Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1862-10-06

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taken prisoner, in the hurry be has escaped.
VI Charlie no one knew: When last seen
ne Was urging on his men, for his Captain
lay dead by his side, while the dying and
the dead ehoked bis onward path.
A few days found them in two rented
roons in IN inland town. With a few
neeessaries around them, they strove to
conform TO their altered lot, and to forget
their happy home, which after having been
ruthlessly despoiled, BY those, who ayow-
ed their intention " to respect personf and
property" was occupied by Gen.-and bis
officers.
For weeks, and months, the mother
mourned her boy as dead when . letter
IN a strange hand, FROM Newborn, was
brought. It told her that Charlie lived!
that the writer, touched with his youth
and fortitude, had taken him from the
hospital to her own home, and nursed
him in memory of her OVID boy, who had
fallen on that we'll contested, but fatal
field. He was out of danger, but yearn-
ing for his mothers voice, anu his fathers
strong sustaining arm.
NUMBER THREE.
Come with me now to a cottage home,
far in the interior of the old North State,
miles from the Railroad where the tardy
mail makes the restless, anxious heart,
grow sick With hope deferred. It is a
pleasant house, yet there is an air of neg
iect aboat its once trim garden walks, and
household arrangements. Il ia a widows
home. But her soldier boy is away, her
noble, darling, eldest one. and any day,
ard any hous, the news may come tina,
that bright young head is laid low; OF tina,
face, so like his fathers, has been marred
BY the heel of the flying horsemau ; OF
those active limbs, confined to the prison,
narrow bounds, while his soul grows sick
from the association with those whom hab
1t, and education, have taught him toavoic
And the fair mothers cheek grow.
paler day by day, and her step more Ian
guild, and her daily duties are mechanical
ly performed-And when one of her littl,
ones reminds her of zone accustomed bu
neglected duty 40, l forgot" she says
" was thinking about Jennie" Sh
does not murmur at her Fathers will -
she seeks to be cheerful for the sake
those who are left ; and daily she gathe
her little band together, and commits thsr
and him, to the covenant keeping of the
fathers God.
: But the sunshine of her life is gone.
is only when she remeu bers somethir
she may do for him, something she ms
prepare to send him, but which she renen
beIs with q sudden paog be may never Sc
or know, that she is aroused, and 'nse's'''
] in her work.
: But mail Gay comes, and the hour 81
: proache.. She says nothing, but the res
: Aess hands are more restless still. 81
. glaDces constantly towards the window
she rises and looks out, though it is
hour earlier than the accustomed time, 81
she is summoned to the table. The me
:. is scarcely tasted, and she starts at eve
passing tootstep. At last the messeng
% 10 despatched to the Post Office and 8
., goes to the door sgain, o. if that wou
y hasten his ,etnrn. But the mail is Ia
that day, and with an upward glance 8
wrings her hands. The children IT,
:. still, and in some little winning way Sc
" to express their ~artless sympathy VII
! one, more excitable than the rest, wish
the wicked Yankees could all be killed.
" The mothers mild eye reproves her b
a step is heard,-a letter comes-with
!. glad cry she'springs forward-it is fro
" Jennie He is safe and well. He bi
- her not be uneasy. he thinks there
very little danger: and with boyish enth
~ siasm details their feats, and dangers, a
escapes.
IS, he was safe then, but next mail d
- witnesses the same sinking Of the hea
= the same hope, the same. fear, and peIh,
= no letter. Oh what news may the morr
~ bring! MARY L