Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-08-06

anu gidlng motion characte risti, Of her, quietly
took out she table cloth aud spread il, aud be-
gan 70 set the cups and saucers in order, and to
put on the the plates and knives, while Aunt
llitty hustled about the tea TT
be glad when the wars over. for one
reason" said she. am pretty much tired ol
drinking sage tea, for one know n
"Well, Aunt Hitty how YOU soolded that
pedlar last week, that brought along that real
teal" -
"To be sure did Spose I'd be taking snv
OF his old tea, bought Of the Britishl-iing
every teacup in his face first" v
"Well, mother" said Dick, az never exactly
understood what il was about the tea, and why
the Boston folks threw it all overheard. -
because there was an unlawful tax laid
upon it, that the government had no right 20
lay. IL twasn't much in ITSELF but il is part Of
whole system of oppressive meanness, de.
igned to take away our rights, and made us
saves OF a foreign power" n..
"slayes!p said Dick Strengthening himself
proudly. Father slave!"
But they wouId states; ruey sp.,
clearly where il would all end and they would
not begin to submit TO it in ever so little" said
the mother
81 wouldn't; ifI was they" said Dick.
Besides" said his mother, drawing him
towards her, cit wasn't Tor themselves alone
they did it This is a great country, and il
will be greater and greater and it's very impor-
tant that it should have free and equal laws be.
cause it will by and by be so great. This coun.
try, If il is a FREQ one, will be light Of the
whole wide world-a city set on hill, that
cannot be hid; and all the oppressed and dis
tressed from other countries shall come here TO
enjoy equal rights and freedom This, dear
boy, is why your fathers aud urcles have gone
to fight, and why they do stay and fight, though
God knows what they suffer, and aud the
large eyes ofthe mother were full of tears; yet
strong, bright beam Of pride and e1utaion
shone through those tears.
"Well, well, Roxy, you eau always talk,
everybody knows said Aunt Hittly, who had
been not the least attentive listener of this little
patriotic harangue; "but you see the tea is get
urg cold, and yonder / see the sleigh is at the
door, and Johns come; so let's set up our chairs
for supper"
The chairs were soon set up, when John, the
eldest sou, lad about fifteen, entered with
letter. There was one general exclamation,
aud stretching out Hands towards it, John
threw it into his mothers lap; the tea table was
forgotten, and the tea kettle sung unnoticed by
the fire, as all hands crowded about mothers
chair to heaI the news II was from Captain
Ward, then in the American army at Valley
Forge. Airs Ward ran it over hastily, and
then read it aloud A few words we may e1-
tract
There is still, much suffering l have given
away every pair of stockings you sent me, re-
serving to myself only onel Er will notb be one
whit better off than the poorest soldier that
fights for his couulry. Poor iellows It makes
my heart ache sometimes TO go around among
Them, and see them with their WON clothes
and torn shoes, and often bleeding feet, yet
.f,.I 4 4 -
his very best. Often the spirit tofdiscouragement of
comes over them, particularly at night, when,
weary, cold, and hungIy, they turn into their
comlortless huts, on the snowy ground Then
sometimes there is thought OF home, and warm
fires, and some speak of giving up; but next
morning out comes Washington's general orders
little short note, but it, wonderful the ood
it does! and then thev all resolve 60 hold on,
come what may. There are commissioners
going all through the country to pick up sup
p!ies. If they come to you, need not tell
what to do. | know all that will be in your
hearts
There, children, see what your father suf-
ieTs,' said the mother, 'and what it costs these
poor soldiers to gain our liberty"
"Ephraim Scranton told me that the commits
sioners had come as far ts the Three Mile Tav
ern, aud that he rather "spected they ID be long
here to night said John, as he was holprag
around the baked beans to the silent company
at the tea table.
"Io nighu-do tell, nowp' said Aunt Hitty.
"Then it's time we were awake and stirring 49,
Let's sec what can be got"
"l'll send my new oyercoat, for one,n said
john, That old one isn't cut up yes, is it, Aunt
Hiuylr
mo, said Aunt IIltyl was laying out to
cut it Overnext Wednesday, when Desire Smith
could be here 10 do the tailoring"
There's the south room" said Aunt Hitty,
musing; "that bed has the two old Aunt Ward
blankets on it, and the great blue quilt, and two
comforters. Then mothers and my room, two
pair-four cumlorters-two quilts-tho best
chamber has cot--D |7..s. ..fs.
30 Aunt Hitty, send all that's In tho best
chamber! II any company comes, we can make
it up from our beds" said John. 81 can send
a blanket or two of from my bed, / know
can't but just turn over in it, so many clothes
on now"
Aunt Hitty, take blanket off from our bed"
said Grace and Dick at once.
"Well, well, Wen see, said Aunt Hitty bust
ling up.
Up rose grandmamma, with great earnestness,
now, and going into the next room, aud open
ing a large cedar wood chest, returned, bearing
in her arms two large snow white blankets.
which she deposited flat on the table, Just as
Aunt Hitty was whisking of the the table
cloth.
Mortal mother, what ara you going to dot"
said Aunt Ilitty.
There" sho said. 81 spun those, every
thread of EN-, when my name was Mary Evans |
Those were my wedding blankets made ofrea |
nice wool, and worked with 70 es in all the COR
ners I've got them to give" ana qrandmamma |
stroked aud smoothed the blankets, and patted |
them down with great pride aud tenderness. Il |
was evident she was giving something that lay |
very near her heart; but she never ialtered
"La! mother, there's no need Of thst," said |
Aunt Hitty. "Use them on your own bed, and |
send the blankets of from that; they are lust |
as good for the soldiers"
'No, | shan't!" said the old lady, waxing |
warm; "tisn't a bit too good for 'em I'll send |
the very best I've got, before they shall suffer
Send 'em the Jest!' and the old lady gestured |
oratoTieally.
They were interrupted by rap at the door,
and two en- entered, and announced chem |
selves as commissioned by Congress to search |
out supplies forthe army. Now the plot thick
ems. Aunt Hitty flew in every difectioH--
through entry passage, meal room milk room |
down cellar, up chamber, her cap border on end |
with patriotic zeal; and followed by John, Dick |
and Grace, who eagerly boIe TO the kitchen the |
supplies that she turned out, wnile Mrs Ward |
busted herselfin quietly sorting and arranging, |
in the best possible travelling order, the va
Tious contributions that were preciptately lunch
ed on the kitchen h0Of. Wy
Aunt Hitty soon appeared in the kitchen |
with an armlul of stockings, which, kneeling |
on he floor, she began counting and laying
out.
"There, she said, laying DOWN q large bun |
dle on some blankets, "that leaves just two pal r
apiece all round.
"I.a" said John, "what's the use Of saving |
two pair for me! can do with ono pair, as
well as father"