God
grant that no tread of rebellion in the years to come, nor thunder of
contending armies, may disturb their peace!
Some stopped in the heat and dust of Washington to be nursed and tended
in the great barracks of hospitals,--uncomfortable-looking without,
clean and spacious and admirable within; some to their homes, on
long-desired and eagerly welcomed furloughs, there to be cured speedily,
the body swayed by the mind; some to suffer and die; some to struggle
against winds and tides of mortality and conquer,--yet scarred and
maimed; some to go out, as giants refreshed with new wine, to take their
places once more in the great conflict, and fight there faithfully to
the end.
Among these last was Jim; but not till after many a hard battle, and
buffet, and back-set did life triumph and strength prevail. One thing
which sadly retarded his recovery was his incessant anxiety about
Sallie, and his longing to see her once more. He had himself, after his
first hurt, written her that he was slightly wounded; but when he
reached Washington, and the surgeon, looking at his shattered leg,
talked about amputation and death, Jim decided that Sallie should not
know a word of all this till something definite was pronounced.
"She oughtn't to have an ugly, one-legged fellow," he said, "to drag
round with her; and, if she knows how bad it is, she'll post straight
down here, to nurse and look after me,--I know her! and she'll have me
in the end, out of sheer pity; and I ain't going to take any such mean
advantage of her: no, sir-ee, not if I know myself.
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