L. P. Brockett, The camp, the battlefield, and the hospital: or, lights and shadows of the great rebellion

[329] common cause which forms so strong a bond between all loyal hearts?

A heavy, pouring rain added to the general gloom; the only comfort came from the words of our Burial Service, which must always fall with blessed balm upon the sorrowful soul. It was performed at his father's request, and with the permission of the surgeon in charge, by Robinson's kind and true friend, the Rev. Mr. to whom I have alluded before.

It was a long, long time ere I could forget the face of that broken-hearted old father, as-every thing over --he stood at the door, as we drove off, leaving him lonely and desolate among strangers. He was to start that night alone, in the rain, on his sad, homeward journey, and seemed to long to keep us with him to the last; and how we longed to stay to comfort him! But we must say good-by, and with a long, warm grasp of that rough hand, we parted, and one more hospital sorrow was over.

Brave, gentle, heroic heart! The aching limb, the suffering frame, the strained, excited nerves are stilled forever. Robinson sleeps in a land of strangers; but the turf that covers that “ soldier's grave” will be moistened and kept green by the tears of those who can never forget that bright example of noble unselfishness and beautiful patience under severest suffering and trial.