Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1862-07-02
ATALE Or THE war.
By 7. S ARTHUR.


WARl The very word sent shudder to
the heart Of Mrs. Irwin. From child up it
had been associated in her mind with all that
was horrible and wicked, To become asold-
Ter, seemed, to her perception Of the case, to
involve a cruel instinct She saw no glory IN
the profession ofarms. Toy drums and swords
were never seen in the hands Of her children,
except through the unwelcome agency Of
aunts, uncles, or friends; and they were, in
these cases. soon removed, with sober homi-
lies on their bad significance.
at viii teach my children" she would say,
to love their enemies; not to hate and des-
troy them. To be ever on the side Of peace
and goodwill to mankind; not on the side Of
hatred and destruction"
Mrs. Irwin read tracts and books published
ay peace societies, and IN the argument against
war crowded her mind with facts, statistics
and reasons to a degree that made her a for
midable debster on the non-combative ques-
ton, with almost every one that happened to
be drawn into an argument 1t was useless
to talk 70 her about the undying antagonism
between good and evil, and the necessity Of
external as well as internal combats; Of ma
tional regeneration through the baptism Of
blood; of stable peace only through the des-
truction Of enemies. All wars were wrong,
she eontended, and might be avoided.
Not in anything bad Mrs Irwin swerved
from her peace principles, up to the period
when Sumter fell But that event was ike
throwing, suddenly, into a strong, smooth cur
rent, broad obstruction. Her whole being
was IN a tumult She caught for breath like
one in danger of suffocation. She felt as
though the firm foundation on which she had
been standing Tor years, was crumbling under
her feet Mrs Irwin loved her country and
revered its aag; and this assault upon the one,
and desecration of the other, fred her soul
with indignation; and when her Oldest boy,
not yet in his tzventy-frst year, said to her
with clenched hands and flashing eyes,
Mother, this must be avengedl-"
She did not answer, but sat with pale lips
and lace, looking at him in such trouble and
bewilderment CT mind that no thoughts be-
came coherent enough for words until he ad-
ded, ss he drew his slender form to its utmost
heighth-
"And there is one ready"
UJobnl JohnI" feHin weak remonstrance
from Mrs. Irwin. "Don't speak so don't
let murderous spirit bear you away
"Don't say murderous," replied the boy,
with SO much rebuke in bis tones that his
mother answered quickly
"A spirit Of revenge, then, John. Ven
gesnee is mine, saith the Lord, and viii re-
pay it"
Mother, shall we tamely submit to see
this nation destroyed, and its flag, which has
been honored throughout the world for eigh-
ty years, shot at rent, and trampled upon p
The boys eyes Cleaned fercely. For one
1 say mo- And 1 have mistaken my moth
ers heart, fit does not echo back the word
1 do not forget the lesson you taught me years
ago, that love Of country is next to love Of
God. And five love an object purely, viii
we not defend It when assailed ? Nay even
lay down our lives in its protection ?"
In spite Of all her peace principles, and hOr-
ror Of war, there flowed in the mind of Mrs.
IrWin.in such an admiration for this outspoken
patriotism Of her son, that even be read pride
and approval in her humid eyes.
"Wsr is an awful thing, John" said Mrs
Irwin.
R4knowitis, mother. But there are worse