A Story With a Lesson.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1904, 11 June 1892, Page 2 (Supplement)

A Story With a Lesson.

Bx Bell V. CmsrHOLM.

It was on the thirtieth day of May, 1862, that Jack Roberts took leave of the hulo town which bad given him birth, and marohed so proudly away with the boys in blue, as had hia two elder brothers before him. The parting from his dear ones cost him many a pang, for he was a home lad, and loved tho lutle frail mother with all the intensity of his warm nature. Susie, his twin sißter, bitterly denounced his going, but when bbc saw him, in hia bright new uniform, march proudly down the aisle of the old fashioned church, she nodded approvingly, and wondered how any rigbt-miiided youDti man could stay at home when the need for soldiers was bo preasing. Tiie long, hot summer, dragged slowly away, and in more than one fiercely conteu- I ted battle Jaok shared the dangorß and | anxiety common to a soldier's life. | At different times during the winter Tom | and Ben, the older brothers, brightened tha I home with their presence, but neither tha | mother's longings or Susie's constant chid ings succeeded in procuring a furlough fur Jack. True, the brave fellow was fortunate enough to be granted a short leave of absence once, but when he saw Dick Bosnian, j whose baby was dying in the far away home, j break down and weep bitterly because kin | name was not found upon the same roll, he j generously transferred bis furlough to him, j and pot away his own home-sickness until a j more convenient time should arrive. Dick | was his sworn enemy, too ; but Jack could not be cruel even to a foe. Susie fretted over this, for between tha twins there existed a warm attachment, and repeated disappointments caused her iv chafe and tret continually. One bright morning in the latter part cf April a letter came from Jack in whioh he | eaid that there would be no chance of n furlough now, nor until the summer campaign was over. 11 I'll see if I can't bring him," Su3ie said desperately. (ioing to her room, she hastily panned tha following :— | " D-'ar Jaok.— Mother ia very ill. Your | absence is breaking her heart. Come home i ni once if you wish to £co her alive. Susie." Jiick carried tha letter to fcb.3 commanding ciiitnr, bat neither tear 3 or prayers could I gain for him the much desired furloa^b, for | a grait battle was impending, and every j scidier was needed at his post. | "I must run the risk cf going without i leave of absence ; oome whafc will, mother will see her aon," be said as he turned sadly away. So the next morning, long before the sun was up, Jack was speeding homeward as less as steam could carry him. It was twilight when he softly opened ths farmhouse door, and in answer to Mb father's startled look asked in a hoarse whisper, — "Ami too late?" '• Too late 1 What do you mean, my boy?" questioned Mr. Boberfcg, a1?a 1 ? he warmly grasped his son's hand. " Mother — is she dead ?" " Dead ? No ! Here she is cow to speak for herself." In the confusion that ensued Jaok learned how he had been deceived, and for the first time since the fatal letter bad been put into bis hands realized fully that he was a deserter. Susie was almost distracted at the thought of what she had done and begged forgiveness. ''You must not go baak," Bhe cried. " You must go where they cannot find you." "Bun away!" exclaimed Jack, so vehemently that Susie was startled. "No, sister, I will not add cowardice to crime. I must go baok and endure my punishment liks a true soldier." •' They will pardon you when they learn that it was love for your mother that brought you home," said Mis. Kobortß, clinging to her boy. "It was on the eve of a great battle, mother, and no excuse will Btand, for every soldier was ordered to be in readiness for marching orders," answered Jack, Bhakiog his head at the hopelessness of the ease. " I must go with you," aaid Mr. Roberiß. " Perhaps I oan plead your cause more earnestly than you can plead it yourBelf."' But Jack assured him that it would be impossible to obtain a pegs ; so, writing a letter, explaining the boy'a temptation, and begging for mcroy, the poor crushed father committed it to his eon's keeping, and then vatohf.d him go out again into the murky darkness— tloue. Jack boarded the lightning exproßa, and while tho stars ware still shining in tha morning gky he made his way cautiously toward the camp, hoping against hope that he might evade the picketa and reaoh his quarters unobserved. But he was doomed to disappointment, for just aa he emerged from behind a clump of trees where he had been reconnoitering, a qua was thrust in hia face, and a voice said hoariely, — " Halt ! Who comes there ?" Jack trembled and felt himself growing pale, for that voice could belong to no one but hia old enemy — Dick Bosman. By the light of the moon the tentinel was enabled to recognize the man who, unknowingly, had put himself in his power. For a full minute the two Btood gazing intentily into each other's faces, and then, the Bpell broken, Dick held out hiß hand say- »%— " Can I do anything for you this morning, Jtuk?" '• Yea ; you oan Bhoot mo like a dog or put rao under guard as a deserter." "Jack Puberte, wo are not enemies, but friends. Dj you think I oan ever forget tho time you sent me home to my dying child ? Had it not been for that unselfish act I should never have seen my Willie again for we laid him away in the grave before my furlough expired. lam you friend, and ■o far as I am able, I will shield you from danger." Convinced that Dick was in earnest Jaok look his proffered hand, and then related the etory of his desertion, expressing a determination to accept hia fate whatever it might be. '' If this secret is oura alone, we will keep it forever," said Dick. • I'll see that you get back safe to your quarters, if you trust me to pilot you." '•I am in your bane's," returned Jack; " but remember, Dick, 1 do net intend to save myself at your expense," " I'll see you through, never fear," and he kept hia word. Those were exciting daya in the armyready to inarch at a moment's warniog— and outside of hia own mess, no one had detected Jsck's abßeccn. Through Dick'rf cx--!t ; r.n3, be was smugglad baok into camp '.vivhout exciting Euapioion, and the secret cf his desertion never reached the ears of friend or foe. A few dayß later a great battle was fought, and Dick fell so badly woundedfthat he was never again fit for active service. After the war closed the two who had been such close i'riends, lost sight of each other altogether. Jack finished his education, studied law, and in time rose to au eminent position in bis chosen profession. Last year he was invited to make the memorial address in a Western city, and in tbe course of his remarks, related the incident of his absence without leave, giving a glowing tribute to the soldier— at that tim 6 an enemy — who had stood between him and deatb. \Yben he had finished his oration, a plain, white/beaded man, who occupied a seat near the front, rose to his feet, and asked permission to make a statement in conneciiou with the incident referred to by tho speaker. IU then told the first part of tne story, concerning the exohanged furlougb,- closing with,-—

" I am tha man who was sent home to see my dying child, and the honorable gentleman who has just addressed you, then private Jaok Roberts, is the identioal man who sent me."

A few minutes later the two men met on the steps of tha speaker's platform, and arm in arm walked to the cemetery to lay their loving tributes upon the graves of the heroic dead.

After the decoration sexvioes were over Jack aocopted the hospitality of his humble friend, and only old soldiers who have passed through similar experiences know with what pleasure the two oompared war reminiscences. - During that visit Mr. Roberts learned of the poverty wtiioh had continually followed his crippled comrade, and it was the patioaoe, and brave enduranoe manifested in She poor man's family that put it into his heart to better their oondition by giving the husband and father a lucrative position in his own offico.