Year: 1864

Am dying, doctor? Isn't there any ray
of hope?' p


The feeble hand graspcd the arm of the
physician, as he was going the rounds among
the sick and wounded in that hospital tent,
and the youthful voice that asked the eager
question trembled with emotion 1t was
eoyish face into which the physician turned
and gazed; bnt the death angel had set its
impress there, and the kind hearted surgeon
could only shake his head.


"I wanted to 60 home once more before |
diel. Oh, mother mother!' The words
were full of agony, and for few moments the
poor child lay with closed eyes, and tears
trembled upon the long lashes, but they did
not fall he crushed them back and lifted his
almost sightless eyes upward.


"My mother taught me to die, bless God
for that! My home in heaven is always near"
The struggle with feeble human nature was
over. Angels were present to comfort the
dying soldier, and quietly and peacefully he
crossed the dark river upon the long, last
march that ended his earthly campaign.


There was a soldiers burial. Kind hands
hallowed the humble grave, and laid him down
prayerfully and tearfully to his rest and when
the brave men turned back to the lonely tent,
the sword and valisc of their youthful officer
met their eye.


"What shall be done with them was the
sorrowful question.


Send them home to his mother"


And they came! 1t was the early morn
ing of a bright October day. The broad sun
light lay all about the home, over whose
threshold the young Lieutenant had gone forth
one twclvc-month before, SO full of life and
activity.


The door of the reat white house stood open,
and all along the floor Of the wide, pleasant
kitchen, lay Il stream of yellow Sunshine, bro
ken here and there by restless. moving
shadow. where the waving trees came in be-
tween the sunlight The mother was alone,
and as she moved about her morning work,
she sanl in low, sweet voice snatches of
hymns t1pt she lad often sung when tho dear
boy, npw growing into manhood, nestled in
her lap, ana she was husiiing him to sleep;
and she looked as if expecting to see his bright
face coming in at the door, or hear his CHEEKY
voice calling from the garden, I" Mother"


Did she hear no whisper from the garden
Of Paradise at that moment, calling, "Mothcr,
mother I"


Was there not a guardian angel lowering
about her-a youthful face now glowing with
spiritual beauty, lowering over her? Alas she
saw it not


The stage came rafting along the highway,
and her hear, beat quicker at the sound, for
nayhap there might be something from her
darling boy. 1t stopped before the little
wicket gate. and the driver came with slow
reluctant steps up the walk There was some-
thing in each hand which he brought, silently
in and laid almost reverently on the table
Not word broke the Stiffness The poor
mother looked upon them moment, and then
with sharp cry of agony sank down beside
them.


MY boy. my boy! o God, help me this
ism all that is left


She drew the valise to her almost franti-
cally, and lifted her white imporing face to
the driver.


Ah. 1t needed not that solemn answer !;
one glance in that plying face revealed the
truth. Wondering at her own strength, she
eagerly opened the valise. There was the
ca., with its bright buttons and cnaulets