The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1859-04-20
4 TOUCHING STORY.
THE WIDOWS SON.

! more terflaDlS, more VlnulcuVe IMAM any
one that had ever visited the continent of
Europe, was raging through the land, and
the country could spare none of its defend
ers. Also the king had called his people to
arms by means OF that famous proclamation,
which will be considered for evermore as
one of the noblests documents in German
history. They were true 10 the call-old
and young; they left their homes, rushed to
the colors, took up arms, and never laid
them down I'LL they had driven the enemy
under the walls of Paris.
The inhabitants of Silesia, well-known
for their loyalty and patriotism, had not
stood behind, amidst the general enthusiasm.
There was not a family in the province that
had not contributed IFS contingent 10 the ma
tional affair, and many heart was throb-
bing painfully, whenever new intelligence
was spread of another of those dreadful bat
ties, which, by riding the country from an
odous enemy, threw sorrow and affliction
upon many quiet and peaceful home.
On a sultry summer evening, in the year
before mentioned, an old woman was sit
ting before her humble cottage in the little
| Silesiam village of Burnheim. She had put
the distaf aside, and was reading the Bible,
which lay opened on her knees. Whilst
she was reading the holy words in an under
tone TO herself, her ears caught the sound of
| quick footsteps, and long shadow emerg-
ed from behind the cottage. The old wo.
man trembed violently the moment after
wards her uplifted eyes fall upon the figure
of a handsome and well.made lad in militia
ry attire.
| "How are you, molher!"
She arose, and threw her trembling arms
around his neck. "God be thanked, my boy.
that see thee again But how pale and
haggard thou lookest." She went on; after
pause "To be sure, thou must be very
tired, and hungry too %
She led him in the room TO the old arm
chair, and urged him 10 sit down and repose
himself little, whilst she herself would
prepare him some supper.
"What did he like best? Should she
make him an omelet, or roast q chicken
| Oh, it was no trouble at all ? Dear me, how
could he talk of trouble she was but too
glad to do anything for her own dear bov.
Yes, she would go and get him a chicken"
The old woman, all hustle and activity,
left the room.
The youth did not betray so much pleas.
ure at this hearty reception from his aged
parent, as might have been expected. He
was restless, and i'll at ease: it seemed as if
something was heavily weighing upon his
heart; and when his wandering eye fell
upon the portrait of his deceased father,
which was hanging right over the chimney
piece, presenting that worthy gentlemen in
the staff uniform worn by the kings garde
de corps half century ago, he felt as if the
old sergeant was looking at him with a grim
frown upon his honest countenance; Just as if
he experienced ahearty incinationto to stepout
of his worm eaten, rosewood frame, to seize
the old knotteG hazelstck in the corner,
with the brass knob at top, and 10 apply it to
the back of his offspring for half an hour
or SO as, in fact, he had been in the habit
of doing, many day in his lifetime, some
eight or ten years ago. His restless son felt
so much overcome by this latter reflection
that, when the old woman came busting in
again, after the lapse of some minutes, with
the chicken under her apron, she found her
own dear boy with his head in his hands,
leaning listlessly upon the table.
He sat up when she came in, but did not
look at her. The old woman became aiten-
tive. In the Joy of her heart she had never
thought yet of asking him any questions
except those concerning his appetite. Now,
it began to strike her that the present period
was rather a strange time for soldier to be
on leave of absence.
"Charles w-No answer.
The old woman trembled violently. She
dropped her burden, and walked straight
up to him. Her honest wrinkled counten-
ance was full of anxiety and apprehension.
Looking him full in the face, and clapping
her hands together, she cried out in agony /:
$50 help me God, Charles you are deser-
terw
"l couldn't stand il any longer, mother"
uttered her wretched son, in broken voice,
by way of apology.
"You couldn't stand il w said the old
woman, exasperated beyond measure; "you
couldn't stand it and hundreds of thousands
of your brethren do Fly, for shame !" and
with her old, honest, trembling hand, she
gave him smack on the face.
"MotherW exclaimed the young man
starting up, with the blood rushing to his
face.
''Fy, for shame !" she went on, without
needing him in the least, "to bring such
disgrace upon the whole village What
would he say "-she pointed to where the
old warrior was hanging over the chimney.
piece, whose stern countenance, illuminated
by the rays OF the evening sun, seemed in
deed to assume an unusual expression OF
solemn indignation. "Sit down, say! you
-deserter 1t shall not be said that your
dead fathers house, in the village of Burn
helm, is place of refuge for runaways,
whilst the whole country was up in arms
Don't you stir sir I'll be back in min.
ute )" and with this, the brave old woman