The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-11-01

is Thursday, thought the stricken woman).-
"At first determined wouldn't, couldn't 90
but when went to the company meeting
last night, and the squire read the president
call for help, my blood boiled. and my hand
went up with the rest. God only knows, Fan
ny, how hard it is to leave you and the chill
dren, but don't dare to be coward. Why
Fanny. couldn't ever show grandsre's old
queen S arm to the boys again, if turned m!
back on my country now"
His great voice trembled, and the wonder
ing baby caught hot tear on its grimy lit
tie hand, but there wasn't line that looked
like taltering in that stern face. The wife's
tears fell like summer rain, but the words oi
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 b ack her dearest and
best, if liberty called. Had she not listened
while he read how the Massachusetts troops
were massacreu in Baltimore, how Ellsworth
was shot down like dog, and didn: she
know that this war would decide whether it
was to be slavery or freedom for her chill
dren? He was all she had of strength in
the world but for his sake she would not
hold him back. She did not need many
words wherein TO express her consent but
when he saw her white lips stitfen into
sternness, he knew he had no weak com
plainngs to struggle with. There is not
much time, counting by hours between
Thursday and Saturday. but there was much
done in that poor householG,tor new life pos
seSsed Frances Pummer She did not grow
Young again she never did that this side of
the grave: but she grew strong. for hers
was the baptism of fire. She listened while
John told how she could get along in his alb
sence, how this and that one would assist
her, how he should save every cent of his
pay for her ard the children; and without
any shrinking she told him in clear. full tones
that comforted him, even anil the groans
and din of Bull Run, that he was to deny
himself no comfort his pay could procure, for
she could work as well as he Once only
she broke down, when together they inspect
ed her little stock of potatoes. and he said
there was enough to last until those on TIE,
east knoll were ripe, and then, please God,
he would be with her again il he was with
her at all Their eyes met. spite of their
resolutely turning from each other. and the
bit er tears filled them.
Saturday came, and he went, and she took
up her summers work alone, not without the
hope and courage that come from set-renun-
citation. When she was the most weary she
remembered her husband, toiling in the
trenches beneath a southern sun, and no
groan or complaint passed ke: lips. Her
little family lived decently, fhanks TO her I'M
firing industry, and even the nearest neigh
Dor, who remarked the wonderful growth OF
the potatoes and corn on the east knoll, did
not dream that hours before he was awake
that woman was hocing and wedding them
Once in a while she called the little ones to
her. and re- I'd what She told them WAS let
ter from father: but she was IA poor reader
of writing, and what with that and her sobs
they did not always get the fall sense of the
precious epistle. Just at sunset, on a July
day, the heart Of the great North almost
stopped its beating, and a darkness like that
of midnight settled upon US as we told the
much exaggerated story Of Bull Run
Many men never ran from that fatal field
and among them was John Plummer. lie
was seen fighting single handed with two
Georgian ZouaveS, while he had fastened to
his belt the colorS of his regiment. He fell
at last, but the colors still waved over him
And vet Mr. William Russell says there was
no hand-to-hand fighting at Bull Run.
They told the tale tenderly to the woman
in the brown house, and her heart met rs
death blow as they told but she only said
"IIe would rather have died 50 then run, and
would rather he would" In the years tc
come, if Freedom and Truth want them
there will be two sons of John Plummer, VIII
will leap as exultantiy to their call, and dit
as gladly at their bidding, as their father
thanks to their mothers teaching.
Hace,hW, September 3Gth.