Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-04-12
The Freemason's Widow.
A Tale Of the Mexican War.
BY A TRAVELLER.

1
was rife with many thrilling incident.
the details of which have never found
their way 10 the reports of commanders,
paragraphs of newspapers, nor TO the nn-
merous volumes written upon the prollfi"
chapier of The worlds history. Il would
take thousand hands and thousand
tpens To record The moiety Of the surpri,
sing events and romanlic circumstances
that have iranspired in the war. Every
soldier has tale OF his own, told in his
way Of his own experience; and each
soldier $ story is worth the listening TO.
in the month of August last | was Il
passenger on board steamer ascending
he Mississippi. On board were several
returned officers and privaIes who had
served in the fields of Mexico. A voy-
aye OF four days in their company gave
me an opportunity Of listening to the re-
cial of many hair breadth escape and
.laring deed i'm the imminent deadly
breach;' not thai the brave actors therein
were fond of boasting, out on the con-
lrary were retiring and ditident touching
The discourse of their experiences. New
erlheless, having nothing To do 10 pass
ihe lime, we succeeded, step by step in
drawing them out.
! One noble looking young corporal
who spoke well aud knew how to dis
cribe what he had seen and taken part
in, particularly interested us. He had
the rare faculty to bring the battle field
and the individual combat directly be-
/ fore the eyes Of his auditors--and II is a
picture of individual power that mos,
pleasrs the listener.
Il have seen woman face fire that
appalled, our regiment and made us keep
covert
.Ah, how was that! Who was she!
Young and pretty! An American or a
Senori,a!-When was ii. and how! was
the string of interrogations that assailed
The ,ac0affur.
II was on the second day before the
battle Of Mexico. The particulars were
these: In our company was mere lad
of sixteen, daring young Virginian, ibe
favori.e for his cheerlulness, courage and
Youth; and here let lae add, talk ing oil
courage under fire, give me a regiment OF
well grown boys. from fifteen 10 nineteen.
Nothing can Withstand their Charge
Boys bound and leap over the ground as
il they were al play, and dash at any
ihing without thought like so many blind
pups. For hard fight in the street. OF
lor headlong rush give me die boys
They are perfect imps for tight.
This boy some weeks beioIe had leap
ed fence aud climbed parapet some
hundred yards ahead Of his company,
and was taken prisoner, though mol with
OUT killing three Mexicans and wounding
The colonel before he gave in. His mo.
/ iher. poor widow, though a lady, (and
Why nol!) heard OF il, and Ile was her
only son, yearned for his release. She
! had no money, no influential friends
Suddenly she recollerled that she was a
masons widow, hope was lighted in her
bosom by The thought, and she dried her
tears. She said, will test the ialismanic
power of the order my husband loved
and revered SO highly.
There was movement Of interest
with The lisiners. Grave gentlemen
drew nearer and gave closer attention.
doubtless being ol The order themselves
The soldier, evidently graiilied BY lht
4 size aud eagcrness OF his encircliiig aud.
ience, resumed his narrative.
.She sold some little valnatles. and
with the money she reached Washington
Ciiy; she reached the Secretary Of The
War Department on f,pot aud dusty.--
With diiliJully she obtained audience oI
/ he great man; for our big secretaries are
as big lords as English lord are. only
wanting The title. poor soldier or q
poor woman stands poor chance with
the qualify.
We'll, ma am, said he cruslily. as she
entered and he saw how dusty she look
/ ed-bu, when she removed her veil AM.
+ he saw that she was lady like and hand.
some 100, he half arose and pointed TO a
chair. Well, she told him Of her sons
rapture, aud that she wanted to GO 10
I him.
Il cant help you ma'am. Very ex-
rensive! He win be exchanged by and
by. Better wait
You can help me to passport, sir
she sail nothing daunled,
OF course. they can't refuse that ia
you at the Secretary Of States office.
Yon say you are poor. How do you
expect to pay the expenses ol journey
1 ,o Mexico! II is visionary scheme.
Good morning ma'am.'
Sir, il you could recommend me Ia
The cale of the officer in command oil
the regiment that sails from Baltimore
Impossible ma'am. ('To the page in
wailing) Whe did you say wait ed!
Tell hun am al leasure.'
Are ) Oh masen!' said the widow
to the Secretary, making sign Tor the
page to delay.
Yes, ma'am.'
lam nlason's widow! My son is a
mason's son. ! appeal TO you. sir. III
that capacity, and by ,he honor and truth
or vonr honorable ORDER said the wild
ow firmly.