passages from an old volume of life-第12章
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ll those lesser felicities conferred by love or fame or wealth or any of the roundabout agencies for which his fiery elixir is the cheap； all… powerful substitute。
Dr。 Wilson was in bed； though it was early in the evening； not having slept for I don't know how many nights。
〃Take my card up to him； if you please。〃 This way； sir。〃
A man who has not slept for a fortnight or so is not expected to be as affable； when attacked in his bed； as a French Princess of old time at her morning receptions。 Dr。 Wilson turned toward me； as I entered； without effusion； but without rudeness。 His thick； dark moustache was chopped off square at the lower edge of the upper lip； which implied a decisive； if not a peremptory； style of character。
I am Dr。 So…and…So of Hubtown； looking after my wounded son。 （I gave my name and said Boston； of course； in reality。）
Dr。 Wilson leaned on his elbow and looked up in my face； his features growing cordial。 Then he put out his hand； and good…humoredly excused his reception of me。 The day before； as he told me； he had dismissed from the service a medical man hailing from ******； Pennsylvania； bearing my last name； preceded by the same two initials； and he supposed； when my card came up； it was this individual who was disturbing his slumbers。 The coincidence was so unlikely a priori； unless some forlorn parent without antecedents had named； a child after me； that I could not help cross…questioning the Doctor； who assured me deliberately that the fact was just as he had said； even to the somewhat unusual initials。 Dr。 Wilson very kindly furnished me all the information in his power； gave me directions for telegraphing to Chambersburg； and showed every disposition to serve me。
On returning to the Herr House； we found the mild； white…haired old gentleman in a very happy state。 He had just discovered his son； in a comfortable condition； at the United States Hotel。 He thought that he could probably give us some information which would prove interesting。 To the United States Hotel we repaired； then； in company with our kind…hearted old friend； who evidently wanted to see me as happy as himself。 He went up…stairs to his son's chamber； and presently came down to conduct us there。
Lieutenant P________ ； of the Pennsylvania __th； was a very fresh； bright…looking young man； lying in bed from the effects of a recent injury received in action。 A grape…shot； after passing through a post and a board； had struck him in the hip； bruising； but not penetrating or breaking。 He had good news for me。
That very afternoon； a party of wounded officers had passed through Harrisburg； going East。 He had conversed in the bar…room of this hotel with one of them； who was wounded about the shoulder （it might be the lower part of the neck）； and had his arm in a sling。 He belonged to the Twentieth Massachusetts； the Lieutenant saw that be was a Captain； by the two bars on his shoulder…strap。 His name was my family…name； he was tall and youthful； like my Captain。 At four o'clock he left in the train for Philadelphia。 Closely questioned； the Lieutenant's evidence was as round； complete； and lucid as a Japanese sphere of rock…crystal。
TE DEUM LAUDAMUS！ The Lord's name be praised！ The dead pain in the semilunar ganglion （which I must remind my reader is a kind of stupid； unreasoning brain； beneath the pit of the stomach； common to man and beast； which aches in the supreme moments of life； as when the dam loses her young ones； or the wild horse is lassoed） stopped short。 There was a feeling as if I had slipped off a tight boot； or cut a strangling garter；only it was all over my system。 What more could I ask to assure me of the Captain's safety？ As soon as the telegraph office opens tomorrow morning we will send a message to our friends in Philadelphia； and get a reply； doubtless； which will settle the whole matter。
The hopeful morrow dawned at last； and the message was sent accordingly。 In due time； the following reply was received： 〃Phil Sept 24 I think the report you have heard that W ＇the Captain＇ has gone East must be an error we have not seen or heard of him here M L H〃
DE PROFUNDIS CLAMAVI！ He could not have passed through Philadelphia without visiting the house called Beautiful； where he had been so tenderly cared for after his wound at Ball's Bluff； and where those whom he loved were lying in grave peril of life or limb。 Yet he did pass through Harrisburg； going East； going to Philadelphia； on his way home。 Ah； this is it！ He must have taken the late night…train from Philadelphia for New York； in his impatience to reach home。 There is such a train； not down in the guide…book； but we were assured of the fact at the Harrisburg depot。 By and by came the reply from Dr。 Wilson's telegraphic message： nothing had been heard of the Captain at Chambersburg。 Still later； another message came from our Philadelphia friend； saying that he was seen on Friday last at the house of Mrs。 K________； a well…known Union lady in Hagerstown。 Now this could not be true； for he did not leave Keedysville until Saturday； but the name of the lady furnished a clew by which we could probably track him。 A telegram was at once sent to Mrs。 K_______； asking information。 It was transmitted immediately； but when the answer would be received was uncertain； as the Government almost monopolized the line。 I was； on the whole； so well satisfied that the Captain had gone East； that； unless something were heard to the contrary； I proposed following him in the late train leaving a little after midnight for Philadelphia。
This same morning we visited several of the temporary hospitals； churches and school…houses； where the wounded were lying。 In one of these； after looking round as usual； I asked aloud； 〃Any Massachusetts men here？〃 Two bright faces lifted themselves from their pillows and welcomed me by name。 The one nearest me was private John B。 Noyes of Company B； Massachusetts Thirteenth； son of my old college class…tutor； now the reverend and learned Professor of Hebrew； etc。； in Harvard University。 His neighbor was Corporal Armstrong of the same Company。 Both were slightly wounded； doing well。 I learned then and since from Mr。 Noyes that they and their comrades were completely overwhelmed by the attentions of the good people of Harrisburg；that the ladies brought them fruits and flowers； and smiles； better than either；and that the little boys of the place were almost fighting for the privilege of doing their errands。 I am afraid there will be a good many hearts pierced in this war that will have no bulletmark to show。
There were some heavy hours to get rid of； and we thought a visit to Camp Curtin might lighten some of them。 A rickety wagon carried us to the camp； in company with a young woman from Troy； who had a basket of good things with her for a sick brother。 〃Poor boy！ he will be sure to die；〃 she said。 The rustic sentries uncrossed their muskets and let us in。 The camp was on a fair plain； girdled with hills； spacious； well kept apparently； but did not present any peculiar attraction for us。 The visit would have been a dull one； had we not happened to get sight of a singular…looking set of human beings in the distance。 They were clad in stuff of different hues； gray and brown being the leading shades； but both subdued by a neutral tint； such as is wont to harmonize the variegated apparel of travel…stained vagabonds。 They looked slouchy； listless； torpid；an ill…conditioned crew； at first sight； made up of such fellows as an old woman would drive away from her hen…roost with a broomstick。 Yet these were estrays from the fiery army which has given our generals so much trouble；〃Secesh prisoners；〃 as a bystander told us。 A talk with them might be profitable and entertaining。 But they were tabooed to the common visitor； and it was necessary to get inside of the line which separated us from them。
A solid； square captain was standing near by； to whom we were referred。 Look a man calmly through the very centre of his pupils and ask him for anything with a tone implying entire conviction that he will grant it； and he will very commonly consent to the thing asked； were it to commit hari…kari。 The
