The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1862-08-28

men enough who will respond 10 the
Presidents call cannot Jet you 60,
my son." The wet eyes of Mrs. Irwin
overwlowe1.
John laid his hands firmly on his moth
er's shoulders, and looked steadily into
her face. Then hs kissed her ienderly
"For the blessings we enjoy, did not the
mothers Of the Revolution giyo their SONS
to the tattle6eldW wa
II cannot bear it. my son / am moi
strong enough for this" Aud Mrs lr.
win laid her face on the breast of her boy
and wrpt shudderinglv.
"As our day, so shall our strength be,
mother. Don't you believe this"
II do, John" answered Mrs. Irwin,
hitting her, face, and through halfblmding
tsars looking at him wouuderingly; nay.
more that wonderiagly, with rising glow
of pride in her heart,t Every woman ad-
mires courage 10 young man; and the
true mother loves il in herson A new
sentiment was taking force in the mind
of Mrs. Irwin and giving strength for du-
ty and for sacrifice. She seemed to her
self like one undergoing a quick trans
formation. New ideas and new estimat's 5
of things were pressing upon her, and
thrusting ole forms aside.
IL do, my son." she repeated, but |
never thought 10 see this day!,t
="The day has come upon US" replied
the young man, "and shall we not be
equal to its demand? am ready, aud
you are ready alsoP'p ..tstr.
He spoke ina quick, inspiring voice,
for he saw strength in the eye of his mo-
ther and gathering frmness about her
mouth. .- ,.1.-,..-.., .-r,- .. -..
Only little,whiIs longer was there
strife in the mind Of Mrs. Irwin; only a
little while longer did old prejudices and
foregoing conclusions battle with new
Convictions; only little while longer
did shrinking natural fear stand in the
way Of duty. ..... ~,
A week later, and Mrs. Irwin held the
hand of her son in parting. How chang.
ed he was! In single week he. had
seemed to grow older by years. The
firmly knit mouth; the deep, steady eyes;
the finely erect 6sure;ths already brown.
ing face, for he had byen drilling in the
open air for two days; the brave, resolute
bearing; were all wonderful to look upon
as the work of so brief time. Is il
strange that Mrs. Irwin was proud OF hel
soldier boy? She held his band ip part
ing. Z ~ ys1=5 ! e y s>b..'.d
EDO your duty, JOHN she said, in nc
weak ness of tone. "
Il will, mother." q CT "a.
"Be brave"
u 81 will never turn my back upon the
enemy ....,..
"God bless you and keep you, my son. y
Mrs. Twins eyes filed now, and her wo
mans heart trembled in her voice.
IL shall be in His hands just the same
mother" r..
." know it. John; and if death comes
to YOU Mrs. Irwin broke down. She
could no, finish the sentence
at will be through His permission. :
Are not even the sparrows in His keep
ing?" "How much more human souls.
They parted, Very pale for all of tina
day and the mex. was Mrs Irwin. Bu
her bearing was film. If her heart was
troubled, it was not weak She was I
wonder to herself. ..,.........
"Tru!y, it is 80" she would repeat over
} and over again, in her thought "As oul
day is so shall our strength be-" 70.
To an intimate friend she said:
81 sometimes ask myself if l am no
t dreaming. Can ii be possible that my bo!
, is soldier, and in the face Of the enemy
r and that he is there with my consents"
t "Would you have him back?" aske'
the friend. .I..|
A qhick change. as Of surprise, wa
= seen for moment in the face of Mra
: Irwin; then she answered, calmly:
J "No yield him to his country"
Q "He looked SO brave aud manly, sal
the friend. 20 ,sac,elsr E'eA
+ A glow ofrriic came into the mother
J, face. ,.,.t... |fIN
And seemed" was added, "to com
prehend SO clearly the issues at stake,
{, was no murderous thirst for blood; n
q love Of excitement and change that file
u his heart; but that true patriotism whic
D. is the inspiration of an honorabe 9 mint
g add gives it the courage to meet death
IS deieasc Of country and right. / honc
'e you, my friend, in being the mother
such son." r,. .-.... ,........ ...;
J. How strangely pleasurable were Il
* pulses that leaped away from the heart
~ Mrs. Irwin This praise oi her son W
very sweet. -. ....,o W..
10 10 Weeks passed. With what andabsor
40 ing interest did Mrs. Irwin watch the pr
gress Of events. Once she turned wi
= an instructive repugnance from all a
" counts of military movements and battle
but now she had no taste for any lhiI
10 10 else. The whole country was spread o
"a "a like map inSher mind. and every'stratg
~ ic point, with its camps and soldier
~ strongly marked. The marshaling
~ troops; their movements, strength o.
!. positions, were now familiar things: a.
'e1 ' ber heart beat high with pleasure at eve
y. trihibg success. orAvailed itself with sh
"a = ldows even the smallest reverse was 81
Z = tained. With what an inepressible il
y" "u patience did she look for regularly col
y ing letters from her sonl and with wi
ala proud satisfaction did she read every
~ ~ tail ofhis new life that showed coural
~ endurance and self. denial She felrtl
- he was q true soldier, and therefore s