MOORE’S RURAL HEW-YORKER. 
ARCH 28 
aery of joy burnt from her lips as she read: 
C’apt. Charles Evans, Co. E, Seventieth Reg- 
Anient, was foremost In the fray, and led his 
command at the storming of an iotrenehtnent 
with such success that he received the con¬ 
gratulations <«i his commanding general, who, 
m .soon as the engagement wa* over, presented 
the gallant young officer wit h the sword lie had 
captured from the enemy III a hand-to-hand 
conflict. 
This was followed, a few days later, by the 
announcement among the list of promotions, 
as “Captain Charles Evans to be Major.” 
Though joy reigned In the hearts of mother 
and wife at the success of their beloved, still 
the wife knew the joy as one void of hope. 
What wonder, then, that the tendrils of her 
heart began to give way under the agony she 
experienced a a the months rolled into a year. 
Will not the rocs wear out under the steady 
drippings of irrepressible water? 
Day after day name the soothing Information 
that all Was “quiet along the Potomac.” Was 
there ever a storm that was not Immediately 
preceded by a calm? This calm was broken 
when the May flo «cr» begun to bloom- for now 
there were orders for the army to move. March¬ 
ing and counter-marching was the order of 
events. Thcartny under McClellan had moved 
to the Peninsula and was slowly moving to¬ 
wards Itichmond. At the Clilckahonilny It 
halted for the spires of the rebel capital were 
Jn sight, with the swarming army of Lee inter¬ 
vening. 
The srrth day of June, 1B72, was made memor¬ 
able because It witnessed tlio beginning of the 
fearful struggle for seven long days. The two 
armies bud slept upon their arms for several 
nights. At noon there were no Indications of 
the work to be done before the buii went down. 
One o’clock. Hark! what’s that? “Only a 
shot on the picket.” 
“Only one? Hal a million !” And thus the 
fray began, and the buttle waged the hotter as 
the sun sank lower. 
“Yonder goes the Seventieth, and Evans Is 
leading; hurrah !” 
“Leading Into the very mouth of hell." 
Eight and left, buck and forth, Charles 
Evans rode, encouraging Ida men with words 
of cheer as they passed “up to the cannon's 
mouth.” Unwaveringly, he led them ; himself 
In advance, hither and thither in the thickest 
of the light, his men falling like the leaves of 
the forest under the frosts of autumn. 
Why detail this horrible defeat. Slowly re¬ 
treating-defending their lives against the at¬ 
tacks of the following enemy, and Just as the 
last raj's of .the twilight were drawing a mantle 
over the bloody field, he fell, exhausted from 
t he loss of blood flowing from a wound he had 
received some time previous. 
Over the wires flashed the dread news. Into 
the silent home of the aged mother came the 
messenger heralding the peril her first and 
only born was In; but when the news was 
borne to Emma she showed the heart of one 
who had long waited the announcement. 
Without u word she donned her traveling dross, 
closed her house and wended her way to the 
railway station, destined—where? 
“ A ticket to Washington.” 
The Idlers about gazed at her with sympa¬ 
thizing eyes,—but she heeded them not, and 
as she took her seat in the cars she wrapped 
herself within herself, shunning everything 
about her, and commenced her long and weary 
ride — long because of the hours that must 
elapse before she could reach its end—weary on 
uccount of the aching and throbbing and 
hoping heart she was beurlng with her as a sole 
companion. 
Faster t han steam could bear her on ran her 
fancies of the scene so booh to burst upon 
her view. The hours grew intensely tedious 
the nearer she approached her destination. 
Anxiety, fear, love bade her command the 
panting, Inanimate thing bearing her on its 
wings, to 
•• Haste thoo! hast® thee I giant horse ! 
Haste thee o’er thy iron eoursu.” 
As all things earthly have an ending, so did 
the weary, careworn little woman find the 
haven she sought. It was with fainting heart 
and trembling steps she ascended to the en¬ 
trance < f those scenes of terrible suffering and 
death—the army hospital. The guard detained 
her but a moment, and then she was ushered 
Into that chamber of death, with its long rows 
of pallid features warped with agony and pain. 
She passed from cot to cot, eagerly searching 
the features of their occupants, until, at last, 
she stopped and stared immovably at the sight 
before her. lor stretched there, writhing under 
the pain coming from his wound, lay him 
whom she soon greeted as— 
“ Oh, Charley 1” 
The sufferer slowly turned his eyes upon her, 
where they rested for a moment, and then said 
in an almost inaudible whisper, “ Emma 1 
Emma 1 can It be possible I am awake, or is this 
some vision come to fun the flame that is 
already consuming my burning brain ?” 
“It is me, Charley, and oh ! say you forgive 
me.” 
“ Forgive, dearest, forgive 1 Lying here upon 
the brink of the tomb, as It seems, my mind 
has lost the cloud that has hovered around it 
so long- Ah, its me that, needs forgiveness, 
not you I" he utiered with paiuiul effort.” 
*• Shall we forget and forgive the past, dear 
Charley?” she pleaded, while tears of joy not 
unmlngied with fear ran down her pale cheeks. 
“ Aj'e, with all my heart; the past Is dead ; 
let it bury its dead.” 
go, in these words of glorious reconciliation, 
the two who, through pride, bad traveled such 
divulging paths, were once more united in the 
bonds of mutual love, rendered more holy be¬ 
cause of the heartaches each bad borne. 
Many months elapsed before Major Evans 
fully recovered, and he Is wont to say that hi* 
wife accomplished mure towards the result 
than the skill of the attending surgeon. 
Now that, the stern alarms of war are past, 
Major Evans and wife claim that through pride 
cometh more of evil and good than from any 
other thing of earth. 
Who can gainsay that ? 
—- ♦ - 
WIDOW OR SPINSTER; 
OR. MAKING A YOUNG WIRE OR AN OI.li llAll) 
The following true story, says a Manchester, 
Eng., paper, might perhaps furnish matter for 
a little comedy, if comedies were still written 
in England: 
It Is generally the case that the more beauti¬ 
ful and richer a young female is, the more diffi¬ 
cult are both her parents and herself in the 
choice of a husband, and the more offers they 
refuse. The one is too tall, the other too short, 
this not wealthy, that not r< pccti.ble enough. 
Meanwhile one spring passes after another, and 
year after year i-arrle* away leaf after leaf of 
the bloom of youth, and opportunity after oo- 
portunitv. Miss Harriet Selwood was the rich¬ 
est heiress in her native town, but she had al¬ 
ready completed her twenty-seventh year, and 
beheld almost all her young friends united to 
men whom she had, at. one time or another, 
discarded. Harriet began to be set down for 
an old maid. Her parent* became really uneasy, 
and she herself lamented in private a position 
which is not. a natural one, and to which those 
to whom nature and fortune have been niggard 
of their gifts arc obliged to submit; but Har¬ 
riet, as w<- have said, was handsome ami very 
ri puoh was the state of tilings when her uncle, 
a wealthy merchant, in the North of England, 
came on a visit to her parent*. He was a Jovial, 
lively, .straight-forward man, accustomed to 
attack all difficulties boldly and coolly. 
“You see,” said her father to him one day, 
“Harriet continues single. The girl is hand¬ 
some ; what she 1* to have for her fortune, you 
know; even In this scandal-loving town not a 
creature can breathe an Imputation against 
“True,” replied the uncle; “but look you, 
brother, the gnuid point In every affair in this 
world is to seize the right moment; this you 
have not done. It l* a misfortune, but lot the 
girl go along with me, and before the end of 
three mouths I will return her to you as Urn 
w i te uf a man as young and wealthy as herself. 
Away went the niece with lior uncle. On the 
way he t hus addressed her : 
“Mind what. I am going to say. You are no 
longer Mias Selwood, but Mrs, Lumlcy, my 
niece, a young, wealthy, childish widow ; you 
had the misfortune to lose your husband, Col. 
Lumloy, after a happy union of u quarter of a 
year, by a fail from lus horse while hunting.” 
“ Hut Undo-“ , 
“ Lot roe manage, if you please, Mrs. buniley. 
Your father has invested me with full powers. 
Here, look \on, is the wedding-ring given j’ou 
by your late husband. Jewels, and whatever 
else you need, your aunt will supply you w it It; 
and accustom yourself to cost down jour eyes. 
The keen-witted uncle Introduced his n.ece 
everywhere, and everywhere the young widow 
excited a great sensation. The gent lemon 
thronged about her, and slin soon had her 
Choice out of twenty suitors. Her undo advised 
her to accept the one deepest in love with her, 
and a rare chum e decreed that this should be 
precisely the most aim table and opulent. The 
match was soon concluded, and one day Hie 
undo desired t o say a few w ords to his iuture 
nephew in private. 
“ My dear sir,” be began, “ yve have told you 
an untruth.” ,, 
“ How bo? Are Mrs.Littnloy s affections- 
“ Nothing of the kind ; my niece is sincerely 
attached to you.” 
o 'I’hen her fortune, I suppose, is not equal to 
yvliat you told me.” 
•• On the contrary. It 1* larger.” 
“ Well, what is the matter, then?” 
“ A jo Kb—an innocent juke, which came into 
my head ouo day, when 1 was in good humor; 
we could not wdl recall it afterwards. My 
niece is not a widow! " . 
*• What! Is Colonel Lumley living t 
“No, no ; she Is a spinster.” 
The lover protested that he was a happier 
follow than ho had ever conceived himself; 
and the old maid was forth with metamorphosed 
into a young wife, 
tStorhl. 
NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
\Vlint Can She Do f- By Rev. E. P. ROE, Author 
of "Barriers Burned Away,” " Play uud Profit 
in My Garden,” &c. (Uvo. pp. 007.) New York: 
Dodd A Mead. 
Though a novel, with sufficient love And 
romance to render it absorbingly Interesting, 
thisyvork yvaa evidently yvrltten, as its accom¬ 
plished author says, with a definite, earnest 
purpose. The heroine was reared In luxury, 
the daughter of a New York millionaire; but 
the father failing and dying left the family in 
poverty. The invalid and very proud widow 
and three daughters retire from their splendid 
city home to a small farm which had been 
given to the heroine, Edith, in the days of her 
father's prosperity. After many trials, and 
being obliged to mortgage the farm, the family 
Anally attain prosperity through Edith's suc¬ 
cessful efforts in gardening her strawberry 
crops, especially, proving abundant and profit¬ 
able. The story is admirably told and teaches 
a valuable lesson. The Dedication of the vol¬ 
ume is suggestive of its contents;- “If I were 
to dedicate this book it would be to those girls 
who resolve that they will not play the poor 
role of Micawbeic, their only chance for life 
being that some one w r ill ‘ turn up ' whom they 
may burden with their helpless weight.” 
Lincoln ami Seward.—By Gideon Weli.es, ex- 
Seeretary of the Navy. New York: Sheldon 
& Co. 
A book from which can be learned the inner 
political life of two such men as Abraham 
Lincoln and William II. Seward during the 
dark days of civil war and times that, tried 
men's souls has long been needed, and cannot 
fail to Interest the men of all sections of the 
country. So Intimately are the people of this 
great Republic connected with their Govern¬ 
ment, that to read of the labors of Mr. Lin¬ 
coln's Cabinet, at. such a time, seems like re¬ 
viewing a bit of family history' during a period 
of domestic distress. Mr. Welles has suc¬ 
ceeded In producing a faithful delineation of 
the various characteristics of the two great 
men, and at the same time lias given us a more 
perfect knowledge of the reasons for the dif¬ 
ferent political and war movements than could 
bo done by any one holding a less responsible 
and eminent position than lie held. We com¬ 
mend the book for Its easy style and historical 
value, a combination of qualit ies seldom found. 
Potter'i, Complete (little Encyclopedia.—By 
Bev. WILLIAM BLACKWOOD, D. D., LL.D. 
Philadelphia : John K. Potter & Co. 
Wk have received twelve numbers of this 
very elegant and useful work, and gladly em¬ 
brace the opportunity of introducing it to our 
readers. It Is a handsome quarto, with good 
paper and clear print, profusely Illustrated 
with fine engravings, well printed. The plan 
of the work, we think, embraces too much ; 
ail the learning of the world cannot be got into 
even a large encyclopedia without some of it 
being condensed almost to extinction. The 
work Is a Biographical as well as a Bible Dic¬ 
tionary,—a Summary of religious thought—a 
picture of modern as well as ancient customs; 
in fact, everything relating to the Bible, except 
its Bibliography, may be found here. It is is¬ 
sued in semi-monthly parts at 50 cents each, 
and will bo completed in forty numbers. 
Central Asia. Travels in Cashmere, Little Tibet 
and Ccutr.il Asia. Compiled and arranged by 
Bayaiui Taylor. New York: Scriboer, Arm¬ 
strong Jt t'o. 
Though a compilation .simply, this work is 
well arranged and evince# much care in the 
selection of its contents. 8o few things are 
written, or In fact known, of the interior of 
Asia, that we devour with avidity anything 
which fills this want, and are specially pleased 
when we can read what has been selected 
for us by so old and experienced a traveler as 
Bayard Taylor. 
Home (scenes and Other Poems.—By Rev. C. K. 
FURMAN. Rochester: KruAtiu Harrow. 
An unpretending volume, having simple, 
every-day themes, plain words and no special 
poetic afflatus. It is hardly to l»e called a book 
of poetry, though its rhymes are faultless. Ex¬ 
amination discovered tome defects, but we 
have neither time nor Inclination to criticise. 
Why should we mar the pleasure of those who 
will find rest i.i reading the hook because it 
does not tax their powers, does not announce 
thoughts they have never fell, Imagery they 
cannot comprehend ? 
The Hidden Sin. H\ Miss ELIZA A. DUPUY. 
PhiludelpUla; T. IS. Peterson & Bros. 
This is the sequel to the “ Dethroned Heir¬ 
ess,” lately announced. It seems to be distin¬ 
guished by the same characteristics—readable 
and exciting, but somewhat stilted and melo¬ 
dramatic. Though the interest is kept up, a 
volume of some 500 pages to give the “ sequel " 
to a story given In a book of equal size la too 
much of even a good thing. It may be profit¬ 
able to the publishers, but it is both annoying 
and expensive to readers. 
First Lessons in the Principles of Cooking. 
By Lady Barker. London : Macmillan & Co. 
This is not precisely a Cookery Book, as there 
are but a few recipes In It. The authoress has 
endeavored to state the principles which un¬ 
derlie success In Cookery, and iu some degree 
to elevate it to a Science, leaviug the Art to be 
taught by others. Wc have not discovered 
much that la new in it, but commend it to our 
readers us containing much that is good and 
worthy to be remembered. 
Thorpe Henris.—A Novel. By the Author of " The 
Bose Garden ” and “ Unawares." (Svo. pp. 432.) 
Boston; Roberts Bros. 
A well-written, neatly-made volume. The 
story is one of English life, and it has the rare 
excellence (for novels) of natural and easy con¬ 
versations, descriptions that are strongly inter¬ 
esting without being extravagant, and charac¬ 
ters remarkable, but not distorted. There is a 
good deal of quiet excellence in the book. 
The Dead Alive.—By Wilkie Collins. Fully 
Illustrated. Boston : Shcpuid A GtU. 
This is an American Story, professedly, the 
scene being laid In this country, but Its English 
stj'lo or delineations—and mistakes as to the 
manners and customs of our people—Bhow the 
nativity and prejudices of its author. It is, 
however, well written and interesting, like all 
of Collins’ novels. 
Common Sense.— A Novel. By Mrs. J. G. Newby. 
Pfillad elpbia: T. B. Peterson & Bro. 
This is the third in the series of Mrs. New¬ 
by’s novels, issued by the same linn. Like its 
pi edecessors, it Is a very satisfactory story. 
New Mimic.—We have received from Wu. A. 
Pond & Co., 547 Broadway, New York 
*• Angels Boll the Bock Away." Easter Ant hem, 
byJ- R. Thomas; “Mulligan Giuird ” Guad- 
r He, by D. Bkaham ; “Mulligan Guard” 
Song, arranged for Guitar; Te Dcum in Eb., 
by Gko. William Warukn ; “Beuedictus,” by 
George F. Bristowa “Christ our Passover, ’ 
by H. P. Danks; “How oft, alas!” by H. P. 
Danks. 
Sabbath Reading. 
SUBMISSION. 
BY DE FORREST P. GUMMERSON. 
IF it be that to live and suffer, 
Without giving outward sign, 
Will bring me hut one step nearer 
To the throne of the One divine— 
Then let me drink to the bitter 
This sorrowful cup that is mine. 
And fancy its taste is sweeter 
Than the rarest and best of wine. 
But I shrink when the pain is stronger 
Than I am strong to boar— 
And while asking to live no longer, 
Yet tremble with secret fear. 
For the dark and gloomy portal 
That opens into the grove, 
Seems never so dark to tire mortal 
As when tossing upon death’s wave. 
Though I know that the golden to-morrow, 
That lies hut the river beyond. 
Will find me free from my sorrow 
And at home In the Heavenly land. 
-- - 
SABBATH MEDITATIONS. 
When the heart is worn and weary with the 
sadness, the sorrows and the disappointments 
of ibi* life, how apt. we are to turn to One 
whom In happier times we often forget, un¬ 
grateful as we aro for Ills mercies and His 
wonderful forbearance! Yus, we flee to Him in 
trouble, believing in His forgiveness and trust¬ 
ing In His undying love, however undeserving 
wo may be. Because we know He Is the only 
friend who, If we but trust In Him, will never 
fall us. Tho friend “that sticketh closer than 
a brother,” aye, closer than any of our fellow 
beings, however true and devoted. For what 
earthly friend would give /ifr Tor us ? He gave 
His life for us—and whore Is our gratitude ? 
As I said, when grief and disappointment 
overtake us on our journey of life — when 
friends prove false and forsake us—when mis¬ 
fortunes Dome suddenly upon us when our 
sorrows are such that no human being can 
assist us- what ought we to do but throw our¬ 
selves at Ills feet and humbly say “O, Lamb 
ol God, who takest away the sins of the world, 
grant us Thy peace!” Cora Cheswell. 
—— —— -+«-+-- 
THE HOAD OF LIFE, 
The road of life is not a turnpike road. It is 
a path which every one must liud out for him¬ 
self, by the help of sueb directions as God has 
given us; and there are so many other paths 
crossing the true nun in all quarters, and the 
wrong paths are so well beaten, and the true 
path In places is so faintly marked, so many 
persons, too, are always going the wrong way, 
that between the number of paths to puzzle 
him, and the number of wrong examples to 
lead him astray, a man, If he does not take 
continual hoed, la In great danger of turning 
Into a wrong path, almoBt without perceiving 
It. Wor# It not that God’s word is a lamp to 
Otir feet and a light to our path—were it not 
for the Spirit of God crying to us, “ This is the 
right w ay,” when we turu aside to tho right 
hand or to the loft,—we should all of us go 
wrong alwaj'S. Aui/ustu* Hare. 
AN humble prayer, 
DEAR Lord, to Thee, a thousand years 
Are as a day ; with contrite tears 
One prayer I pray I My little life,— 
Its good, its ill, Its grief, Its strife,— 
Oh, let it in Thy holy sight, 
Like empty watches of a night. 
Forgotten bo! And of my name; 
Dear Lord, who knoweet all our frame, 
Let there reu oln no memory 
Save of the the thing I longed to be 1 
-- 
Father and Mother.—God is spoken of as 
a father. There is only one Idea sweeter than 
the one derived from this fatherly relation. 
You will notice in the Old Testament that al¬ 
most never Is the one word that is sweeter than 
father brought in In this connection. This fact 
marks the development of the race, for had it 
not been much lower then, they would have 
thought of the mother and Incorporated in 
their conception of God some idea of mother¬ 
hood. The want of this element, 1 believe, was 
the cause of the creation of the Virgin Mary.— 
Beecher . 
- » » ¥ 
Bight Feelings and Conduct.— If right 
feelings do not produce right conduct they die 
out; and If right conduct does not produce 
right feelings it is because you do not let it. 
Every good deed that a man does Is like the 
germ of a plant. Give it a chance to grow, and 
the earth beneath will counsel it to shoot up, 
and the sun above will counsel it to shoot up ; 
and up it will come. Every right thing done, 
If It be not hindered, will be fruitful in spiritu¬ 
alizing the mind, and a spiritualized mind will 
occupy itself in doing right things.— H. W. 
Beecher . 
Self-renunciation is not surrender at will. 
The will is never so strong as in giving up, for 
principle and the common weal, self-interest 
or sensual delight.— C. A. Bartol. 
