The west shore., July 01, 1888, Page 355, Image 9

THE WEST SHORE
er enemy, disease, for surely the day will como to
open the prison doors and loosen the fetters which
bind you, when you will be free to go back to that
dear old mother and little sister, who pray for your
safe return; and not only to them, but to another,
whose prayers will not go unheard, but will ascend to
heaven in your behalf.
Hope had given way to despair in the breast of
Mrs. Norwood. She had prayed for the return of
her son, or tidings that he lived, but day after day
went by until almost a year had passed, and still no
word from her missing boy. Little Mamie was now
almost seven years old, and but for the love of tho
dear child, the good woman would have broken down
under the weight of anxiety for the fate of her son.
Daring the many months of waiting, Amy Harring.
ton was a great comfort to Mrs. Norwood, scarcely
missing a day without paying her a visit Mrs. Har
rington, too, made frequent calls at the house of the
sorrowing widow, cheering her up as best she could.
One day, near the first of July, the post master
was seen to leave his office and walk rapidly in tho
direction of Mrs. Norwood's. It was an unusual thing
for the old man to walk in such a brisk manner, and
those who saw him wondered what could bo the mat
ter. He met Mamie at the gate, of whom he inquired
for Mrs. Norwood.
" Mamma is in the house," answered the chili
As the post master started up tho steps and was
about to knock at the door, Mrs, Norwood appeared,
and recognizing her caller, said
" Why, Mr. King, what brings you out this time
of day?" Then noticing an anxious look uin his
face, and the letter in his hand, she continued: " I
hope you bring me news of Thomas."
" I trust so; hero is a letter which came but a few
minutes ago, which may bo from him, and I hopo it
may bring you good news."
" You are very kind, and I thank you very much
for your thoughtful consideration for me," sho re
plied, taking the letter and breaking the seaL Turn
ing to the bottom of the page, her eyes rested on the
name of her son.
" Thank God, it is from Thomas; ho still lives,"
sho exclaimed, covering her face with her hands and
sobbing aloud for Joy. It was some minutes before
sho could control herself sufficiently to read tho let
ter. Remembering the good old post master, she
dried her eyes and turned to speak to him, bat he
was gone. When he learned that tho letter was, a
he supposed, from Tom, he concladed it was no place
for him there, at that time, and quietly went awsy.
Finding herself alone, Mrs. Norwood saccw-ded,
through her tears, in reading the letter, which proved
to bo the one written by Captain Norwood while in
Andersonville prison. When she had finiahed reel
ing it sho called to Mamie, ami told her to go over
and ask Amy to como and tee her. It was not long
until Amy mado her appearance, and found Mrs.
Norwood in tears.
" Why, Mrs. Norwood, what has happened?" she
asked, eagerly.
" My dear child, Thomas still lives, bat oh I in
such a place,"
Handing tho letter to Amy, sho s&in burst into
tears. Poor Amy, her grief was equal to Mrs. Nor
wood's, although sho tried hard to control herself as
sho read tho following sorrowful letter from tho alv
sent son and lover:
Axiiravui.K Mr'U. May 12, K
Jy dear, drur vioihtr;
Nevrr Uforo hav I lonl fur and Ml tho nri! of a
mother a now, an.l t ihi amo limo, wm-n 1 lk around
and nhj tho utter hiijrlrMfirM of evrr p-tUn out d I''" alivo,
I rvallw that I ahall twvrr look uu.n your dar f uin.
Twilirr iili m-arly all my uinay. In f- t, all who rw
not kilh-d, 1 mm taken rtwt at tho haitlo of rhHamauv.
on the iiliii'tivnth day of lat rVtviulirr, ai. aftr day of mil-fi-riiiKon
tho mardi wo rrnliM thW t !', !'
!n ever nirirc and ar like!; to nmaln until, hk l!i.tn.U
who have guru Uforo, we are l;aull out In th drad art. I
ahould have written you on my arrival, tut tamd thai no
h tu m arw jrrmitted to K' ljun'l ofJi' i'ln Wrr.
onr jailor. i-houM UU rrai h you It will U throng tho kind
rurMof aoutoMlow tmrr, mor furtunato than inyarlf, w.
who w 111 aM to K' t thU thrown lh liw. Ju ho thU
will l I am a yet unahU to uj, hut ha!I lrut to u friend
y lntfTition of I'rovi denns to aiaWl mo,
My iUmi mother, I am at a la for word tororrw tiy run
vey to you tho twihlo condition of affair In And-rmvll!i and
tho unfortunate turn runflwl t. I h I I'" I ''m
hero horrihlo tah a aWit tho da and of ll rnwd lralnhl
of j.riwra, and at tU ! tWM n'fh t'1 1 hrit l
waa tho creation of a vivid ImaatLn; I rould
that mm endowed iti K'an faint l"J'"' I"'5'''
touM I-guilty of nhat th" art. tharH lih.Ul I
am now j n-j-arr-l to y that th ha'.f h a tn l"M- "
,h-ar molhrr, the ln t an .ar.-rly Utn lht U'U'"
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unfortiatcoHra.Ir.ll tU atU tU liln aaiU
tho arrival of th lral rart to tarry tJ-m 1" H'
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ho Uh W rovrr Uir own 1". anlwJit
;ta! to rob II Jrl for that i JhU, Im, III. U
full kr.H that ,ch. lo a U .U;a lUy mj fa l U
..Va iw. ct.H y lUir M'Uf.
Lt,maU:iy f ! .Iratl.. .1. 1 U
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lirti that thU U Uia ty a 1-1 U K If
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