The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-02-20
E77G-Tsle Altar Of liberty.
RY alHS. STOWE.

Dick sprang, and he had the table
out in a trice with an abundant CHATTER
and put up the leaves with quite a
air. His mother, with the silence anc
gliding motion characteristic OF her
GuietIy took out the table cloth and
spread ii, and began to set the cups
and saucers IN order, and to put on the
plates and knives, while Aunt Hltty
hustled about the tea.
"pll be glad when the wars over
for one person, said he. . m pref
" much tired OF drinking sage tea,tol
one, | know"
"WeI, Aunt Hitty, how you scold>
ed that peddler only last week, thai
he brought that real tea"
"To be sure | did. Suppose I'd be
taking any of his old tea, bought o.
the British? Fling every teacup II
his face first"
"WelI, mother, said Dick, | never
exactly understood what it was abou'
the tea, AM why the Boston folks tire"
it overheard.
Because there was an un'a"'at tax
laid upon it that the government had
no right to pay. Itwas'nt mGoh IN IT.
self, but it was a part Of \ whole Sys,
TEN of oppressive measures, designed
to take away our rights and make us
slaves of foreign power.
Slaves" said Dick, Strengthening
himself proudly. " Father slave"
&" But they would not be slaves,
They saw clearly where it wouli all
end and they would not begin TO SUD
nit to it ever so little, )" said the moth
e.
And l won INT if / was they,
said Dick.
"Besides,'' said his mother drawing
him towards her, 6 il wasn't Tor them
selves alone they did it. This is
great country and IL will be greater
and greater, and lis very important
that it should have free and equal laws
becaus. i. VIII by and by be 50 great
This country, If il Is 4 fee one, WIZ
be a light Of the World-a city set Oh
a hill that cannot be hid, and all the
oppre8spd and distressed of other Coun'
tries shall come here to ENJOY the equal
RIGHTS and freedom. This, dear boy,
is WHY your father and uncles have
cone to fight, and why they do stay
and fight though God knows how much
they suffer, and the large blue eye
of tie mother were tuIi OF tears, yet
a strong, bright beam Of price and eX-
niration shonc through those tears.
Wen, well, Roxy you can always
talk. everybody knows sad Aunt
Hit(y, who had not been the least at
tentive listener Of this little patriotic
harangue, . but you see the tea Is get
TING cold, and yonder | see the sleigh
is at the door and John has come, so
let us set up our chairs tor supper"
The chairs were soon set up, when
John, the eldest son, lad of about nj
teen, entered with a letter There
was one general exclamation aud
stretching out of hands towards It.
Jonn threw it into his mothers lap
the tea table was forgotten and the
tea kettle sang unnoticed by the fire,
as all hands crowded the mothers
chair to hear the news, 1t was from
Captain Ward, then in the American
army, at Valley Forge. Mrs. W ard
ran it over hastily,then read aloud. a
lew words we may extract:
There is STILL it Is said, "mucl
suffering. | have given away every
pair of stockings You sent me, reserv'
ING to myself only one for | will no
be one whit better than the poores
soldier who fights for his country
Poor fellows it makes my heart ache
sometimes to 90 round amongst them
and see them with worn clothes, ans
torn shoes, and often bleeding feet
vet cheerful and hopeful, and ever!
one willing to do his very best. OF
ten the spirit If discourage ltut come:
over them, particularly at night, #heI
weary, "ol4 and hungry, thcy tn;n III
to their c9mtor,les~ hats, oil the snowy
ground Then sometimes there is :
thought Of home, and warm fires, and
some speaking OF giving it up. But
next morning out comes " aShmgton'
general ord rs--iittlc short note, bu
it's wonderful The good it does ! anc
they all resolve to hold on come wha
may. There are commissioners golns
all through the country to pick up sup
ines. Ii they come 70 you; l neeg
ret tel! you WHAT t" 90 l kno" al
mat VIII be IN your i'a'la.
" There, children. sec "ha. your a
the suffers, sajd the mother, anl
what it costs these poor soldiers u
gain our liberty.
Ephrain 50 "uton TOT" me tha
me c.. conm'>si"ae. mad come as tar as
me I"tee -i:'e lay err, ana ne rathel
SPecLeI ihey d be along here tonight,
said Jo4n' Is he Helped around The
baked beans 10 the silent company ii
the tea table.