THE WEST SHORE,
125
endeavoring to destroy this republic, which has cost
so much blood and treasure to establish and maintain.
I will soon be in readiness to enlist those who may
wish to offer their services."
The most intense excitement prevailed among the
yo-ng men, while the older ones were thoughtful,
feeling that a crisis was upon the country. True to
his word, old Josh Gundy, with tottering steps, came
forward, and, addressing the officer, said
" Sir, I was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was
with General Scott at the capture of the City of Mex
ico, and now I wish to be the first to sign the roll
from Wapakoneta in defense of the dear old flag."
As the old hero's mind went back to the days when
he fought the battles of his country, the hot tears
coursed down his furrowed cheeks, visibly affecting
those present. The officer was moved by the patriot
ism, and, grasping Josh by the hand, said
" God bless you, my patriotic old friend. The
government, I hope, will not need men of your age.
You have already given your best years to her, and
she will not expect you to give her your declining
days."
Colonel Harrington now stepped forward, and ad
vised the people to return to their homes and prepare
themselves to make great sacrifices during the com
ing struggle, the end of which no one could foresee.
As may well be supposed, the country was ablazo
with excitement; the country people continued to
flock into town in great numbers. The soldiers' quar
ters were being besieged by the young people, who
had never seen a soldier in uniform, and these " for
sure " soldiers were great curiosities to them. The
enlistment went on briskly, and when the sun went
down on the day after the arrival of Lieutenant Bar
ber and his men, there were enrolled, in the service of
the government, one hundred as fine looking young
men as ever shouldered a musket, and who were ea
ger to be led against the foe, who dared to insult the
flag of their country. This company was at onco for
warded to the camp of instructions, there to bo put
through the various evolutions necessary to the re
cruit, before being sent into the field.
The parting from friends on leaving for the scenes
of battle, will long bo remembered. Later on, these
three months' volunteers formed a nucleus, around
which, a few months later, were gathered large ar-
mies.
Among the most active in securing enlistment,
was Colonel Harrington. Tho colonel was the weal
thiestman in that section of Ohio, and a' leader in
Tie riur of llm hnm, a! thou h nn-W ti st t . 1""J
in ihi. eomW. ! in it and W cmUlf ui,u
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most matters which came up for consideration. His
family consisted of himself, wife and daughter, and,
as might bo expected, he and his estimable wife wor
shiped at tho shrine of their only child.
Amy Harrington, like many of her Northern sis
ters, was a blonde of tho purest typo. Sho was just
the age nineteen when woman attains her most
perfect form and beauty. Her hair, liko threads of
gold, hung in luxuriant masses about her shoulders,
extending far below her slender and shapely waist.
Her complexion was most delicately fair, showing tho
dainty blushes and tho bluo pcncilings about tho tern
pies, every passing emotion being noted by tho ebb
and flow of color, as seen through her transparent
skin. Sho had largo, soft, bluo eyes, with arched eye
brows of golden brown; hands small and white Iu
height, she was five feet fivo inches; and in her walk,
showod a queenly grace.
Colonel Harrington had been exceedingly careful
about his daughter's education, giving hor all tho ad
vantages which wealth and position could procure.
One would naturally infer, that with her numerous
friends and" indulgent fathor and mother, sho would
bo very happy. Not so, however. Being a woman,
and an exceptionally beautiful one, sho hail a great
many suitors, and being conscientious, her heart was
sad when sho hail to send her many admirers away.
There was one, however, who laid seigo to Amy'
heart, and who was not sent away without recogni
tion. That ono was Tom Norwood. Tom was tho
son of Mrs. Norwood, who lived ncighlx to Colonel
Harrington. Tho husband of Mrs. Norwood had
died a year before tho opening of our story, leaving
two children to tho caro of his widow. Torn was tho
elder, being just twenty-ono years old, while little
Mamie, his sister, was oidy two. Tom aud Amy had
grown up sido by side, always tho Wat of friend,
and, as they reached manhood and womauhood, this
friendship had ripened into love. Tom was a turfed
spoeimcn of manly beauty, standing fivo M eleven
inches, with square shoulders, and weighing ono huu
dred and eighty pounds. Ho had dark, chestnut,
brown hair, which clustered in ringlets about hi fair
brow. When his hat was laid aside, his forehead
showed that he had intellectual capacity, a well a
manly beauty. Ho was a genuino type of a Western
man.
There was a wido differenco in tho social portions
of tho two families. Tho Harringtons, MjMwaiug
wealth, hiul carle bUtnche to tho lt society, while
tho Norwoods, king very poor in this world's good,
wcro denied entrance to tho Ummtmdit. While Amy
was away receiving her finishing education, Tow was
studying at home. He could not afford a collegiate
coarse, therefore ho applied Limwlf tho more dili-