Here the old man broke down and wept bitterly for a time. When he recovered he said:
“My friends, it seems to me strange that I should weep now. My sorrows are passed. I am only waiting here below for the reward that true devotion must bring in the other world. There is no recompense for it here. At least, I have only found that which comes from the affections of a loving family. Oh! why should my family all-all have been taken from me as they were? Who has had such a hard fate as mine? Yes! yes! when I come to reflect, many have. Yes! when all are gone—one or many—that is all; we can lose no more. My country, O! my country, it was for thee they died.”
CHAPTER VI.
“K. G. C.”—ORGANIZATION OF THE ENEMIES OF THE UNION IN THE
NORTH—PLOTTING EVERYWHERE—OBJECTS OF THE TRAITOROUS
LEAGUE.
“The bay trees in our country are all withered,
And meteors fright the fixed stars of heaven—
The pale faced moon looks bloody on the earth,
And lean-looked prophets whisper fearful change,
Rich men look sad, and ruffians dance and leap.”
—Shakespeare.
“The loss of little Sarah had spread such a gloom over our household that I felt a desire to be out at David's farm, away from the house, as much as possible. Peter also seemed much depressed and showed a great desire to return to his regiment. On one occasion, when Ham and I returned in the evening, the conversation drifted in the direction of the absent ones in the army, and to Harvey, who fell at the battle of the Gaps. My wife at once alluded to her dream, which seemed to be preying upon her mind almost constantly. Peter was silent, but I noticed that he dropped a tear. After a moment he said:
“'Mother, you should not be constantly thinking of your strange dream. You will become morbid on the subject, unless you drive it from your mind. There is nothing in it that worrying will or can change. There can be nothing sure in dreams, and if there is, you can only discover it in the future. The war will reveal it all to you should there be anything in it.”
“Ham must speak; it was thought by him to be his time.
“'Yes, missus, de wah 'splain it all. Massa Peter and me talk 'bout dat. No danger come out of dreams, you know.'
“'Why, Ham,' said Aunt Sarah, 'I thought you dreamed about Peter, and said he was all right. You assured us of it; and you said that you always knew by your dreams when matters were all right.'