The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-02-12


fort has been abated-not privatisn en-.
durcd." s.s.....s +
Mr.. Hardrup lifted his brows in half sur
prise, rs he turned to look into his xife's
animated face. M I. i. & ~
And shall we fret and murmur because,
in the natura: effort at adjustment, when
things ars disturbed, something Of our abun-
dance goes to supply the lack in others p
Our case is very much better than that oil
Mr.. Spring. Home comforts have not only
been touched with him but his most pre-.
cious things are taken" s,g n.
What precious things r. Fhs voice Of
Mr.. IIardrup, though still cold, vas slightly
touched with interest.
"IIis children" -
"Oh!" The tone was softer.
"ThFee sons are in the army. l saw Mrs.
Spring for . few minutes, to-day. As you
suggested, l called At Goodyear's to order 4
garden hose. and met her there. What do
You think she Was Ibuyingi Three India
rubber blankets, tn send to her boys in camp.
Tears stood in her eyes as she talked with
me about them. Her Joseph, she said was
so young--not much over seventeen--and
never very strong boy. But, when his
brother enlisted. he could not be held back.
We could have prevented it, she said, but
had not the heart to do so. And then,
you know, the country must be saved and
only through battle can that now be done.
have given my children to God and their
country, and may never see them this side
Of Heaven again. Her ygice choled, and
she turned from me. All, my husband |! It
IS here that this war is felt. We are in Sc.
curity. Our house stands firm. The cloud
curtaining our sky is not thick enough to
hide the warning sunshine. The weight
which has fallen upon us is light-very light;
and shall we gsow impatient under the bur-
den? No, no, my husband! In accepting
our share Of this great calamity, let us be
thankful that It is so easy to be borne and
not only thankful, but ready to help others,
who are staggering in the way, and ready
to.fall. Don't let Mr. Spring move. Rather,
let him live rent free for year. Iwould
prefer having our horses and carriage sold,
to seeing that family disturbed. Why, now
that | think of it, John"-Mrs. Hardrup's
voice became earnest, almost to enthusiasm
sis itjust right for US to keep our carriage,
at an expense of four or five hundred dol
lars year, when we might use that sum in
so many ways, in aid Of the government p
Mrs. Hardrup stopped, suddenly. She felt
that she vas pressing her husband a little
too closely, and looked for some half angry
or impatient aswer. But Mr.. Hardrup, who
had dropped his eyes wbae his wife was
speaking, continued with them cast upon
the floor. He had two sons, boys oftwelve
and fourteen years Of aye, away from home.
at school, and his life was very much bound
up in them. As his wife spoke Of Mrs.
Spring and her sons, his thoughts went to
these bays, and he imagined them older by
. few years. How could he bear to see them
subjected to the discipline, hsrdships, and
privati0n of the camp, or set up as human
targets, to be shot at The father shivcred
in every nerve. fssa se,i.e7fyl
There was a silence for some minutes, and
still Mr.. Hardrup sat, looking at the ques-
tione which had disturbed him Eog . new
stand point, a#d loosing every moment
something of the selfish hardness by which
he hal been influenced a little while before
''You will not let Mr.. Spring move.' said
Mrs. Hardrup, in gentle, but serious voice,
breaking in upon her husbands abstracted.
state. -as 3 a..s4'
He raised hissyAs, and looked at her foe .
few mo,nents and then, without answering,
took sheet Of pa ,er, and wrote on it few
lines, with his pencil. gis
.Willthat dn ~ And he pushed tine wri-
ting tewsvds his wife. She read :--.iaaT sss.
"Pay what you can; but don't leave the
house. The man who has threesonsin this
war, is entitled to consideration. May you
receive'tt.ew a:lin safety, when the strife
f. oycr.n,o a'H3gb laigahi2ul gh 'alg
"That viii do, John" she replied, a. she
rose up hastily, and, passing to the other
side Of the table, bent down and kissed him.
81 wtuld rather have this note from your
hands, than the costliest gin ID your power
to make me.'.s .YG fssJsfso siaiEoG TX
An aatcrior calmness, j peaces ana salts.
faction, different in kind from anything Mr..
Hardrup had ever experienced, came down
upon his spirits. That last sentence. from
the lips Of his wife, as she stood, With her
warm breath still upon his cheek, was very
grstsfh to his feelings -mcrs precious, hs
felt, than silveror gold. ~ 4 i iaiffF gaiEg
II would send Il around this evening"
said SIrs Hardrup n S5T lc aiJsiiooI f3
Mr.. Hardrup folded the note. slipped it
into an envelope, and, after directing Il, called
! servant, and told him to deliver II 1t once.
"Hark How violently that bell did
ring Piss sagsa,a sg1af y e.'s
They sat expectant. ,Eit a5ae seatss isst
4 ,0Wh0 Il n Samaa -, II ~ A 3 st.sst 81.