Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1861-03-08

| ~ y" SeS lHe TEA Is getting cOIu-
md yonder [ see the sleigh is at the
door, and Johns come; so let's set up
our chairs for supper"
The chairs were soon set up, when
John, the eldest son, aged fifteen, en-
tered with a letter. There. was one gen
eral exclamation, and stretching out of
hands toward It, j ohm threw it into
his mothers lap; the tea table was for
gotten; the tea kettle sung unnoticed
by the fire, and all hands crowded
around mothers chair to hear the news
1t was from Captain Ward, then at
Vally Forge. Mrs. Ward ran it over
hastily, and then read it aloud. A few
words we may extract
itt;There is still much suffering.
lHFse given away every, pair of stockings
you sent me, reserving to myself only
onei for which [ will not be one whit
better than the poorest soldier that
fights for his country. Poor fellows
it makes my heart ache sometimes to go
around among them, and see them with
their worn clothes and torn shoes, and
often bleeding feet, yet cheerful and
hopeful, every one willing to do his
very best. Often the spirit of discour-
agement comes over them, particularly
at night, when, weary, cold and hungry,
/ they turn into their comfortless huts on
snowy ground. Then sometimes there
is thought of home, and warm fires,
and some speak Of giving up; but next
morning out comes Washington's gene
raj orders-little short note, but it's
wonderful the good it doesl and then
they all resolve to hold on, come what
may. There are commissioners going all
through the country to pick up supplies.
IF they come to you, need not tell you
what to do. [ know all that will be in
your hearts.
There, children, see what your father
suffers" said the mother, :'and what it
costs these poor soldiers to gain our
liberty"
"Ephraim Scranton told me that the
commissioners had come as far as the
| II rec Mile Tavern, and that he rather
spected they'd be along here tonight, !"
said John, as he was helping around the
baked beans to the silent company at the
tea table.
"To-nig ight?-lo tell, nowl" said Aunt
IIitty ''Then it's time We were awake
and stirriag. Let's see what can be
got"
ell send my new overcoat, for one, ;"
said John. "That old one isn't cut up
yet is it, Aunt Hitty?n
"No," said Aunt Hitty, IT was laying
out to cut it over next Wednesday, when
Desire Smith could be here to do the
tailoring :
There's the south.room," said Aunt
Hitty, musing; ''that bed has the two
old Aunt Ward blankets on it, and the
Freattblue q@iit, and two comforters.-
i, Thea motthser's and my room, two pair
-four comferters- quilts-the best
the chamber has got--'
80, Aunt Hitty, send all that's in the
best chamber! IF any company comes,
we can make it up from cur beds" said
John. Il can send blanket or two off
from nay bed, know-can't but just
turn over in it, so many clothes On it
now"
''Aunt ILitty, take blanket off from
our bed" said Dick and Grace at once.
"Well, well, we'll see, said Aunt
Hitty, bustling up.
Up rose grandmamma, with great
earneStness, now, and going into the
next room, and opening a large cedar
wood chest, returned, bearing in her
arms two large snow white blankets,
which she deposited fat on the table,
Just as Aunt Hitty was whisking off the
table cloth
"Mortal! mother, what are you going
to do?'' said Aunt Hitty.
There" she said, Il spun those, ev-
cry one of EN-, when my name was
Mary Evans. Those were my wedding
blankets, made of real nice wool, and
worked with roses in all the corners
! I've got them to giye!' and grandmamma
stroked and smoothed the blankets, and
patted them down with great pride and
tenderness. 1t was evident she was
giving something that lay very near her
heart; but she never faltered.
| ''La! mother, there no need Of that,
said Aunt Hitty. use them on your
own bed, and send the blankets off from
that; they are just as good FOX the sol
diers.'
"No, I shan't!" said the old lady
waxing warm; "'tisn't bit too good for
EN-. I'll send the very best I've got,
before they shall suffer. Send 'em the
bestf' and the old lady gestured orator
ically.
They were interrupted by a rap at
the door and two men entered, and an
sounced themselves as commissioners by
Congress to search out supplies for the
army, Now the plot thickens. Aunt
Kitty flew in every direction-through
entry assage, meal room, milk room
down cellar, up chamber; her cap border
on end with patriotic zeal and followed
by John, Dick and Grace, who eagerly
bore to the kitchen the supplies that she
turned out, while Mrs. Ward busted
herself in quietly sorting and arranging,
in the best possible travelling order, the
various contributions that were precip-
itately launched on the floor
Aunt Hitty soon appeared in the
kitchen with an armful of stockings,
which, kneeling on the floor, she com
menced counting and laying out.
There" she said, laying down a large
bundle on some blankets, that leaves
just two pair apiece all around
La said John, whats the use of
saving two pair for me? [ can do with
one pair as well as father
"oure enough" said the mother; be.
sides, [ can knit you another pair in a
day"
"And [ can do with one pair," said
Dick.
Yours will be too small, young mas
ter, / guess, said one Of the commits
sioners