The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-02-20
For the National x
For the National Era,
LIFE ON PRAIRIE De LA FLEUR. No. 5.
PICrUR rs OF PArRIOTIsM.-FIRsT.
BY MARY IRVING,

aThs mistakes Of one sex find retreat in patriotism"
JANUS.
My boy must you gop
A widowed mother pressed the thick curls Of
her youngest born, her best beloved, with this
question quivering upon her lips.
The youth--he was scarcely more than boy,
though a lieutenants uniform glttcred on his
form-that was bending in graceful carelessness
upon one knee, looked up with mock gaiety in his
daring eye, but decision in the curve of his lip.
al must, mother What's written is written
The leagued powers Of earth could not turn me
one step nOw!"
But your own will could, my son. One word
from your lips could snap every link Of that
strange chain that is dragging you down."
"a chain, mother! It is q chain of glory, at
least, and will bind it as halo of glory, around
my head, when have worked my way to a higher
honor than this! !" he proudly replied, gSncing
down rather CONTEMPORARY upon the insignia Of
his newly gained lieutensntcy.
"Glory oh, don't speak Of glory Ralph You
are going to dye that wreath in the hottest tears
of the heart broken-in the hearts blood Of ne
dying! Talk not Of glory in this terrible war y
"Hs mother mine, what fue patriot you
would have made in glorious old '76 George I'll
might have died in peace, King of the Colonies
& Co, IL all chicken hearted mammas had tied
their brave boys to their apron-srings. Terri
BILE war; Why, the hero-hearted mothers of the
Revolution were proud Of their soldier-boys,
mother, and you -
They battled not for glory, nor for SLAVERY,
boy 1t was for liberty-the liberty which their
sons trsmple uponp
"a truce to discussion now, at any rate; the
hour calls me. just give me one smile before
to your country's service !"
:" Our country God keep you from treason to
that country, Ralph p
so you have not word of blessing for my last
good-bye7 Well, if | must be eff with my
mothers curse, III do it no discreditln
He folded his coat about him, and sprang to his
feet, with wilful shake of the locks that had
dropped over his high forehead. Mrs. Mayhem
cast mothers look upon his compressed fea-
lures. They half yielded to its magic, and he
eufhcu away. cuO Wdb stitut loT II mOUltut, tHeU
reminding herself Of present necessities, she
sighed hopelessly-" the little black trunk is
ready to lock, Ralph. | put in Letty's miniature
and mius--and Bible--your fathers Bible,
halph 20" 2-sifs sroTg-t ~ al ia.n t. Will
you 1n she added, in pleading under-tone.
"May be not" returned the young man, care
lessly twirling the brass buttons of his coat, pre-
a. ost obolI hav ,rb
to do to take care of my body, though, without
much Of lookout for the SOUL Pm thinkingl"
"Hush, Ralphp whispered the mother, be-
seechingly, clasping GO hand upon her pale fore
head, and clenching his arm tightly with the
other
The waiter just then gave the expected rap at
the door
"Ahoy, tberel Ready In a jify, man. Here
strap this trunk--and where's Lefty 7"
"Oh, brotherl" A young girl sprang out from
an inner chamber, with tear-swollen cheeks and
dishevelled locks With suppressed scream she
threw her arms around her brothers neck, and
chung there as though her life would ebb away in
the parting.
ooh, nonsense, Lefty what a candidate for
soldiers bride you arep
"You never will come back--never' she
heaved from her convulsed heart
"The raven may croak in the gray old oak,
sis but you are no raven, with your tangled chest
nut curls; SO, pray dom, bother your poor little
head with its own foolish fancies. There, that's
a clever girl that's enough Bless you must
have that one curl, thought He drew his vr-
gin blade, and, clipping 1t from the quivering
head, tucked it hastily into his watch-pocket
" Good bye, pet take good care Of your little
heart-good bye-go."
He unlocked her arms, almost by force, and
drawing her to the door, shut the sobbing girl into
her solitary chamber.
Enough Of seems, | say! Give me one good
bye kiss--quick, motherp
Mrs Mayhem had arisen, and stood sitting her
agony under q seeming Of cold stateliness. She
bent down and touched his lips with hers, but
shudder passed over her frame rs she did 1t, as
over her forebodipg heart
"Thats my own brave mother! Hurrah for
Old Tack ~ and with q bound be sprang TO the
stairway.
Mrs. Mayhem clasped her white hands, and
staggered to the window. Up to that very last
are all hoping. lie loved her-she knew he loved
her, in spite Of ell his wsywardne.s-aud could
he really leave ber7 Mrs. Mayhem had too
slightly curbed the will of the rash, reckless, but
generous hearted boy her dying husband left 10
her charge. Beautiful, socsble and self-wiled
Jeff to roam, unmatched and unrestrained, Ia the
streets Of city it needed no sybil to predict his
fortune and his fate Too late the mother woke
from her dream Of unsuspecting trust, to ma the
noble boy whose head she had cherished upon her
heart, leader in the hsunts Of the dissPated ana
the vicious. A leader he would be, everywhere
Nature had stamped no second-rate talent on his
broad, open forehead and though " wandering
starr he would be always star OF the "hrst
msgnitude!p
She had found home in the western world,
close upon the borders Of Prairie de la fieur
and by every charm that mothers heart could
coDjurs around II, she sought to wean MIN from
the gay world, and bind him TO that home Bn'
the restless spirit chAfed impstienty, ana sought
Its former revslry. The quiet beauty OF nature
did not speak to his heart as speaks to the heart
Of the innocent; neither bright flower nor blue
sky was lovely to his beclOuded eyes lilo soon
tired Of the lonely pleasures Of hunting and hsh-
ing; and then the wide prairie was cage Too
narrow for his spirit.
Then the trumpet Of war sounded. RalPhs
car caught up its frat faint note, and his pulse
bounded 10 IL with lie own Wild, impulsive eager
mess. War with Mexico there would be glory
there would be fame there would be action! To
fight for ones country was somsthins grandsr
:. "a, ...,oa. for ia ann