Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1862-02-21

the finely erect figure; the already
browning face, for he had been drilling
in the open air for days; the brave, res
olute bearing, were all wonderful to
look upon as the work of so brief time
Is it strange that Mrs. Irwin was proud
of her soldier boy9 She held his hand
in parting:
"Do your duty, John" she said, in no
weakness of tone. $3.50
81 will, mother
"'Be brave ...- ......
II will never turn my back upon the
enemy"
"God bless you and keep you, my
sonF Mrs. Irwin's eyes filled now,
and her woman's heart trembled in her
voice.
Il shall be in his hands just the
same, mother"
''I know it John; and if death comes
to you"
Mrs Irwin broke down. She could
not finish the sentence.
sit will be through His permission.
Are not even the sparrows in His keep
ing?" said John calmly. "How much
more human souls"
They parted. Very pale for all of
that day and the next was Mrs. Irwin. But
her bearing was firm If her heart was
troubled, it was not weak. She was u
wonder to herself.
Truly, it is so," she would repeat
| over and over again, in her thought;
'.as our day 10, SO shall our strength
| be-"
To an intimate friend she said
81 sometimes ask myself if l am not
dreaming. Can it be possible that my
son is soldier, and in the face of the
enemy; and that he is there with my
eonsent?
"Would you have him back?" asked
the friend.
A quick change, as of surprise, was
seen for moment in the face of Mrs.
Irwin; then she answered, calmly
"No; I yield him to his country"
"He looked so brave and manly"
said the friend. aD.
A glow Of pride came into the moth
er's face.
b "And seemed" was added, to "com-
prehend so clearly the issues at stake
1t was no murderous thirst for blood;
no love of excitement and change that
filled his heart; but that true patriotism
which is the mind, and gives it the
courage to meet death in defense of
Country and Right. / honor you, my
friend, in being the mother of such a
son."
How strangely pleasurable were the
pulses that leaped away from the heart
of Mrs. Irwin. This praise of her son
was very sweet.
Weeks passed. With what an absorb
ing interest did Mrs. Irwin watch the
progress of events. Once, she turned
with an instructive repugnance from all
accounts of military movements and
battlcs; but now she had no, taste for
anything else. The whole country was
spread out like map in her mind, and
every strategetic poiut, with it's camps
and soldiers strongly marked. The
marshaling Of troops, their movements,
strength and positions were now famil-
lar things; and her heart beat high with
pleasure at every triAing success, or
veiled itself with shadows when even
the smallest reverse was sustained
With what an irrepressible impatience
did she look for the regularly coming
letters from her son; and with what a
proud satisfaction did every detail of
his new life that showed courage, en-
durance and self-denial. She felt that
he was true soldier, and, therefore,
she was very, very proud of him.
Then news came that the regiment in
which her son was serving had made an
advance upon the enemy's lines; that
some severe skirmishing had taken,place
and that an engagement was imminent
A sudden fear shook the nerves of Mrs.
Irwin. Even as she read of the advance,
a bloody battle might be going on, and
her son be among. the dead or dying.
The hours of sleeplsss suspense that
went by until the news of victory was
flashed over the country, we will not
venture to describe. N any were killed
and many wounded With breathless
eagerness she devoured their names, and
as with white lips and starting eyes, she