The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1862-08-28
HAS THY DAY Is, so SHALL THY
STRENGTH BE.'
BY T, s. ARTHUR.

War! The very word sent shudder
TO the heart of Mrs. Irwin From a child
up, it had been associated in her mind
with all that was horrible and wicked
10 become a soldier seemed, to her per
ception Of the case, to involve a cruel in
stinc.. She saw no glory in the profess
ion Of arms Toy drums and swords
were never seen in the hands Of her ch IL
dreu, except through the unwelcome a.
yency of aunis, uncles, or friends; and
they were, in those cases, soon removed,
with sober homilies on their bad signi6
cance.
81 will teach my children" she wonld
say 'sto love their enemies, not to hate
and destroy them to be ever on the side
of peace and goodwill 10 mankind,
not on the side Of hatred and destruc-
ton" .".r1. it+ F
Mrs. Irwin read tracts and books pub
lished by peace societies and in the argu.
ment against war crowded her mind with
facts, statistics and reasons to degree
that made her formidable debater on the
non combative question, with almost ev-
cry one that happened to be drawn into
an argument. 1t was useless to talk with
her about the undying antagonism be
tween good and evils, and the necessity
Of external as we as internal comba's; o
national regeneration through the baptism
of blood, Of stable peace only throngl
the destruction ,oi enemies. She denied
the position All wars were wrong, she
contended, aud might be avoided. -.
Not in anything had Mrs Irwin swerv
ed from her peace principles, up to the
, period when Sumter fell. But that even
was like throwing, suddenly, into. strong
smooth current a broad obstruction. He
whole being was tumult. She caugb
for breath like one in danger of suioea
ton. Shs felt as though the firm founda
tiops on which she had been stand
ing for years were crumblug under he
feet. Mrs, Irwin loved her country anC
.tevered ns flag; and this assault upon ,th
ane5 and desecraIion OF the other, fire.
her soul with indignation; and when he
oldest boy, Tot yet in his twenty hTs
YEAR said to her with clenchsd hands an'
flashing eyes: ,,r r. ~.
"MGther. this must he svengedl" sh
did not answer. but sat with pale lips an
face, looking at him 10 such tronble an
bewilderment ofmind that nc thoughts b'
came coherent enough for words, until h
added, az he drew his slender form to il
utmost height, "And there is on
a ready" ,n1 ai'fat 4.e,a,
..., ',johul Johul" fell in weak remor
strauce from Mrs. Irwin. "Dont spea
sol don't let murderous spirit bear 80
away" 'io.''
-.,r '.Don't say murderous." replied Il
Boy, with 80 much oil rebuke in his tor
that his mother answered quickly,
,n-' ga spirit Of revenge. then. job
Vengeapce is mine, saith the Lor
and I will repay it," .cyt. NV
"Molherl shall we tamely submit to s.
this nation destroyed, and its flag, whi(
has been houored throughout the wor
for eighty years, shot at, rent, and trar
pied -upohl" The boys eyes gleam
dercoly. "For one, / say mol And
nave mlstakeu my mObhor o ho"It ~ hoo
not echo back the word. ! do not forg
rhe hsscn you taught me years ago, th
love Of couatry is next to love Of Go
And il we love San object purely, wlll
not defend it when assailed? nay, even
down our lives in It's protec.ionr'
In spite ofall her peace principles, a
horror Of war, there flowed into the mi
Of Mrs.Irwin such q feeling Of adnirati
for this out.spoken patriotism OF her q
that even lie read pride and approval
har humid eyes, ,.,,.,.,' ,p,s,..,,-.
.nWsr.is an,Awfal thing, john" 81
Mrs. Irwin. * sBgssat .sasJssti,g ba
81 ssti"I know IL, mother. But there
verse things than war; and that wo
thing is at our door. You understa