Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1860-11-22
ELLEFONTE Pa THURSDAY MORNINGS NOV, q 1860

togetueT, eViuently cuJoJ InS uehSolIul resi-
As the widow stepped oyer the threshold Of
the room one of the officers was remarking to
his companions
"He was one of the best men, and as fine
looking young fellow as ever volunteered
"Do you speak ofyoung z Pierpont ?" asked
another.
''Yes, he fell yesterday, pierced by three
balls, poor fellow; it was a hard fate for
such by"
For one moment the cheek of the widow
was blanched, the heart OF the mother shock
ed, but she spoke almost calmly as sh ask
ed
(which one was it, s.r?"
"Henry Pierpont, if l am not mistaken
Was be known to you?"
Was he known to you? Oh, the torment
that followed that question lie who had
taken the place of the dead at their board,
and, with gravity beyond his years, carried
out the plans his father left unfinished. And
now bis blue eyes were closed forever ! his
bright locks rolled in the dust o! the tho't
was anguish A deadly paleness came over
her, but she rallied with great effort, and
said as calmly as before, as she turned her
whitened cheeks away:
"IIe was my son, sir"
They did not see her face as she walked
quickly and firmly out of the room.
"Now. God forgive mel l feel as if had
done cowardly thing" muttered the officer,
while his lips grew pale with emotion
Coming here to partake of this woman's
hospitality, have cruelty stabbed her to the
heart"
'You are not to blame, my friend" said
Washington, in his deep tones, in which
blended sudden pathos Neither if / read
her Alright, would she recall this child brave
IL fallen in bis countrys canse. This is no
common womau- her very face speaks of her
souls nobility. Mark me, when you next
see her she will be tearless no word of sor-
row will issue from her lips. Our mothers,
our wives-I am proud to saT it-are hero
ines in this trying period. And this" be
secret of their greatness whenever you be-
hold that volume opened, bearing evidence of
constant perusal, there you will find women
capable of any emergency. [ repeat it when
we meet again, she will be calm and fearless
although a mother bereaved of her child"
And so it was. Madame Pierpont had
scbooled her grief for the time into sudden
aGl sacred submission, and when the officers
were called into another room to partake Of
the smoking viands she had prepared, they
found her collected, unchanged 10 manner,
and serene in countenanee. The officer from
whom the news had suddenly burst. was lost
in admiration of her conduct, and was often
heard to say, subsequently,, that he yenera-
ted women fer her sake.
Toward night the trio departed, thanking
the kind woman with grateful hearts for her
courtesy. They found their horses ready
saddled, and were forced to conjecture that
Madame Pisrpont had herself performed the
duty of h9stlcr.
General Washington kindly took her hand
before he mounted his charger, and address
sed her tenderly and afectionately. Teas
came to the eyes of the officers while they
listened, but, though an increased pallor over
spread the widows face, she murmered:
81 am thankful, to my God, sir, that He
has deemed me worthy of demanding my
first.born in this glorious struggle. lie was
ready, sir; ready for life or dtath.'
But when they had gone, and she returned
to the silence of the lone house, the mother
wept exceedingly bitter tears. Draw we the
curtain before her sacred anguish.
Farewell, old Perpont house, with your
carpet of malows, ard old fashioned flowers
in old fashioned pots standing upon the
stoop. feel sad at the thought that | shall
never again see its doors wreathed in vines !;
whereon hung clusters Of luxuriant grapes,
nor its windows on the lower floor, all open
ed. with the white curtains ef snowy muslin
floating wish dreamy undulating motion in
the pleasant breeze,