The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-08-27

took it,"
so, yes! you're always up to taking forts
and anything else that nobody wants done
Pll warrant, now, you left Oracle to pick
up every blessed one Of them chips"
"Picking up chips is girls work." said
Dick, sand taking forts and defending the
country is mems work."
"And pray, Mister Pomp, how long have
you been a man 2" said Aunt Hitty.
off l amt man, soon shall be; my
head is most up to my mothers shoulder,
and can fire. off gun too. tried the
other day, when was up to the store.
Mother, wish you'would let me clean and
load the old gun, so that if the British should
come"
"Wsll, if you are 80 big and grand, just
lift me out that table, sir" said Aunt Hltty,
''fcr it's past supper time"
Dick sprang and had the table out in a
trice, with an abundant cldtter and put up
the leaves with quite en- air. His mother,
with the silent and gliding motion charac-
teristic of her, quietly took out the table,
cloth and spread it, and began to set the
cups and saucers in order, and to put on the
plates and knives, while Aunt lIitty hustled
about the tea.
"I'll be glad when the wars over for one
reason" said she. "Pm pretty much tired
Of drinking sage tea, for one, l know"
"Well, Aunt Hitty, how you scolded that
pediar last week, that brought along that
real tea.'
"To be sure did. S'pose I'd be taking
any of his old tea, bought of the British?-
fling every teacup in his face first"
'sWell, mother" said Dick, 81 never ex-
actly understood what it was about the tea,
and why the Boston folks threw it all over
board"
''Because there was an unlawful tax laid
upon it, that the government had no right
to lay. 1t wasn't much in itself, but it is a
part of a whole system of oppressive mean
ness, designed to take away our rights, and
make US slaves of foreign power"
"Slaves!" said Dick, Strengthening him
self proudly. "Father slaven'
"Gut they would not be slaves! They
saw clearly where it would all end, and they
would not begin to submit to it in ever SO
little" said the mothee.
81 wouldn't, if wa. they" said Dick.
"Besides," said his mother, drawing him
towards her, at wasn't for themselves alone
they did it. This is great country, and it
will be greater and greater; and it's very
important that it should have free and equal
laws, because it will by and by be so great.
This country, if it is free one, will be
light Of the whole wide worlds city set
on a hill, that cannot be hid; and all the
oppressed and distressed from other coun-
tries shall come here to enjoy equal rights
and freedom. This, dear boy, Is why your
father and uneles have gone to fight, and
why they do stay and fight, though God
knows what they suffer, and-' and the
large eyes of the mother were full of tears;
yet strong, bright beam of pride and ex-
ultation shone through those tears.
"Well, well, Roxy, you can always talk,
everybody knows" said Aunt Hitty, who
had been not the least attentive listener Of
this little patriotic harangue; s'but you see
the tea is getting cold, and yondsr see the
sleigh is at the door, and Johns come; 50
let's set up our chairs for supper"
The chairs were soon set up, when John,
the eldest son, lad about fifteen, entered
with a letter. There was one general ex-
clamaton, and stretching out Of hands to-
wards it. John threw it into his mothers
lap; tho tea table was forgotten, and the
kettle sung unnoticed by the fire, as all
hands crowded about mothers chair to hear
the news. 1t wasfrom Captain Ward, then
in the American Army at Valley Forge.
Mrs. Ward ran it over hastily, and then
read it aloud. A few words we may ex-
tract.
"There is still, much suffering. l have
given away every pair of stockings you sent
me, reserving to myself only one for l will
not be one whit better off than the poorest
soldier that fights for his country. Poor
to 60 around among them, and see them
with their worn clothes and torn shoes, and
often bleeding feet, vet cheerful and hope
full, every one willing to do his very best.
Often the spirit of encouragement comes
over them. particularly at night, when,
weary, cold, and hungry, they turn into
their comfortless huts, and 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-u little short
note, but it's wonderful the good it does
and then they all resolve to hold on, come
what may. There are commissioners going
all through the country to pick up supplies.
If they come to you, | need not tell you
what to do. know all that will be in your
hearts.'
"Thore, children, see what your father
SUFFERS" said the mother, sand what it
costs these poor soldiers to gain our lib
erty.'
"Ephraim Scranton told me that tho
had come as far as the Three
Mile Tavern, and that he rather 'spected
they'd be along here tonight" said John,
as he was helping around the baked beans
to the silent company at the tea table.
"To-night ?-do tell, now!" said Aunt
Hitty. "Then it's time We were awake and
Let's see what can be got"
>'Fll send my new overc oat, for onc,"
said John. "That old one isn't cut up yet,
is it, Aunt Hitty %
"No," said Aunt Hitty. "I was laying
out to.cut it over next Wednesday, when
Desire Smith could be here to do the tail
oring."
''Thsre's the south room,' said Aunt
Hitty, musing; "that bed has the two old
Aunt Ward blankets on it, and the great
blue guilt, and two comforters. Then
mothers and my room, two pair-four
comforters-two quilts-the best chamber
has GOT
SO, Aunt Hitty, send all that's in the
best chamber! If any company comes, we
can make it up from our beds," said John.
81 can send blanket or two off from my
bed, l know; can't but just turn over in it,
so many clothes on now"
"Aunt Ilitty, take blanket If from our
bed," said Grace and Dick ut once.
"Well, well, Well see," said Aunt Hitty,
bustling up.
Up rose srandmammn, with great ear
nestuess, now, and going into the next 70 ON,
and opening large cedar wood chest, re-
turned, bearing in her arms two large snow
white blankets, which she deposited fat on
the tadle, just as Aunt Hitty was whisking
off the table cloth.
''Mortal /! mother, what arc you going to
do ?" said Aunt lIitty. =
"Thcre," she said, 81 spun those, every
thread Of 'em, when my name was Mary
Evans. These We're my weddin4 blankets,
made of real nice wool, and worked with
roses in all the corners. l've got them to
give! % and grandmamma stroked and
smoothed the blankets, and pa.ted them
down with great pride and tenderness. 1t
was evident she was giving something that
lay very near her heart, but she never fall