The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1861-09-05
"ONLY MOTHER. 4"

The July sun was almost overhead
in the heavens. drinking up tue water from
the little brooks, and fairly scorching The
ABORT grass in the pastures. The cattle
left feeding in the meadows aud stood
kneedeep in the pond, where the thick
shsdows of the wood fell over it, 1t wa:
far too warm to work or even to play, 81
the boys who bad been standing all the
morning with their fishing lines dangling
o9er the railing of the bridge, Put up their
hooks aud threw themselves DOM in the
cool shade of the old elms on the bank
They uade very pretty picture as they
Law there. with their shirt.collars uBbut-
toned, and their moist hair pushed back
from their flushed faces. One of then,
Willie Dowuer. had pictorial newspa-
per in his pocket, with large engravin2s
of The companies of soldiers at Washing.
ton, their camP-grouDds. ca flags and can
non, and the uUiform they wore. lie
spread the paper on the grass aud began
explaining the pictures to bis companion
Archie Morris.
ali was ouly old enough" ssid Will
lie earnestly, "I should enlist for SOL
der. 1t would be so grand to go out to
fight for the country aud help defend cur
out liberties, Don't you wish you were
mao; Arohie!'
Yes" said Archie. II should like to
be a man, bat Eaother say We need not
wait till that tt :ae to be brave; We can
show our courage now"
Il know" said Willie; cousin Lyman
Joined the mPany, aud be il only three
years older than [, but then be Is as tall
as father, every bit.
THAT wasn't what mother meant, "
said Archie; "she said good solder
must be ready to undertake any duty,
it took a great deal more courage to do
lttle di,sgrecable things thaa to march
up in the face of an enemy to battle
Then she said the first duty Of every -ol-
dicr wa. to learn to obey orders. and that
is just what We boys are doing"
Willie looked good deal dissatisfied,
and dill not seem to like this view OF the
matter; bat just at this moment some
body came to the door of one OF tue white
cottages i1st below the Grid se an called,
"Willie! "Willie!" He did not stir, but
vent on examining the paper.
"Somebody called you. Willie, said
Archie, looking towari' the houses.
ats oa2y n1o,ber," replied Willie; 'she
wants ne to 90 of 50 ne errand, aud n
not going out in tdis hot sun"
Archie looked at HIM a moment in as
toni>bment, and ther asked, Bat what
will sae say Ehen sou 20 homer
40" said Willie careies>ly, "sbe wOn't
know | heard her, for | dida't turn ny
head bit"
"She is going to the spring for water" :"
said Archie. still watching the house; Il
would scorch my face to blister before
/ would be here and let my mother 60
that"
"Poohl" said Willie, "that's nothing;
she is so used TO being ovrr the bot stove
that she don't mind it much"
just then a woman with baby in her
arms came to the window Of the other
cottage and called Archie.
Gay. ayi" said Archie, springing up
and swinging bis bat towsrd the house.
Don't go yet, Archie, said Willie;
'riust wait till we ini,b this paper; it
won't make auy difference. y
I'm learning to obey orders, said Ar
ebie; "besides. | know mother wants me
to take care Of baby while she gets diD-
per"
al do hate baby .tendip6; it's girls
work, +" said Willie.
$50 is cooking and washing clothes,
mt the soldiers have to do both. R1ght
about facet said be, shouldering bis fish
pole sud starting for home, my coupa-
nv has received marching orders
"Just in time, Archie, raid his moth
or. placing the baby in bis arms. 81 zee
nv volunteer means to be on hand when
ever bis orders coUe."
Now. Archie reslly di,liked tending
baby very much, especially on such a
warm day. when it took all bis patience
and ingenuity to amuse bis little brother,
made unusually fretful by the beat but
one glance into the heated kitchen, where
his mother vas busy over the closing
stove made him think himself very for.
tuuate to be able to remain 10 the sitting
room. with closed blinds and open win.
dows. But baby vas not at all pleased
with the dsrkened room. He would not
sit on the floor and roll Arches balls he
would not laugh at all Arches antics
and grimaces; kH#aOtcd to be carried,
and carried be must be.
"Come on tben," said Archie. tossing
him to his shoulders. Nov I'm on
forced march from Washington to Texas,
and this is my kDspsack and blanket -
Heavy load, bot wcatber-nercury up
to 500 degrees 10 the shade-wbole arms
of seeessioners running away from US
bound 10 get there before morDiDg-band