Holmes_Cameron_Pride_or_Purified_by_Suffering.txt topic ['13', '324', '378', '393']
much
reserve that s intercourse with her was anything but
agreeable, and she turned with alacrity to father ,
who received her with open arms, calling her his daughter,
and welcoming as his son, taken in s stead.
" boy," he frequently called him, showing how will
ingly he accepted him as the husband of one whom he
loved as his child. he wished that they should stay
with him while they remained in , but
preferred going to . s, where she would be
more quiet, and avoid the bustle and confusion attending
the preparations for s wedding. was to be a grand
church affair, and to take place during week, after
which the bridal pair were going on to , and
if possible to , where had been a prisoner.
seemed conspiring to make the occasion a joy
ful one, for all through the , from to
fornia, the air was rife with the songs of victory and the
notes of approaching peace. alas ! who holds our
country s destiny in his hand changed that song of glad
ness into a wail of woe, which, echoing through the land,
rose up to heaven in one mighty sob of anguish, as the
whole nation bemoaned its loss. was dead,
and was in mourning, so black, so profound,
that with a shudder tossed aside the orange
wreath and said to her lover, " will be married at
home. cannot now go to the church, when everything
seems like one great funeral."
so in . s drawing-room there was a
quiet wedding, one pleasant morning, and s
plain traveling dress was far more in keeping with the
gloom which hung over the great city than her gala robes
would have been, with a long array of carriages and merry
wedding chimes. they went instead of ,
and when our late lamented was borne back to
the prairies of , they were there to greet the noble
4io .
dead, and mingle their tears with those who knew and
loved him long before the world appreciated his worth.
the rain falls on , where the fresh
green grass is springing and the early spring flowers
blooming, and where stands for a moment in the
bay window of the library, listening to the patter on the
tin roof overhead, and gazing wistfully down the road,
as if watching for some one ; then turning, she enters the
dining-room and inspects the supper table, for her mother.
, and are visiting her this rainy
afternoon, while , on his return from -
ton, is to call for and bring him home to
tea.
is a nice place to visit, and the old ladies
enjoy it vastly, especially , who never tires of
telling what they have "over to and whose cape-
less shaker hangs often on the hall stand, just as it hangs
now, while she, good soul, sits in the pleasant parlor, and
darns the socks for , taking as much pains as if it
were a network of fine lace she was weaving, instead of
a shocking rent in some luckless heel or toe. stairs
there is a pleasant room which calls s,
and in it is the " feather bed," which never found its way
to . himself did t not think much
of feathers, but he made no objections when
insisted upon s having the bed kept for so many
years, and only smiled a droll kind of smile when he one
morning met it coming up the walk in the wheelbarrow
which trundled.
and his young wife are very happy together and
finds the hours of his absence very long, especially
when left alone. to-day the time drags heavily, and
she looks more than once from the bay window, until at
last s head is seen over the hill, and a few mo
ments after s arm is around her shoulders, and her
lips are upturned for the kiss he gives as he leads her
into the house, chiding her for exposing herself to the
rain, and placing in her hand three letters, which she does
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not open until the cozy tea is over and her family friends
have gone. , while her husband looks over his even
ing paper, she breaks the seals one by one reading first
the letter from " . ," who has returned
from the , and who is in the full glory of her bridal
calls.
" was never so happy in my life as am now," she
wrote. " , did not know that a married woman
could be so happy; but then every woman has not a
for her husband, which makes a vast difference.
ought to see . know she envies me, though she
affects the utmost contempt for matrimony, and reminds
me forcibly of the fox and the grapes. see,
is a failure, so far as is concerned, he having
withdrawn from the field and laid himself at the feet of
, who will be . , and a bride at
the coming summer. intends going too,
as the bridesmaid of the party ; but every year her chances
lessen, and have very little hope that father will ever
call other than his son, always excepting , of
course, whom he has adopted in place of .
don t know, , how much father thinks of you, bless
ing the day which brought you to us, and saying that if
he is ever saved, he shall in a great measure owe it to your
influence and consistent life after the great trouble came
upon you."
were tears in s eyes as she read this letter
from , and with a mental prayer of thanksgiving that
she had been of any use in guiding even one to the
herd s , she took next the letter whose superscription
brought back so vividly to her mind the daisy-covered
grave in . , who was now at ,
caring for the returned prisoners, did not write often, and
her letters were prized the more by , who read with a
beating heart the kind congratulations upon her recent
marriage, sent by .
" knew how it would end, when you were in
town," she wrote, " and am glad that it is so, praying
daily that you may be happy with . and remember
the sad past only as some dream from which you have
412 .
awakened. thank you for your invitation to visit -
wood, and when my work is over may come for a few
weeks and rest in your bird s nest of a home.
the war is ended ; but my boys need me yet, and until the
last crutch has left the hospital, shall stay where duty
lies. my life will henceforth be do not know; but
have sometimes thought that with the funds you so gen
erously bestowed upon me, shall open a school for orphan
children, taking charge myself, and so doing some good.
you be the , and occasionally enliven
us with the light of your countenance? have left the
hospital but once since you were here, and then went to
s grave. prayed for you while there, remember
ing only that you had been his wife. a little box where
no eyes but mine ever look, there is a bunch of flowers
plucked from s grave. are faded and with
ered, but something of their sweet perfume lingers still;
and prize them as my greatest treasure; for, except the
lock of hair severed from his head, they are all that is re
maining to me of the past, which now seems so far away.
is time to make my nightly round of visits, so must
bid you good-bye, the lift up the light of his
countenance upon you, and be with you forever.
."
a long time held this letter in her hand, won
dering if the sorrowful woman whose was once so
strangely blended with that of , could be
the who sat by the evening fire at wood,
with the sunshine of perfect happiness resting on her heart.
" doeth all things well to those who wait upon
," she thought, as she laid down s letter and
took up the third and last, s letter, dated at
, whither, with , she had gone just after
s bridal.
" cannot imagine," wrote, " the feelings of
awe and even terror which steal over me the nearer get to
the seat of war, and the more realize the bloody strife
we have been engaged in., and which, thank , has now
nearly ceased. have heard of , the no
ble man who saved my dear husband s life, and of
. 413
, who helped in the good work? are here, and
never saw more pleased than when seized around
the neck by two long brawny arms, while a cheery voice
called out: c , old chap, has you done forgot
? verily believe cried, and know did,
especially when old came up and shook young
misses hand/ kissed her, all black, and rough,
and uncouth as she was. wish you could see how grateful
the old creature is for every act of kindness. we
come home again, both and will come with us,
though what we shall do with , is more than can
tell. says he shall employ him about the office, and
this know will delight , who has again made
friends with , and who will almost worship
as having saved s life. shall have an
honored seat by the kitchen fire, and a pleasant room all
to herself, working only when she likes, and doing as she
pleases.
" tell you that was to be my seam
stress? am getting together a curious household, you
will say; but like to have those about me to whom
can do the greatest amount of good, and as happen to
know how much admires the girls/ did
not hesitate to take her.
" stopped at on our way here, and shall
never forget the pale, worn faces, nor the great sunken
eyes which looked at me so wistfully as went from cot
to cot, speaking words of cheer to the sufferers, some of
whom were s companions in prison, and whose eyes
lighted up with joy as they recognized him and heard of
his escape. are several nurses here, but no words
of mine can tell what one of them is to the poor fellows,
or how eagerly they watch for her coming. her
with greedy glances as she moves about the room, and
holding her hand with a firm clasp, as if they would keep
her with them always. , more than one heart, as
am told, has confessed its allegiance to her; but she
answers all the same, f l have no love to give. died
out long ago, and cannot be recalled. can guess who
she is, . soldiers call her an angel, but we know
her as ."
414 .
were great tear blots upon that letter as
put it aside, and nestling close to , laid her head
upon his knee, where his hand could smooth her golden
curls, while she pondered s closing words, think
ing how much they expressed, and how just a tribute they
were to the nohle woman whose life had been one con
stant sacrifice of self for another s good " soldiers
call her an angel, but we know her as ."