Du Buque visitor. [volume] (Dubuque, Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1836-1837, 1836-07-13
From the Nashville Republican.
AN INSTANCE OF MORE THAN RIO.
MAN yyJIHsYTT,. y ~

MAN VIRTUE.
What spirit Of maternal tenderness,
mingled with love of country and
sense Of duty, breathes through the fol-
lowing extracts from letter written by
a Tennessee matron to an onlyson, who
tendered his services as volunteer for
the frontier under the requisition Of
Gen. Gaines. What a spirit, too, of
fchfistian devotion, and faith in. the
lord Of Hostsv The doating and Wild
owed mother expected in short time
to greet and embrace her only son-the
days Of absence we're, as she fondly ho-
ped, becoming fewer and fewer-and
she was busily employed in setting her
house in order for his reception-think-
ing over and preparing every thing
Which. could add to his comfort, or in
creasehis pleasure when sheisinform-
ed that he has volunteered in the SER
vice Of his country, and that she may
never see him more. Does she sink
under the unexpected tidings? Does
she give way to grief, or yielding to
the feelings Of a mother, entreat her
son, by his filial duty and affection to
return to her? No-but she bids him
go-she commits him to the keeping
of the God Of battles, and while, with
all the care and tenderness ola fond pa
rent, she beseeches him to act prudent
ly, and to avoid unnecessary danger,
she exhortshim to be brave and valiant.
Wetalk and read Of Roman and Spar
tan mothers, but here is an instance Of
an American, TENNESSEE mother
which may be proudly placed by the
side Of any example that ancient histo-
ny will present.
"With regard to your volunteering
in the service of your country, were !
to consult my own personal or selfish
feelings, | would say, oh my son, do
not go! But when take into consid-
Grafton the price paid for our liberties,
and the glorious privileges we enjoy
through the patriotic valor and blood
Of our forefathers, would consider it
tdegrMiing in the highest degree 10 the
name Of an American mother to say,
60 no.. Yes, my son, go; and fcall-
ed or, fight valiantly in the cause of
liberty. And when you grid on your
armor, for the tour in which you ex-
|pect to serve, grid on the gospel armor;
take the shield Of faith and the helmet
Of salvation, and you will have moth
+ ing to fear. Should you fall in battle,
(Which may heaven forbid! it will on
" be a quick passage to the realms Of
al Yes, my son, be val
bd but always act prudent
ly-do ut rush into danger unneces-
sarily. A
ooh, what mixed world is this!
One day our hopes are as bright as the
mornings sun, and tomorrow they
may be blighted by disappointment.
Yesterday my hope was firm that you
would be at home next month; to-day
/ am following you in my imagination
to the borders Of Texas, to battle against
the mighty power ofSanta Anhafor
my opinion is, that this you will have
to do before you return. ] say fight
him,eif he sets his foot on American
soil, but don't fight him upon Mexican
ground. : :
.And now the most painful part Of
my letter is to cpme-that is to say
!. fareyeM Farewell if ! should never
see you again, and may the God ofbat-
ties go with you, and be wall Of fire
around you by day and by night, to de-
fend you from all harm. my conf
nusahh The. Lord.
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