The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-03-21

wearing tho bright ribbon, the baby on her
lap watching the motions Of her dexterou'
fingers. the sanity grandmother with rever-
ent air turning the leaves Of the sacred vol
ume. Save the low cooling tones OF the hap
py infant, no sound broke the stiffness, till
the old lady had found the passage tor her
morning reading. 4ass'I .'..r
Clearly and distinctly she read In the Ger
man tongue-the old time-worn book she
brought with her from 'fatherland,' years,
long, long ycanago, and for Mary the strange
language had q peculiar charm. Then she
repeated the words in our own vernacula.
Peace leave with you, my peace l give
unto you. Not as the world giveth, give /
unto you. Let not your heart bo troubled.
neither let 1t be afraid ...
There was hasty entrance, and Mr..
Ritc, tossing letter upon the open Bible.
dartcd out'as suddenly as sho entered. 1t
was from her sonia sober, woll.written
sheet, part of which had been dictated by
John Raynes, who, the once wild youth said,
had been his best friend. Grandmother
Moscr, in spite Of Mary's appealing look and
outstretched hand, retained and read the
lines herself. amen, she said solemnly,
Il would not have II otherwise I
'How? faltered the anxious wife; she
could say no more.
1T is nothing very serious. John Is
wounded, but thinks he shall DO well in q
day or two. He says 1t was glorious vic
tory, and il it had been bought by the sacri-
fee of his life, he should not have regretted
il. Hopes we shall not worry about him ;
he is happy and contcnted, though he would
like to see us once more. Frank is greatly
changed, he says, and is very kind and tender
in his care Of him; all tho regiment are
sanguine of success. and are determined to
conquer or die-there is no surrender with
them - ..I .rr
Mechanically May took of the gay ribbons,
and, placing the now sleeping baby in his
cradle, claimed the letter for herself. Over
and over again she pcruscd the sad words,
but shc made no comment. All that day
she moved about as II in q trance, uncon.
tcious of everything around her; but there
were no tears, no sighs, no murnurs.
Again there came letter from Frank
this time enclosing note scrawled by the
sick snd wounded man. 1t will be all over,
wee wife, so the husband wrote; all the
pain, and sickness, and weariness, when you
get this. Life, ut best, is but short; we
shall soon meet where war and strife are un-
known. have kept my Christian armor
on. Mary, even in fighting for my country,
and shall never lay it down till ! reach the
land of eternal peace. Tell grandmother her
farewell blessing has been ever in my memory,
o constant monitor for good. One kiss for
Tiny, let him bear our gallant Generals
name, for my sake, and may he live to be a
blessing to our beloved country. Do not
mourn for me, Mary, dearest; | thank God
that have been chosen to such glory as
this, to die for the cause Of freedom and
unity ~
There is sadness, yet is 1t mixed with JOY
in the little household. Sadness at this be-
reavcmcnt, joy for the brave testimony ren.
dered by the dying soldier. Mrs. Elite can.
not understand now this can DO, and is pro.
fuse in her protestations Of grief, in her at.
tempts at sympathy. Grandmother dwclls
more than ever upon the protecting care ol
Providence, and Mary, bowing submissively
to the dccrees Of Heaven, displays yet greater
diligence in all patriotic labor; proving her
self, in Johns own words, 'the proudest,
grandcst lady in all the North now that be
has gone home from the war. And who will
dispute her right to that title, though she
lives in that old gray farmhouse under the
hill all the days Of her life. and her hands
be brown and hardened by toll. her dress
coarse and plain2 Democratic MS We are
we have our orders Of nobility, and the brave
soldier shall stand in the highest rank.
.