Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1862-05-20
I776.
THE ALTAR OF LIBERTY.
BY MRS HARRIET BEEcuER STOWE.

Dick sprang, and had the table out in a
trice, with an abundant CHATTER, and put ~
the leaves with quite an air. His mother.
with the silent and gliding motion charac-
terisiic OF her, quietly took out tue table
cloth and spread it. and began to set the
caps and saucers in order, ana to put on
the plates and knives, while Aunt Histv
hustled about the tea.
III be glad when the wars over, Cor one
reason, said she, I'm pretty much tired
OF drinkig sage tea, for one, | know
Wen, Aunt ltitty, how you scoIded thar
pedler last week, that brought aiJng that
read tear
TO be sure did Suppose Ia he taking
any OF his old tea, bought OF the British p
'Well, naother,' said Dick, 4 never exact
ly understood what it was about the tea.
and why the Boston folks threw it al! over
board
Because there was an unlawful tax laid
upon 1t that the government had 10 right
to lay. 1t wasn't much in itself: but it
was part of whole system of oppressive
meanness, designed to take az ay our rights,
aud make us slaves of a foreign power
'Siavesv said Dick, Strengthening him.
self up proudly father slave"
Bat they would not be slaves They
saw clearly whereit wortj all end, and
they would not begin to submit 10 it in ever
81 little, said the mother.
wouldn't If ! was they, said Dick
| Besides said his mother, drawing him
/ towards her, 1T wasn't for themselves alone
! they did it This is a great country, and
1t wilt be greater and greater: and it's
very important that it shtuld have free
and equal laws, because it will by and hy
be so great. This country, lift is free
! one, will be the light Of the world-a city
! set on Hill, that cannot he hid; and al
the oppressed and distressed from other
countries shall come here to erjoy equal
! rights and freedom. This, de2c Loy, is Inv
your father and unctes have gone to fight
and why they do stay aud sight, thpugt
God knows what they suffer. and and
the large blue eyes of the mother were full
Of tears yet strong, bright beam Of
| pride and exuit1tien shcne through those
tears.
We'll, well, Roxy. you can always talk
every body knows said Aunt Kitty, who
had nOt been the least attentive listener o.
this little patriotic harangue but you seq
the tea is getting cold, and yonder | see
| the sleigh is at the door and JOhu's come
SO let's set up our chairs for supper.
The chairs were soon set up, when John
the eldest son, lad Of about fife en-, enter.
ed with q letter. There Yves one genera
exclamation, and stretching out of hands
towards it. John threw it into his moth
er's lap; the teastable was forgotten, anC
the tea kettle sang unnOticed by the fire
as all hands erowde about mothers chair
to hear the news. 1t was from Capt
Ward, then in the American army at Val,
ley Forge. Mrs. Ward ran it over hastily
and then read it aloud A few words W,
may exact:
There is still, it is said, much suffering
have given away every pair of stocking
you sent me. ressrving &c myself only one
for will not be one whit better off thar
the poorest soldier that fights for his coun-
try. Poor fellows lit makes my heart ach,
sometimes to go round among them, anC
see them with worn clothes aud torn shoes
and often bleeding feet, yet cheerful anC
hopeful, and every one willing TO do his
very best. Often the spirit of discourage
meOt comes over them, particularly a
night, when weary, cold, and hungry, the,
turn into their comfortess buts, on thu
snowy ground. Then sometimes there is
thought of home, and warm fires, and som,
speak OF giving up; but rext morning GU
come WashingtOn's general orders-littlt
short note, but it's wonderful the good i
does and then they all resolve to hold on
come what may. There are commissioner
going all through the country to pick ~
supplies Ifthey come to you, l need no
tell you what to do. / know all that viii
be in your hearts,
There, children, see what your fathe
suffers said the mother, and what j
costs these poor soldiers to gain our liber
ty.'
'Ephraim Scranton told me that the com
missioners had come as far as the Three
Mile Tavern, and that be rather 'specteC
they'd be along here to night said John
as he was helping round the baked beam
to the silent company at tho tea table.
Tonight? do tell, now = said Aun
Hitty. Then it's time we were stirring
Let's see what can be got.'
I'll send ny new oyercoat, for oue,' sale
John. That old one isn't cut up yet, is it
Aunt Hitty7'
NO. said Aunt Kitty; Il was laying on
to cut it over next Wednesday, when De-
sire Smith could be here to do the tailor
ing
There's the south ROOM said Aun