The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1861-08-06

sas-and even wondered for a moment whl
| did not hear Eplraims boots on th,
stairs. Il all came across me then, ead i
+ i had not been for the thought Of mother
+ ! believe ] should have given right up ans
Laid my head back on the pillow and cried
Instead Of that col up and fed the cattle
with nay own hauds,and then SET about get
ting breakfast.
1t isnow six weeks since Ephraiia went
and we have heard from him several times.
Ills letters are short. but cheerful, and foil
Of encouraging words for those he left be.
hind
10 one Of them he says alt is very
beautiful here. see flower, such a nev-
er grew ~ New IIampshirc,and heal birds
whose notes are all strangers tasae. iint
soaeh0w ! never aseom Of these. II Is
always Of the peonies that grow by our
well, aud the roosters that begin 10 call
each other from one farm 10 another. long
before daybreak."
have often thought since Ephraim
went, that ! should like to 20 aud nurse
the poor sick and wounded soldiers, and
am sure Miss Dix would not refuse met
account Of either my youth or beauty; but
this cannot be. Some must be content 10
serve their country at home.
There is one thing that troubles me-
Mother has been growing weaker oil late,
and often when she thinks no one il hy.
She shakes her head, and repeats over and
over to herself Ephraim's last words-"It
won't be long--it won't be long r 1 do
not dare to ask her what she means
The neighbors are for the most part
very Kind and sympathizing, but there are
sose people who seem to take a melan
choly pleasure in looking on the dark side
OF things. Mrs. Cole is one of this kind.
She always reminds me of an owl in hol-
low tree. She came in the other day, and
after making few observations about the
weather. @Well, Ephraim's gone," she re-
marked in plaintive tone.
Yes said /.
"Seems as though he might have done
better" said she.
How could he do better than to do his
duty" said |.
a good many has gone that won't new
er come back, y said she.
"Perhaps So said !.
"They say twill be terrible sickly down !
here come hot weather." said she.
did you ever know man TO die be-
ore his appointed timer" said /.
She laughed and said, "Well, you be
good grit, airy way
After awhile she went on-.If he was d /
aptajn or something, 'twould be different.
le might have funerals in all the great
ties-but nobody minds when a pirate
,ets shot
Mrs. Cole" said /, ''do you think even
prCatc can fall without Gods notice
DO you think lie forgcts to send guard
+ angels for his soul, because lie hasn't
o8naSsion? p
"Wel," said she, rising TO depart, aI'm
ure you're jest the one to have friends in
he army. Now | have so much teclin, /
ever could let any of my folks go"
knew that she had so much "teeln'"
t the time we made shirts for the soldiers.
nat she could not do stitch of work for
lem. Indeed, il must be ''tceltn'" fam
y, for when the officer came to town in
earch of volunteers, her son was too much :
vercome TO make his appearance. Soon |
iter the officer left, he was seen emerging {
ON the clothes-press. z
Mrs. Cole has "Coat Of Arms hang q
lg over the head of her bed, with the $
ritish Lion ramping in the foreground. {
which she feels very proud, because she '
'ys i shows that on the "Smith side" of t
e House she had "anccstors." Now, | 2
} not blame anybody for taking kind of j
in having come of good race, Il
At 1 feel prouder of my brother Ephraim 0
ghting under the American Flag, than / h
lould of all the escutcheons of all the no. fl
lily Of Europe PRUDENCE LANE. il