Three and One are One

by Ambrose Bierce

in_the year 1861 Barr Lassiter, ayoung man of twenty-two, lived with_his parents and an elder sister near Carthage, Tennessee .The family were in somewhat humble circumstances, subsisting by cultivation of asmall and not very fertile plantation .Owning no slaves, they were_not rated among "the best people" of_their neighborhood; but they were honest persons of good education, fairly well mannered and as respectable as any family could_be if uncredentialed by personal dominion over the sons and daughters of Ham .The elder Lassiter had that severity of manner that so frequently affirms an uncompromising devotion to duty, and conceals awarm and affectionate disposition . he_was of_the iron of_which martyrs are made, but in_the heart of_the matrix had lurked anobler metal, fusible at amilder heat, yet never coloring nor softening the hard exterior .By both heredity and environment something of_the man's inflexible character had touched the other members of_the family; the Lassiter home, though not devoid of domestic affection, was averitable citadel of duty, and duty--ah, duty is as cruel as death !

when_the war came on_it found in_the family, as in so_many others in_that State, adivided sentiment; the young man was loyal to_the Union, the others savagely hostile .This unhappy division begot an insupportable domestic bitterness, and when_the offending son and brother left home with_the avowed purpose of joining the Federal army not ahand was laid in_his, not aword of farewell was spoken, not agood wish followed him out into_the world whither he went to meet with_such spirit as he might whatever fate awaited him .

Making his way to Nashville, already occupied by_the Army of General Buell, he enlisted in_the first organization that he_found, aKentucky regiment of cavalry, and in due time passed through all the stages of military evolution from raw recruit to experienced trooper .aright good trooper he_was, too, although in_his oral narrative from_which this tale is made there_was no mention of_that; the fact was learned from_his surviving comrades .For Barr Lassiter has answered "Here" to_the sergeant whose name is Death .

Two years after he had joined it his regiment passed through_the region whence he had come .The country thereabout had suffered severely from_the ravages of war, having been occupied alternately (and simultaneously) by_the belligerent forces, and asanguinary struggle had occurred in_the immediate vicinity of_the Lassiter homestead .But of_this the young trooper was not aware .

Finding himself in camp near his home, he_felt anatural longing to_see his parents and sister, hoping that in_them, as in him, the unnatural animosities of_the period had_been softened by time and separation .Obtaining aleave of absence, he set foot in_the late summer afternoon, and soon after_the rising of_the full moon was walking up the gravel path leading to_the dwelling in_which he had_been born .

Soldiers in war age rapidly, and in youth two years are a long_time .Barr Lassiter felt himself an old man, and had almost expected to_find the place aruin and adesolation .Nothing, apparently, was changed . at_the sight of each dear and familiar object he_was profoundly affected .His heart beat audibly, his emotion nearly suffocated him; an ache was in_his throat .Unconsciously he quickened his pace until he almost ran, his long shadow making grotesque efforts to_keep its place beside him .

The house was unlighted, the door open .As he approached and paused to recover control of himself his father came out and stood bare- headed in_the moonlight .

"Father ! " cried the young man, springing forward with outstretched hand--"Father ! "

The elder man looked him sternly in_the face, stood amoment motionless and without aword withdrew into_the house .Bitterly disappointed, humiliated, inexpressibly hurt and altogether unnerved, the soldier dropped upon arustic seat in deep dejection, supporting his head upon his trembling hand .But he_would_not have it so: he_was too good asoldier to accept repulse as defeat .He rose and entered the house, passing directly to_the "sitting-room ."

it_was dimly lighted by an uncurtained east window .On alow stool by_the hearthside, the only article of furniture in_the place, sat his mother, staring into afireplace strewn with blackened embers and cold ashes .He spoke to her--tenderly, interrogatively, and with hesitation, but she neither answered, nor moved, nor seemed in any_way surprised .True, there had_been time for her husband to apprise her of_their guilty son's return .He moved nearer and was about to lay his hand upon her arm, when his sister entered from an adjoining room, looked him full in_the face, passed him without asign of recognition and left the room by adoor that was partly behind him .He had turned his head to watch her, but when she was gone his eyes again sought his mother .She too had left the place .

Barr Lassiter strode to_the door by_which he had entered .The moonlight on_the lawn was tremulous, as if_the sward were arippling sea .The trees and their black shadows shook as in abreeze .Blended with its borders, the gravel walk seemed unsteady and insecure to step on .This young soldier knew the optical illusions produced by tears . he_felt them on_his cheek, and saw them sparkle on_the breast of_his trooper's jacket .He left the house and made his way back to camp .

The next_day, with no very definite intention, with no dominant feeling that he_could rightly have named, he again sought the spot .Within ahalf-mile of it he met Bushrod Albro, aformer playfellow and schoolmate, who greeted him warmly .

" I_am going to visit my home," said the soldier .

The other looked at him rather sharply, but said nothing .

" I_know," continued Lassiter, "that my folks have_not changed, but-- "

" there_have been changes," Albro interrupted--"everything changes .I'll go with_you if_you don't mind . we_can talk as_we go ."

But Albro did_not talk .

Instead of ahouse they found only fire-blackened foundations of stone, enclosing an area of compact ashes pitted by rains .

Lassiter's astonishment was extreme .

" I_could_not find the right way to_tell you," said Albro ." in_the fight ayear ago your house was burned by aFederal shell ."

"And my family--where are they ? "

"In Heaven, I_hope .All were killed by_the shell ."