The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-12-04

anu altuoubh TIE noisy cnHuren troOpeu IN
one after the other, woke the baby, and un-
did great part of her work. still, by noon,
which brought dinner and her husband,
things did look little civilized Noon
certainly did not bring large amount Of
dinner that day, but, looking across the fat,
she saw Johns manly form, and glow
passed over her thin, shallow face, for in
spite Of their unromantic surroundings, these
two people loved each other as do not many
husbands and wives who live in stately
dwellings. She took up the salt pork and
potatoes, lifted the baby into high chair,
and when John, escorted by the three dirty
pie mixers, came into the kitchen, he looked
as If he thought she had done about as well
as woman could do who had nothing to
do with. But still she noticed the cloud on
his face, noticed his careless answers to the
children, and once or twice detected long,
hard breath, as if he were making up some
desperate resolve. She tried to speak Of it
two or three times, but something sealed her
lips, and he saved her the effort. Fanny,
our company, the Stark Rifles are going to
the war;,
She saw it all in moment-tEe picture
her husband as she had seen him years ago,
before they had ever thought Of being mar.
ried, above his fellows on the muster field
IN height, yet STOPPING low his proud head
in acknowledgment Of her timid bow. And
then another scene took its place-that tall
figure, In the old familiar uniform, lying
stained with dust and blood on q far off
battle ground. She looked ready to faint,
but still he went on with his story.
Il knew it week ago, Frances knew it
when the Governor called out the regiment
to which We belonged, bgt I dared no: tell
YOU
No word from the pale woman by his side
--only one wild thought in her brain. Could
she not hold, keep back this man, her one
earthly hope, from what seemed her certain
death.
I'VE 60 to Concord Saturday. (and to-day
is Thursday, thought the stricken woman
/. AT first determined I wouldn't 20,
couldn't 90, but when went to the company
meeting last night, and the squire read the
Presidents call for help, my blood boiled,
and my hand went up with the rest. God
only knows, Fanny, how hard it is to leave
you and the children, but dare not be q
coward. Why, Fanny, could not ever
show grandsire's old qneen's-arn to the
boys again, if turned my back to my
country now
His great voice trembled, and the won.
dering baby caught tear On its grimmy
little hand, but there wasn't line that look
ed like faltering in that stern face. The
wife's tears fell like summer rain, but the
words Of her husband thrilled her, for the
true blood Of the true old state was in her
veins, and it shamed her now that even for
second she had thought Of holding back
her dearest and best, ifliberty called. Had
she not listened when he read how the Mas
sachusetts troops were massacred in Balti-
more, how Ellsworth was shot down like q
dog, and didn't she know that this war
would decide whether 1t was to be freedom
or slavery for her children He was all
she had of strength in this world /; but for
his sake she would not hold him back. She
did not need many words wherein to ex-
press her consent but when Re saw her
white lids stiffen into sternness, he knew he
had no weak complaining of hers to struggle
with. There is not much time, counting by
hours. between Thursday and Saturday, but
there was much done in that poor household,
for new life possessed Frances Plummer
She did not grow young again she never
did that this side of the grave but she
grew strong, for hers was the baptism ol
Are. She listened while John told her how
she could get along in his absence, how this
and that one would assist her, how he should
save every cent Of his pay for her and the
children and without any shrinking she
told him in clear, full tones that comforted
him, even amid the groans and din of Bull
Run, that he was to deny himself no com.
fort his pay could procure, for she could
work as well IS he. Once only she broke
down, when together they inspected her
little stock Of potatoes, there was enough
to last until those on the east knoll were
ripe, and then, please God. he would be with
her again if he was with her ct all.' Their
eyes met. spite Of their resolutely 4urning
away from each other, and the hitter tears
filled them.
Saturday came, and he went, and she
took up her summers work alone, not with
out the hope and courage that come from
selfrenunciation. When she was most
weary she remembered her husband, toiling
in the trenches beneath . southern sun, and
no groan or complaint passed her lips. Hel
little family lived decently, thanks to be.
untiring industry, and even the nearest
neighbor, who remarked the wonderful
growth of the potatoes and corn on the east
knoll, did not dream that hours before she
awoke that woman was hoing and wedding
them. Once in awhile she called the little
ones to her, and read what she told them
was letter from their father but she was
poor reader of writing, and what with thai
and her sobs they did not always get the
full sense ofthe precious epistle. Just a
sunset. on July day, the heart ofth grea
j North almost stonned ita heatina. and I