Lancaster High School - Mirage Yearbook (Lancaster, OH)

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The other started off, with long strides, in that direction. As he approached the door, he stopped short and saluted, as General Washington passed in before him. The latter had been informed of the stranger’s condition and words, and had come immediately to see him. As they entered the room where he lay, the young soldier, after his first glimpse of the haggard form on the cot, ran forward and seizing his hand cried: “Abe, oh, Abe. how did you get hero?” But his brother, who had regained consciousness, screamed and drew back against the wall. He was wildly delirous, with a raging fever, and recognized no one. The sol- 7.i r then told Washington that he was his brother and how he had been left at home. But, as the days passed and he still raved incessantly in his delirum, cared for by his brother .Tim, the General, in his daily visits, learned from the lad’s own pitiful words, the story of his vain ambitions, his bitter feelings, his mother’s death, his long, hard journey and his humiliation of his own weakness. Tears flowed unrestrainedly from the eider boy’s eyes, as he heard of the loss of his mother and his brother’s sorrows and hardships. He had never guessed that back of the pale, thin face had burned the fire of a patriotism even greater than his own. Even the General’s eyes were moist as he stood daily by the cot and listened to the broken story. He was deeply moved and used every means at his command to save the boy’s life. For a week, the army still remained in camp, waiting for a move from the enemy and for a week, the sufferer lingered between life and death. On the seventh day, he fell into a deep sleep, and when he awoke, the crisis had been passed and weak and wan, he forced a smile of recognition for his brother. The next day. Washington came again, and this time the boy knew that he was the great General. He gave a little cry. as of pair, and turned his face away. But the General, seating himself beside the cot, gently took the thin hand in his own, and began to speak: “My boy, I know what you have suffered and what your feelings are. I am proud of your patriotism; your great desire to join the army, for that means untold hardships and privations. And it is one of the supreme gifts of a man’s life to give himself to his country. But even greater than that, my lad, is the true test of character of filial love and obedience which you showed in your devotion for your mother. She suffered for you and you in turn, endured agony for her and in doing that you proved yourself to be the truest soldier of us all.” As the boy heard these words from the Great General his face lighted 'with a glow of almost unearthly beauty and then too weak to speak, lie breathed a sigh of deep content, and fell asleep. —Ruth Suzanne Busby, ’16. A Hum MKiltb The clock on the station wall struck ten times. “Just five minutes more, son, and we will be out of this and away from those sneering faces at the window,” said Brown to his son as they sat waiting for the express to carry them away from the village of Hampton to the city of Cincinnati. Brown was a middle aged man, but looked to be much older, because of the trouble he had gone thru in the last four months. First he had lost his wife; then Jones had forced him to sell his little store by circulating false reports about him, causing all the people in the village to quit dealing with him. (12)

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Suddenly, he raised his head. His mother’s lips were moving, but no sound came. He bent close to her face and heard the words: “I didn’t blame you, Abe—tell Jim—” Here she ceased, a slight tremor ran over her body, a smile illumined the gaunt face as she passed from night into day. Until day break, the boy sat as in a stupor. He could scarcely realize that the wasted form on the bed no longer needed his care, that he was alone and free to go to war. Finally, he roused himself, and went to get the help of the nearest neighbor over the ridge. The next day. they buried her beside his father, and the following morning with his head bared, the boy stood beside the fresh-covered grave, for the last time before leav- ing the mountains. Hot tears blurred his vision, shutting out the two mounds of earth, the lonely cabin, and beyond, far beneath, the narrow ravine, flanked on either side by the rugged ranges. She had been so much to him; far more than he had ever realized before, and now, that she was gone, he yearned with all his heart to see her again. But in a single night he had become a man, and a man’s duty lay before him. Shouldering his musket, he slowly descended the slope, passed along the edge of the tumbling stream, and on over the same trail his brother had trod several months earlier. Day after day, footsore and weary, he climbed ridges ar.d crossed deep valleys, until at length he reached the foot-hills and soon gained the level country. He had really been ill when he started from the strain of his mother’s death, and the work, which had been so heavy for him. But now. after miles of tramping, sleeping at night on the wet or cold ground, and with insuificient food, begged from the scanty mountain homes, his will-power alone kept him on his stumbling feet, the strength almost gone from liis gaunt body. His eyes were sunk deep beneath his brows, and his cheeks burned with a feverish fire. He had become possessed with the one desire—to reach General Washington—of whom he had heard as he went along; to confess to him the circumstances, which had kept him from joining the army; to throw himself completely at the great man’s mercy. For to the delirious mind of the boy. he became fixed in the belief, that he had committed some great fault that the stain could never be wiped from his honor. Aching in every muscle, mile by mile, he slowly dragged himselt along, often com- pelled to lie for half a day by the roadside, until he regained strength. At last one day, when he felt that he could go no farther, he learned, from a farmer that the Continental Army was camping only several miles beyond, and that General Washington was, of course, in command. With a last effort, he pulled himself to- gether and started for the end of the long journey. An hour later, several soldiers, in ragged uniform, standing at the edge of the camp, were startled by the sudden appearance of what first seemed to be the apparition of a boy. Then as he stumbled forward, they saw his face, ghastly white, his eyes hollow and star- ring, his torn homespun hanging loosely from his thin shoulders. As he saw them, his parched lips formed the words, “General Washington,” and he fell unconscious at their feet. Pittingly, the men lifted his slight weight in their arms and carried him to an old building, which was serving as a temporary hospital. As they passed thru the midst of the camp, the soldiers, curious, pressed around them and the news spread from mouth to mouth. Some thot that he might have an important message for the General, which he had risked his life to deliver. As his ap-pearance was being discussed to a little group lying on the ground, a tall young man sprang to his feet and cried: “Where is he? I want to see him!” “They took him to that old house over there,” answered one of his companions. (13)

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After Jones was in possession of his store and he had but one friend left in Hamp- ton, Brown sold his home and all that he had left of his moderate fortune and made up his mind to leave the village. The train rumbled up to the station and catching his son by the hand he hurried out to the platform. It was snowing so hard that he could not see who the persons were standing close to the building making remarks about him. As the train disappeared down the road, Jones remarked to his companions. “Well he will go to the city now to live in poverty the rest of his life, where he could have lived here in peace if he had accepted my offer.” The truth of the matter was that Jones was glad he was gone, as he did not like to have a man like Brown around. One might have seen Jones later that evening as he sat reading his mail gasp and look around the room as he held a letter in his shaking hand on which was written the following:. “I will get you some day, Jones; it may take a iong time, but I will get you. My course will be marked by four cards; ace of spades, which means I have started; duce of diamonds, that I have made progress; the tray of hearts, that I have gained a hold; and the king of clubs that I am about to strike.”—BROWN. Jones threw back his head and laughed, rose, threw the letter into the fire, shrugged his shoulders and passed out of the room. Time had brought a few changes, for the betterment of the village and one evening in June the men on the bench in front of the Hampton Hotel saw a large white car com- ing toward them down the street. It was a beautiful thing, as the moonlight played upon it. It was in absolute harmony with its surroundings, not making any noise as it moved down the silent street, between the rows of stately elms. Stopping in front of the hotel, a young man dressed in white from head to foot, wear- ing large amber-colored glasses, stepped out of the car and asked for a room for the night. The proprietor rising, led him into the oifice where he shoved the register toward him. After signing, the stranger was taken to his room. On coming down stairs the proprie- tor found liis three comrades of the bench gazing at the name on the register. “Weli what is his name and where is he from?” asked Williams. “His name in Howard Prince and lie hails from Dayton,” replied the first man. “I wonder if he is going to let that car stand out there all night,” asked the second man. Prince’s room faced the street, and he heard the four discussing him till about eleven o’clock, when they all departed for their homes. Next morning, as he was eating his first early meal with the landlord he found out about everybody of importance in the village. And he also learned that if he wanted to spend the summer on a farm, old man Henderson’s place would just about suit him. About 8:30, Prince set out for Henderson’s farm. He received his directions from Williams, who said it lay in a beautiful stretch of country. Williams was right, for no one could have wished for a nicer place than this for a drive on such a morning. Prince was just about three miles from the village when Henderson's large red barn came in sight with its white house set in the middle of a well-kept lawn with fine large shade trees. As he came closer lie noticed that all fences were well-kept and in good condition, and the weeds were also cut. “The old farmer must take pride in his farm,” thot Prince. Tho he had moved noiselessly up the drive he had not proceeded half way to the house before a large heavy man came out of the door at the side and greeted him by his name, “Quick work, thot Prince, “William must have phoned him that I was coming.” Making known his wants Prince was led thru the house and up stairs by Henderson to a laige room neatly furnished in white. Going to one of the windows Prince threw it open and gazed out upon a rolling country. “You need rot show me any other rooms,” said Prince, this is just what I wanted.” Descending the stairs, he paid Henderson in advance, and told him he wanted to go to town and that he would be back after din- ner. (13)