Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1862-09-02

dollars, Of which had given. a sixth mar,
could not fail in his remembrance
Yes, and nObly," he answered. with a
glow OF enthusiasm, not often seen, bloom
ing his quiet face. Our peopIs have dine
cious things" '-'''' PIC
l said SUM-
Yes" His voice dropped little
And OF this sum two men gave a third !"
IL pressed for utterance and | was weak
enough to let it forth.
Mr preston did not suswer-"And are
you one of them" No. but SAID in a voice
tnat still fell lower and lower, until il ex-
pressed sentiment of reverence. '.There
Is one IN our midst who has given more
than these two MEMS hundred Ed. Bat the
name IL not down upon any substitution
paper"
More precious than silver aud gold i
Yes, there are things more precious than
silver and gold and [ understood Mr.
Preston to refer to human life and human
love. Shame touched me, and stood eli,
lent and rebuked.
"Corne." said he, walk with me into
the next street only little way. 1t isweIl
Tor US to comprehend these questions of sue
,ifice and patriotism in all their bearings.
The danger with US all that we magnify
our own burdens and loyalty, and in doing
so fail to award the honor that is due To
others"
Ibid not answer, but in silence vert
with Mr.. Preston into the next street. 1t
was nne in which the poor dwelt Small
houses, few neat, and with tasteful shrub
berry about the doors, but most of them
m'serablv neglected and forIern, stood ON
each side for distance three or four
square. My visits to this part Of the town
were of rare occurauce. 1t was not pleas
ant to gaze upon, and avoided All looked
poor and mean, now as my eyes ranged
along the street, and questioned with my
self as to whittier | was going, and to what
cad
The widow who cast in all her living
gave G,ore than those who, of their abunc
dance, poured gold and silver into the
treasury" My companion broke the silence
with these words as we PAUSED al the door
eta small! story and a halt cottage, around
which everything was clean and in order.
but plaiL and poor. His knock was not
loud but low and respectful did not an
swer his remark. but stood beside him in a
vague-expectaney. A child of ten years
opened the door, and looked up into our
faces. l saw that she recognised Mr..
Patterson, but no smile lit up her young
face.
How is your mother to-day?" was
asked.
Not very well. Won't you walk
inn"
No, thank you. my dear, only stopped
to inquire about your mother, Is she able
to sit up?"
Yes. sir. She sat up most all day yes-
terday and sewed part of the time. And
she's ny egaiu to-day. Won't you come
IN? Maybe she'd like to see YOU"
Not this morning; III call round
again. Say that Mr. Preston called. Pm
glad that she is better. Grod-bye"
Goodbye, Sir" | felt the low. almost
choking iutter of the cbild's voice away
down in my heart; my eyes were dim as /
turned away. What did 1t mean?"
She has given most of all" said nv
companion as we walked away."
What has she given?'
Her husband"
"lle is in the army?"
e is dead
what. Dead ?"'s ''ssEs
Killed in battle"
l stood still
In battl.?'
Yes. Three weeks ago the news came.
He rests with the slain at Fort Dunelson."
Wv no, and what was he?' | asked.
ral!ying myself fer fclt an oyerpowering
sense IF weakness.
IA sober, industrious mechanic a good
husband and good father | saw his
vile on the day after his march with the
, regiment that went from here six months
ago. The parting had tried her severely;
bot she was brave with it all, and full of
/ noble her0ism. "IIe is strong and cora
genuS; and will do his duty" she said To
me; land the country must have such
mtn. | could not cling to him weakly and
IN tears as some wives did 70 their hus-
bands, aud bold him back when his heart
and conscience babe him 60. lie is in Gods
/ hands. Men die at home Of sickness az
well as in battle. l trust in God" Her
eyes were full of tears as she spoke, and her
voice betrayed the fear aud sufferings that
were in her heart. "Ah, sir, neither you
or / will ever comprehend what that humble
wife endured in parting from a good hus-
band, on whose strong arm she had lean
I ed tor many years-ln parting from him
thus "
We walked on again, silen. for som me-
ments. How moan and poor seemed my
half-extorted gift-I say half-extorted, be-
cause there was really more of the being
seen of men than genuine patriotism in the
/ act-to the priceless contribution Of this
| poor woman. had signed check for i've
/ hundred dollars, that was all. n cOnsci-
! business 0f the draft of that check followed.
{ 4 \ e. Il g.. -. I
/ die not relinqush single pleasure; there
/ was nothing sacrificed excet love of money.
/ But she had given her husband !! She, yoor,
/ dependent on his life for the support OF her
I self and her children, had said when his
/ country called, Go And the sacrifice had
! been complete.
"The blow must have been terrible" l
/ said. Poor woman! This is indeed
sorrow"
"She staggered and FELL" was replied
'tFor week the struggle between life and
death was almost evenly balanced. Then
the slow reaction came, and the poor crush.
ed heart began to gather up its rent fbres,
and to string its quivering nerves for new
efforts and duties. The strong arm on
which she had leaned for so many years
was broken, and she must stand hencefCrth
alJne. How she faltsred and staggered
with uncertain steps at first For hours
! she would sit and weep. But slowly
strength came, aud now, you remember
the child's words, "she sat up most all day
yesterday, and sewed part Of the time"
A heavy burden has been laid upon her.
and she must walk henceforth with st0op-
ding shoulders and weary feet. Her own
hands must earn she food with which Der
children are fed and the garments with
which they are to be clothed Her toll and
her care are more than twice doubled and
! with them are the widows sOrrows. What
are my war burdens, what are you're, to
/ this All, sir, there is no room for com
] nlaint or hnGsting With us the iacrifice