Jackson! Stuart!--who could replace them?
They had loved and trusted me--their head-quarters had been my home.
Now, when they disappeared, I had no friends, no home; and an
inexpressible sense of loss descended upon me, as a dark cloud descends
and obscures a landscape, smiling and full of sunshine.
Another woe had come to me. My father was dead. The war had snapped the
chords of that stout heart as it snapped the chords of thousands, and
the illustrious head of the house had descended into the tomb. From
this double blow I scarcely had strength to rise. For weeks I remained
in a sort of dumb stupor; and was only aroused from it by the necessity
of looking after my family affairs.
As soon as I had strength to mount my horse, I rode to Eagle's Nest. A
good aunt had come and installed herself as the friend and protector of
my little Annie; and with the arms of my young sister around me, I wept
for my father.
I remained at Eagle's Nest more than two months. The long ride had made
the wound in my shoulder reopen, and I was again stretched upon a bed
of illness, from which, at one time, I thought I should not rise. More
than once I made a narrow escape from scouting parties of Federal
cavalry in the neighborhood; and on one occasion, an officer entered my
chamber, but left me unmolested, under the impression that I was too
ill to live.
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