The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1861-08-06
From the New England Farmer.
MY BROTHER EPJRArM.

/ Ephraim las gone 70 the war.
When the guns Of Fort Sumter started
the whole North to its feet, Ephraim ex.
claimed, Thank God the crisis has come p
did not know precisely what lie meant.
nor do ] now. ! felt anything but thank
tul to hear Of United States citizens storm
ing United States Forts, as il Sumter and
Moultlie had not both got to be rebuilt at
the public expense said as much 10
Ephraim, bul lie only laughed, ana did not
explain. He was always man Of few
words.
II was not till af er the news came Of
the mob At Baltimore, that Ephraim said
anything about enlisiing himself though
knew pretty well how it would be. /
knew, too, what ! should do if had been
a man. To be sure there seemed some
reasons why lie could not be spared. We
owned q small farm, which gave us liy-
Ing, and he was the only man on Tic prem
iscs. In fact, he was the only male rela-
ton we had in the world, FOR We had bur-
icd Seth and Jacob not long after father.
died. Mother is getting along in years
rising eighty--and We are all the family.
Bot when man wants 10 do his duty, il
Is rather poor encouragement 10 have all
his female relations crying and hanging on
TO his coat tails.
Instead Of blaming Ephriam for wanting
TO 90, should have thought hard Of him
il he hadn't wanted TO go. So when he
said,
prudence, have been thinking from
the first, but more especially since those
poor fellows we're killed in Baltimore for
the crime cf obcying their Presidents or
dcrs, that ! ought to go and help put down
this miserable rebellion"
well, said ], ''what's to hinder 2
Are you wiling said he.
81 am, Ephraim."
"And the farm?" said he.
q will look after that" said /, 'and you
shan't find il run 10 grass when you get /
back neither"
And mother said he.
You had better break it TO her, your
elf said !, ''she will take it best from
you."
knew very well that Ephraim was the
ight Of her eyes.
do not think mother was much SUI
,rised, for when he told her about il. she
aid,
"lf you feel a call to 90, | have not
word TO say. You have your mothers
,lessing."
Mothers father had been a soldier in
he Revolution. Ephraim enlisted in one
+ the Massachusetts regiments, though we
nc New Hampshire people. +,
He came home once on a furlough, all
ressed up in his regimentals and could
ot help thinking that he did look too
andsome to be set up for a mark to be
hot at,like turkey at Thanksgiving time.
ut then he can have the privilege Of shoot :
ig back again.
Well, put up a few needful articles in
Is knapsack, and mother gave him BIZ ,
le, with bis name written on the blank
.at in her own trembling hands.
Mary Dean brought him little thread /,
ase, all made Of red white and blue rib
on. lie blushed and looked as though
e wanted to kiss her, when She gave ii 10 a.,
i'm, and she, poor thing, could not help /
-ying when lac bade us all goodbye
loiher's turn came last.
He said-"li won't be long, mother, il /
ont be long, and then he went quickly !
it Of the door, ~ the gate lie turned, I
ID ! saw him look At the newly-furrowed !
I'd, at the cattle peacefully chewing the r
u in the barn yard, at tie house. and 4
en- his eye fell on Us. lie took of bis
p, raised il over his head with a pleas
i smile, and walked away. We watched y
- 70 the first turn IN tie road, and then i
said, !. Its bad luck 10 watch a friend out Il
sigh" 50 we all went abol, our daily +.
Drk
The next morning awoke wiil 4 weight y
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