The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-09-20
COMFY MoTHER:"

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COMFY MOTHER"
The First Lessons in Drilling.
The July sun was almost overhead In the
heavens, drinking up the water from the little
brooks, and fairly scorching the short gras
in the pastures. The cattle lett feeding il
the meadows, andstood kneo-deep in the pond
where the thick shadows OF the wood fell ovel
II. 1t was far too warm to work, or even t.
play, so the boys who had been standing al
the morning with their fishing-lincs dangling
over the railing of the bridge, put up thei
hooks and threw themselves down in the coo
shade of the old elms on the bank. They
made very pretty picture as they lay there
with their shirt collars unbuttoned, and theil
moist hair pushed back from their hushet
faces. One of them, Willie Downer, had q
pictorial newspaper in his pocket, with large
engravings Of the companies Of soldiers a,
Washington, their camp.grounds, flags, and
cannon, and the uniforms they wore. lie
spread the paper out on the grass, and began
explaining the pictures to his companion,
Archie Moore.
"If was only old enough" said Willie
earnestly, "I should enlist for soldier. II
would be so grand to 90 and fight for the
country, and help defend our liberties. Don''
you wish you were man, Arcbie?"
EYES," said Archie, | should like to be q
man, but mother says we need not wait till
that time to be brave; we can show our
courage now."
81 know" said Willie; "cousin Lyman
joined tho company, and he is only three
years older than I, but then he is as tall as
futher, every Bit"
"That was not what mother meant" said
Archie; "sho said good soldier must be
ready to undertake any duty, and 1t took u
great deal more courage to do little disagree
able things than to march up in the face Of
an enemy to battle. Then she said tho first
duty of every soldier was to learn to obey or
ders, and that is just what We boys are do.
ing"
Willie looked good deal dissatisfied, and
did not seem to like this view of the matter
but just at this moment somebody came to
the door of one Of the white cottages just
below the bridge, and called, "Willie! vii.
lie :" lie did not stir, but went on exam.
lining the paper.
"Somebody called you, willic," said Ar
chic, looking towards the houses.
at is only MOTHER" replied Willie; "she
wants me to 60 Of some errand, and am
not going out in this hot SUM-"
Archie looked at him moment in aston.
ishment, and then asked
"But what will she say when you go
home"
"O," said Willie, carelessly, "shc won't
know heard her, for I did not turn my head
a bit"
"Shc Is going to the spring for water"
said Archie. still watching the house al
would scorch my face to blister before I
would lie here and let my mother do that"
"Pooh !" said Willie, "that Is nothing;
she is SO used to being over the hot stove that
she don't mind it much"
Just then a woman with baby in her
arms came to the window Of the other cot
tage and called Archie.
"Ay, ay!" said Archie, springing up and
swinging his hat towards the house.
Don't go yet, Archie," said Willie; 'ju't
wait till we finish this paper; It won't make
any difference"
81 am learning to obcy orders" said Ar
chic - "bcsides, I know mother wants me to
take care of baby while she gets dinner"
81 do hate baby-tending; it girls work"
said Willie.
$50 is cooking and washing clothes, but
the soldiers have to do both. Righ obout-
face !" said he, shouldering his 6sh.pole, and
starting for home, "my company has received
marching orders"
"Just In time, Archle," said his mother,
placing the baby in his arms. III zee my
volunteer means to be on hand whenever his
orders come"
Now Archie really disliked tending the
baby very much, especially on such warm
day. when it took oil his patience and lingo
nuity to amuse his little brother, made unu.
sually fretful by the heat. But one glance
into the heated kitchen, where his mother
was busy over the glowing stove, made him
think himself very fortunate to be able to
remain in the sitting room, with closed blinds
and open windows. Bot baby was no. at
all pleased with the darkened room. lie
would not cit on the aoor and roll Archies
ball; he would not laugh at all Archies An