Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (March 1, 1888)
THE WEST SHORE. 120 eagerly watching for her son, but she was doomed to disappointment She was standing back some dis tance, near a carriage containing Mrs. Harrington and her daughter, and as soon as Ned Gray could tear himself away from his friends, he went up to Mrs. Norwood, and after shaking hands with her and kiss ing little Mamie, delivered Tom's letter. Mrs. Nor wood eagerly opened and read it, then folded it care fully and put it in her pocket It was impossible to control her tears, and she wiped them from her eyes. She sobbed out, more to herself than to anyone else " My poor boy! I understand it all." As she let the words escape, she cast her eyes in the direction of the Harrington carriage. Amy had noticed Ned deliver the letter to Mrs. Norwood, and had also noticed her eyes fill with tears, so when Mrs. Norwood looked toward the carriage, she beckoned her to approach. " What was Ned Gray telling you just now, Mrs. Norwood?" asked Amy. " He brought me a letter from Thomas, informing me that he would not come home with the company." " Has he enlisted again?" asked Amy, forcing the words from her lips, the color leaving her lips as she " Yes," replied Mrs. Norwood, " he says that he shall not return until the war is over." Amy at once leaned back in the carriage, and lost all interest in what was going on around her. The widow saw the change in her face, but said nothing. Ned Gray also saw this little by-play, and said to himself " Whatever the trouble is between that girl and Tom Norwood, I'll go my pile it ain't her fault Girls don't lose all the color out of their faces for a fellow they don't care anything for. Jehu! " continued Ned, 11 but didn't her face get white when the widder spoke to her! I guess she told her that Tom had 'listed again for during the war. No wonder ho is dead gone on her." "Hello, Ned! How are you? Got back alive, did you? How many rebs did you kill ? " " Well, Jack Sniflleton. Why in thunder didn't you clip that apron string and go to war, and be some lxxly, then you wouldn't bo asking mo how many rebs I killed?" As Ned delivered theso caustic remarb, he shook Jack by the hand, and said " How are you, Jack, and how are all the girls? You ain't married yet, are yoa? Of course you ain't, for your mother wouldn't let you." Poor Jack! It was not bis fault that he did not " go to war and be somebody " as Ned had said. He wanted to go badly enough, but, to wo Ned's expret Bion, he was "tied to a bnd mother's apron string" and she would not allow the silken cord to bo cut, so Jack did not enlist with tho rest of the neighborhood boys. " Are you going back into the army, Ned?" " Why, of course I am. I have already enlisted for the war, or ' Booner shot' Nearly all the boys are going back. Tom Norwood enlisted in Columbus aa soon as ho was discharged from our company." " WThere is Tom? I have not seen him," said Jack. " Nor you won't seo him, cither, for ho didu't come home," said Ned. Their conversation was cut short by the CAptain calling for the men to " fall in." Tho soldiers worn marched to tho court house, escorted by a largo pro cession of citizens, whero they were feasted, as Neil told Tom they would be, in a grand style. 8occhea of welcomo wero delivered, a chorus of young ladien, dressed in red, whito and blae, sang patriotic song, and everybody was happy. Hero let us loavo them to enjoy thoir feast, and the society of their friends and families, ero they return to tho field of battle. I will not ask tho reader to follow Tom Norwood through tho many and varied vicissitudes of a sol dier's life, neither will wo accompany him ou his nu. mcrous long and fatiguing marches, nor disturb him while standing his lonely night watch. It was while doing duty as a silent picket, that his thoughts would carry him back to his native village, calling to his mind tho many happy days ho had passed with Amy, and tho air castles they had pictured to themselven, only to bo wrecked by the winds of disappointment As time went on, however, Tom kgan to hojm did I say hope? Ho scarcely dared call it by tho name of hope-that some day, ho know not how, or when, he should call Amy his wife. This little ray, faint though it was, seemed to buoy him up in hit many arduous duties, while serving his country as a soldier. Tho regiment to which ho belonged was ordered into Kentucky, to a placo called " Camp Dick Robin son," eighty miles south of Lexington. Hero was e. tablished a camp, or rendezvous, for the many Kat Tenncssco refugees, who wero forced to leave their homes on account of their loyalty to tho stars and stripes. Tho regiment remained at Camp Dick Rob inson until tho winter of 18M-2, then broke, taking up iU lino of march toward Mill Spring', oo the Cumberland river. Here they were placed under tho command of that grand old soldier, General Thoma, who led them to victory at Mill Springs, where tho rebel general, Zollacoffer, was killed During all those weary months, Tom had heard nothing from Amy, except a his mother would write and say that Amy Lad Ucn over to n.o her, and had