Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1862-01-22
THE DAILY PRESS.
wRDNRsDAY.........,,,.,........JANUAR %
[From the Philadelphia Press.
AS THR DAY Is, so SHALL OUR
STRENGTH BIZ.
by t. 9. ARTHUR.

the nehTL OF NlIS. lTMln. From cnllu up
it was associated in her mind with all that
was horrible and wicked. To become SOL
dier, seemed, to her perception of the case,
TO involve o cruel instinct She saw no
glory in the possession of arms. Toy drums
and swords were never seen in the hands
of her children, except through the unwel-
come agency of aunts, uncles, or friends;
and they were, in these cases. soon removed,
with sober homilies on their bad signif-
cance.
~ will teach my children" she would
say, ITO love their enemies; not 20 hate and
destroy them. To be ever on the side Of
peace and goodwill to mankind not on the
eide Of hatred and destruction"
Mrs. Irwin read tracts and books pub
lished by peace societies. and in the argu-
ment Against war crowded her mind with
facts, statistics and reasons to degree that
made her formidable debater on the non.
combative question, with almost every one
that happened to be drawn into an argu.
ment. 1t was useless to talk to her of the
undying antagonism between good and
evil, and the necessity of external as we'll
as internal combats; of national regenera-
tion through the baptism Of blood; of a
stable peace only through the destruction Of
enemies. She denied the positions. All
wars were wrong, she cOntended, and might
be avoided.
Not in any thing had Mrs. Irwin swerved
from her peace principles, up to the period
when Sumter fell. But the event was like
throwing, suddenly, into a strong, smooth
current, broad obstruction. Her whole
being was in tumult. She caught for
breath like one in danger of sufocation.
She felt as though the firm foundations on
which she had been standing for years,
were crumbling under her feet Mrs. lr-
win loved her country and revered its flag
and this assault upon the one, and desecra.
ticn of the other, fired her soul with indig.
nation and when her oldest boy, not yet in
his twenty-frst year, said to her with
clenched hands and flashing eyes,
"Mother, this must be avenged
She did not answer, but sat, with pale
lips and face, looking at him in such trou-
ble and bewilderment of mind that no
thoughts became coherent enough for words,
until he added, as he drew his slender form
to its utmost hight:
"And there is one ready"
"John! Johnr' fell in weak remon-
strance from Mrs. Irwin. "Don't speak so |
don't let a murderous spirit bear you away"
"Don't say murderous" replied the boy,
mother answered quickly:
"a spirit Of revenge, then, John. Ven.
geance is mine saith the Lord, and / will
repay it,"
"Mother, shall we tamely submit to see
this nation destroyed, and its flag, which
has been honored throughout the world for
eighty years. shot at, rent, and trampled
uponY The boys eyes CLEANED fercely.
"For one, l say no and have mistaken
my mothers heart if it does not echo back
the word. l do not forget the lesson you
taught me years ago, that love of country is
next to love of God. And Eif we love an OBJ
iect purely, will we not defend it when as
sailed? Nay, even lay down our lives in
its protection Z"
In spite of all her peace principles, and
horrors Of war, there flowed into the mind
of Mrs. Irwin such feeling of admiration
for this outspoken patriotism of her son,
that even he read pride and approval in her
humid eyes.
"War is an awful thing, John," said Mrs.
Irwin.
~ know it is, mother. But there are
wore things than war; and that worse thing
is at our door. You understand this as
we'll as do. They have thrown down the
gauge Of war, and there is nothing left for
us but to accept the hard necessity"
"But you are not called to this work.
john" said Mrs. Irwin, the words faltering
en- Ler tongue. "There are strong men
enough to respond to the Presidents call.
can not let you go, my son." The wet
eyes of Mrs. Irwin overfowed
John laid his hands firmly on his mothers
shoulders and looked steadily into her face.
Then he kissed her tenderly. "For the bless
ings we enjoy did not the mothers of the
Revolution give their sons to the battle
feld?"
'I can not bear it, my son I am not
strong enough for this" And Mrs. Irwin
laid her face on the breast of her boy and
wept shudderingly.
"As our day is so shall our strength be,
mother. Don't you believe this ?"
IL do, John" answered Mrs. Irwin, lift
ing her face, and through half-blinding
tears, looking at him wonderingly. Nay,
of pride in her heart. Every woman ad-
mires courage in a man and the true
mother loves it in her son. A new senti-
ment was taking force in the mind of Mrs.
Irwin, and giving strength for duty and for
sacrifice. She seemed to herself like one
undergoing a quick transformation. New
ideas and new estimate of things were
pressing upon her, and thrusting old forms
of thought aside. 81 do, my son." she re-
peated, "but l never thought to see this
day"
'The day has come upon us" replied the
young man, "aDd shall we not be equal to
its demand l am ready, and you are
ready also"
He spoke in a quick, inspiriting voice, for
he saw strength in the eyes of his mother,
and gathering trmness about her mouth.
Only little while longer was there strife
in the mind of Mrs Irwin; only little
while longer did old prejudices and foregone
conclusions battle with new convictions
only little while longer did shrinking nat.
ural fear stand in the way of duty.
A week later, and Mrs. Irwin held the
hand of her son in parting. How changed
he was In single week, he had seemed
to grow older by years. The firmly kni
mouth; the deep, steady eyes; the finely
erect figure; the already browning face
for he had been drilling in the open air fO
days; the brave, resolute bearing, were al
wonderful to look upon as the work Of 81
brief time. Is it strange that Mrs. IrwiI
was proud of her soldier boy? She held hi
hand in parting -.
"Do your duty, John, she said, in n
weakness of tone.
81 will, mother"
"Be brave"
81 will never turn my back upon the en-
emy."
HGod bless vou and keen vou nv son I