she is pretty
Father ? was all the girl could reply to
this wholesale praises.


sWhat is it, Walter?' asked the moth
er, kindly and TO cover The confusion oil
her child, for her womanly feelings
taught her intuition-by the remem-
brance of her own girlish days, that new
love had sprung up in her daughters
heart, more potent and strong than that
she bore to home or parents; love for
which she would 'forsake father or moth
er,' fer which her heart would follow to
the battlefield, and for which she would
ever be bowed down in prayer.


/ came to ask Jessie to 90 with me to
my mothers for an hour or two. Poor
mother, she feels very badly about my
going


TO be sure she does, again interrupt
ed the old man. TO be sure she does.
If my Jess was boy, it would be mighty
hsrd-like tearing out the strings of my
heart to let her go. And yet it is a duty,
that we owe both to God and our country.
Your father, boy, fought by my side-a
brave and a good soldier he was, and


4 trust I shall never disgrace his mem
ory, sir


To be sure you wont If Roger FL
mer ever had a coward for son there
must have been frand in the matter.
But get your things, jess, and go along
Walt will see you safe home. And
say, boy, when you are gone, when you
are doing your duty for the blessed old
stars and stripes, wife and ], as well as
Jess, will take your old mother under
our wings, and see that she don't want
for anything.


How much l thank you, SIR


well, well, 90 along. Bless my old
heart, these war times almost make me
young again, though we didn't wear such
little gimcrack looking caps in my day,
can tell you


1t was late-near midnight-when
Jessie Avery started to return home, ac~
companied by the gallant young soldier.
The moon shed but semi,light through
the thick and Ieafy branches of the trees
that overhung their path. In silence
they wandered on until they reached the
little, cherry bordered lane that led up to
the old homestead of the Averys. They
nearly passed through it without word
being spoken when suddenly the voice of
her companion fell upon the ear of the
girl startling her like pistol shot;


Jessie


'Walterl'


Jessie, but few short hours and l
am going away-going to take my place
on the battlefield. Do you know why l
am going?


For your country's honor, and the
holy cause of liberty and right she ans
wered in a trembling voice.


Yes, that in itself would have forbid
me to stay, but I have another incentive
fully as strong. Can you not guess ii?
| I-I-no-no.


1T was that might pluck form the
wreath of glory at least one leaf to lay
at your feet. Jessie. dear Jessie, not
until l had wona name-perchance
wealth. did mean that these words
should have been spoken. Not until
then did / intend to have told you how
deeply, truthfully l love you. But now
on the very verge, as it were, Of eterni-
ty cannot keep them back. Jessie, dar-
ling. should l return safe and sound
God forbid that !, even as I love you,
should ask you to fetter yourself to one
crippled or maimed-may l not hope to
call you by the dearer, hOlier titIe--wife?


The moon hid itself behind cloud for
an instant, and as it again flashed its sill
yer light through the riffs, Jessie Avery