The rain fell
upon the noble face and floating, sunny hair,--washing them free of
soil, and dark and fearful stains; moistening the fevered, burning lips,
and cooling the bruised and aching frame. How passed the long night with
that half-insensible soul? God knoweth. The secrets of that are hidden
in the eternity to which it now belongs. Questionless, ministering
spirits drew near, freighted with balm and inspiration; for when the
shadows fled, and the next morning's sun shone upon these silent forms,
it revealed faces radiant as with some celestial fire, and beatified as
reflecting the smile of God.
The inmates of the house before which lay this solemn mystery, rising to
face a new-made day, looking out from their windows to mark what traces
were left of last night's devastations, beheld this awful yet sublime
sight.
"A prejudice which, I trust, will never end," had Mr. Surrey said, in
bidding adieu to his son but a few short hours before. This prejudice,
living and active, had now thus brought death and desolation to his own
doors. "How unsearchable are the judgments of God, and his ways past
finding out!"
CHAPTER XX
"_Drink,--for thy necessity is yet greater than mine._"
Sir Philip Sidney
The hospital boat, going out of Beaufort, was a sad, yet great sight. It
was but necessary to look around it to see that the men here gathered
had stood on the slippery battle-sod, and scorned to flinch.
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