Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-02-13
'Ghuife Mistellamg.
l776--T The Altar of Liberty.
BY mrs. STOWE.

Dick sprang, and had the table out in
trice with an abundant clatter, and put up
the leaves with quite an air. His mother,
with the silent and gliding motion character
istic of her. quietly took out the table cloth
and spread it, aud began to set the cups and
saucers in order, and TO put on the plates and
knives, while Aunt Hitty hustled about the
tea. 49,. a . "a, -.i..,..
"rll be glad when the war is over, for one
reason" said she. "I'm pretty much tired
of drinking sage tea, for one, | know"
"Wcll, Aunt Hitty, how you scolded
that peddler last week that brought that
real tea r..s.. ~. ....
ITO be sure did. Suppose I'd be taking
any Of his old tea, bought of the British
Fling every teacupi in his face first ~ E.
"Well, mother" said Dick. II never ex-
actly understood what it was about the tea,
and why the Boston folks threw it over
board. :" ...,...4 ....,o.. ..r...-
because there was an unlawful tax laid
upon it that the government had no right to
lay. 1t wasn't much in itself, but it was a
part of whole system of oppressive meas
ures designed to take away our rights and
make US slaves Of fbreign power" ..a
.Slaves, said Dick, strengthening him.
be dyterly in, '.Fashef. . slsys!'
arf},e wat.,ysyS would not be slaves. They
hes I Y clearly where it would all end, and they
.sa. .ould not begin to submit to it in ever SO
,,.ilttle," said the mother : .s -
/ ), "And / wouldn't eitherif Twas they" said
Dick. IN.
Besides" said his mother, drawing him
towards her, ut WASH t for themselves alone
they did it, This is a great country, and il
will be greater and greater, and it is very
i Important that it should have free and equa
laws, because it will by and by be 80 great
This country if it is a free one will be d light
of the world-a city set on hill that canno!
be hid, and all the oppressed and distressed
4 from other countries shall come here and
enjoy their rights and freedom. This, dea
boy, is why your father and uncles have
gone to fight, and while they do stay am
fight through, God knows what they vii
suffer, and the large blue eyes Of th'
mother we're full cf tears, yet a strong bean
. of pride and exultation shone through thos
tears. .-...,..s, .l,,,..
swell, well, Roxy, you can always tall
!, everybody knows" said Aunt Hitty, VIII
{ had been not the least attentive listener Of
! this little patriotic harangue, but you Sc
J the tea is getting cold, and yonder see III
q, sleigh is at the door, and John has come
so let us set up the chairs for supper"
The chairs were soon set up, when Johr
= the eldest son, a lad of about fifteen, entere
with letter. There was one general el
clamation, and stretching out ofhands t
wards it. John threw it into his mother
lap; the tea table was forgotten, aud the te
}, kettle sang unnoticed by the fire, as all hant
crowded about mothers chair to hear Ii
IT. news. It was from Captain Ward, then
:, the American Army at Valley Forge.
Mrs. Ward ran over it hastily, and the
read IL aloud. A few words We may e.
tract: -
y | have given away pair of ofst0ckings you So
me, reserving to myself only. pne;l for W
not be one whit better than heipoorest e
! der who fights for his country. Poor II
, lows! II makes my heart ache sgmetim
3. to 70 round among them, and see them wi
Is worn clothes and thin shoes, and often blee
ts- Ling feet, ,iyet cheerful and hopeful, and eve
lone willing to do bis very best. Often, t
-lspirit of discouragement comes over thel
tparticularly At night, when weary, cold, q
- hungry, they turn into theiI Icomfortless hl
IS on the snowy ground. Then sometim
there is thought of home, and warm tir
, and sohe speak Of giving up. But the ne
lmorping out comes Washington's gene
| IOfdef6-d livuc SpOrt tioue, uut ~ Wonuor
= Ithe good 1t does !Land they all resolve
. hold on, come what may. If they come
}. tyot,, need not tell you what TO do.
- 1 know all that will be III your hearts,
| '9"There, children, see what your fatl
SUFFERS" said the mother. "sand what it CO
. these poor soldiers to gain our liberty" 6
n "Ephiram Scranton told me that the CO
missioners had come as far as the TIL
q Miles Tavern, and that he rather spec
psi they'd be along here tonight "lsaid Jo
Il Z as he was helping around the baked be
vi to the silent company at the tea table.
% ssT6-niehtY Do tell Lowl" said Al
= Hitty dsyIheh it's time we were awake
" stirring bet 4 see what can be got.n'
2 s"Iill send my new overcbht for one, "s 1
/, John, l'.That old one isaht cut up yet
= 7Aurs Hittyf", 90, esoneod 10 s1s
rofl IoNo," said Aunt Hitty, ~ was layin
s,.: Dat to cut over next Wednesday, W
= ' Desire Smith. could be here to do the tai
4 Einc.i,as9or n9sd ben stti9nsi9g1 os1hi ili
! '~ssThsts,s the South roc,h, ~ said "A
u Hitty, musing that he'd has the two
4. al Aunt Ward 3 b3abkets Cd it, and the 4