Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1862-10-31

lated, and taken as thing of course
But this FIVE hundred dollars gifted to
our country in her time Of pressing need
freely as it was bestowed, left me with a
feeling of exhaustion, as though weak
ened by an effort greater than my
strength.
No wonder, such being the case, that
T talked rather more than was seeml y of
what | had done. We have in our town
an excellent but plain-spoken man,
who, his life, being one of the strictest
integrity, does not stand in fear of any
body's opinion. He is not rough or
obtrusive man, but as have said, plain
spoken, free from guile and fattery
You can hardly converse with hin FOR
ten minutes without knowing yourself a
little better than when you began the
conversation. His name is Preston.
awe have done our part 1 said to
him as we stood together in the street
one day. We had been speaking of the
war, and the necessity of supporting the
government to the full extent Of its
needs. I referred, in saying tour part, " to
the various contributions in men and
money which the people in our particu
lar locality had made, and especially to
the late subscription, which footed up
three thousand dollars Three thou
sand dollars, of which I had. given a
sixth part. [ could not fail in this re-
mem brance.
Yes, and nobly," he answered, with
glow Of enthusiasm, not often seen,
blooming in his quiet face. "Our people
have done nooly, not keeping back their
most precious things" -
's.Fhree thousand dollars is liberal
sum-" said.
eyes" His voice dropped little.
"And Of this sum two men gave a
third" It pressed for utterance, and 1
was weak enough to let it forth.
Mr.. Preston did not answer-'sAnd
are you one of them" "No," but said
in voice that still lower until it ex-
pressed a sentiment of reverence "There
is one in our midst who has given more
than these two men, hundred fold
But the name is not down on any sub
scription paper
sMore precious than silver and gold
Yes, there are things more precious
than silver and gold," and l understood
Mr.. Preston to refer to human life and
human love. Shame touched ME; stood
silent and rebuked.
Come" said lie, "walk with me into
the next street little way. 1t is we'll
for US to comprehend these questions Of
sacrifice and patriotism in all their bear
ings The danger with US is that we
magnify our OWN burdens and loyalty,
and in doing so fail to award the honor
thut is due to others. 5-z,+'
I did not answer but in silence went
with Mr.. Preston iuto the next street.
1t was one in which the poor dwelt.-
Small houses, a few neat and with taste
full shrubbery about the doors, but most
of them miserably neglected and forlorn,
stood Oh each side for distance of three
or four squares. My visits to this part
of the town were Of rare occurrence
1t was not pleasant to gaze upon, and I
avoided it. All looked poor and mean,
now as my eyes ranged along the street,
and questioned with myself as to
whittier was going, and to what end.
''The widow who cast in all her living
gave more than those who, Of their abun-
dance, poured gold and silver into the
treasury" My companion broke the ST.
lence with these words as we paused at
the door OF "a small story and half cot
tage, around which every thing was clean.
and in order, but plain and poor. His
knock was not loud, but low and re-
spectful. I dld not answer his remark,
but stood beside him in vague expec-
fancy. A child of ten years opened the
door and looked up into our faces curl
ously. L saw that she recognized MIR.
Preston, but no smile lit up her young
face
GLOW is your mother to day?" was
asked
Not very we'll. Won't you walk in?"
"No, thank you, my dear; L only
stopped to inquire about your mother
Is she able to sit up?'
eyes, sir. She sat up most all day
yesterday, and sewed part of the time
And she's up again to day. Won't you
come in? May ybe she d like to see you"
''Not this morning; I'll call around
again. Say that Mr.. Preston called
I'm glad that she is better. Good bye"
Good bye, Sir" felt the low, almost
choaking futter of the child's voice
away down in my heart; my eyes were
dim as l turned away. What did it
mean?
"She has given most Of all" said my
companion, as we walked away.
.~"What has she given?' .~-.a-
'Her husband" g..
s'He is in the army %
s'He is dead"
"What Dead ?"
"Killed in BATTLE I stood still.
''In battle?' ..
eyes. Three weeks ago the news
come. He rests with the slain at New
bern"
"Who, and what was he?" I asked,
rallying myself, for I felt an overpow-
ering sense of weakness.
"a sober, industrious mechanic;
good husband and good father I saw
his wife on the day after his march into
the regiment that went from here six
months ago. The parting had tried her
severely, but she was brave with it all,
and full Of noble hereism He is
strong and courageous, and will do his
duty she said to me; and the country
must have such men. | could not cling
to him weakly and in tears, as some
wives did to their husbands, and hold
him back when his heart and conscience
bade him go. He is in Gods hands,
Men die at home of sickness as well as
in hattie T truSt in Cod Hor avos