Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-08-27
THE SOLDIERS MOTHER.

ghanies stands a small log house, which once
held large famiIy-John Riley, the father
Susan Riley, the mother; and children, John,
Susan, James, Patrick, Sedwick and little
Bess Bred to hard living, there was not one
in all that little hutfuII Of light souls who
would shrink to face a catamount, or a bear,
or an Indian, or find fault with hard bread
and cold quarters.
At the breaking out Of the war, the father,
John, James and Patrick enlisted-the last
as drummer-boy. Sedwick cried to 90, but
was told, to his great Gref and indignation,
that he would have to wait and grow, as he
was only twelve years Old, and about three
feet two The wife and mother had as big a
heart as anybody, and there can be no ques-
ton but that heart gave sharp twinge when
sold John" and the boys left her; but she,
nevertheless, declared that she would have
gone herself if they hadn't. They might 90,
and God speed to them, for there was no help
for it, and as for her, she had not doubt
whatever but that it was decreed from the
foundation Of the world that she should be
left to carry on their business, which was
farming md shoemaking, according to the
season, all alone, just as she was. And she
could do it, if worse came to WorSe-she was
sure of that.
So half the Riley family went from the log
house to the war, and half stayed at home
Susan took care OF what little there was in
doors, and the mother, according to her state
ment, "took care of all outdoors" with Su-
sans help whenever she was off duty, and
with Sedwick's always. Little Bess was
unanimously voted good for nothing yet but
to keep bread and cheese from moulding
Mrs. Riley plowed the glcbe with the old one
horse pillow, with SedwIck to ride. Mrs. Riley
planted 1t with corn and potatoes, with Sed-
wick to drop them for her; and when hocing
time came, she and Susan hoed it, while Sed-
wick did the best he could at pulling weeds
and Bcss ran actively and nolseIessly about,
picking up angle worms and treading on the
hills.
The season wore round thus and still the
indetatigaolc industry Of Mrs. Riley kept APP
pearances very much as they were. The cow
shed had several windows, perhaps, not left
by the carpenter, and the cow herself show
ed hide OF hair that pointed several ways
but appearances were, If the truth was known
not 50 much against Mrs. Biley's management
after all. SAID COW and coW-shCd had never
been kept III state Of perfect repair. The
hens ana turkeys always took care of them
selves, and OF course they looked as well as
ever. The old horse, habitually light in flesh,
may have betrayed his ribs a tribe palmer,
and possibly the pig WAS a shaving less fat :;
but let nothing be said about tribes where
the only wonder is that the woman, left by
her husband and three sons, should keep her
family together at all, and, much more cult
vate her farm. When conscriptiOn goes
through our towns and cities sweeping every
ab.e-bodied man away, we shall then see how
many there are like her.
With all this outdoor labor, Susan Riley
did not SO far forget 1.-The shop" as to Justify
taking down of the old shinglc:
Doors & SHUs MED 4 MINDED HER"
When customers came and left work before
they knew that John was gone, she continued
to do it, and did it so well that they kept
on bringing and the good woman had all she
could do with her cobbIing and farming to-
gethcr, you may be sure.
Meantime she kept informed tOlcrably well
of the movements Of her husband and BOYS,
for though all of them were but indifferent
writer's, she depended on Susan to decpher
the letters when they came, for not word
could she read of good or bad writing-yet
they made up in frequency and pith what
they lacked III penmanship and rhetoric.-
Their regiments did duty most of the wear in
Western Virginia. The RiIeys had enlisted
in two rcgiments-thc father and Youngest
son III one, and John and James in the other,
and it Jared with them about alike
In October letter come from John bearing
IN rustic but touching phrase, bad news min
gled with good:
CAMP GREENE RIDG SEP TWENTY
Dear Muther-A Crate battles ben fit & wev beat
but mother that amt all the 49th got cut M wustn
Wee aid y fathers ded donno nuther whatli be-
cum poor little pat fur they say hes wundid to
put cant GIT leVe to go seem him Y weer ordird
to march to morrer at o'clock wuth . days rash
uns God help US coodnt ye cum mother to find
pat leeve Su long with the childrun o mother
wars terrhul thing anihow but father dyd in the
thick the fife jist as may be God bless We moth
er cum II We can lims well and sends love
yure JouN
There was enough of natural affection in
that rough Riley family-deep, genuine down
right tore. If one member possessed it more
than any Of the rest, it was the mother
Bluntly and coarsely as she always talked and
hard-tcatured as she was to look upon. no
poetess ever had richer vein of human SEN
timcnt than Mrs. Riley, and Florence Night
ingale herself could not handle a case of az
gravated distress moro tenderlv than She
The news of her husbands death came with
a sudden stroke that almost felled her to the
floor. But she bore it braveIv till her work
was done for that day, and let the Younger
eyes shed the tears.
Bess, who was sobbing bitterly, with Susan
and Sedwick, over a grief she could not un-
derstand; but the pale, thin lips of the moth
er did not move.
In the middle of that night, long after
sleep had stolen over the childrens sorrow.
Susan was awakened by groan. She started
up, and found her mother sitting in the bed.
white, in the harvest moon that shone through
the one window, as a shrouded CORPSE.
Light the candle, SUSAN she heard her
whisper, and then the terrified girl obeved,
and inquired, hurriedly, if she should bring
the camphor or heat some water Mrs. Riley
shook her head, and said, family
Get the Testament and read"
Susan got the book, and asked where she
should read.
''No matter much. Open somewhere in
the middle"
And kneeling by the bed, with the candle
in her hand, the younger daughter read, with
trembling voice and Simple, unleaned en-
phasis LET not your heart be troubled We
believe in God; believe also in Me. In my
Fathers house are many mansions; if it were
not so, | would have told you. | go to pre-
pare place for you
A low, faint cry from the bosom of the
suffering woman, and the girls voice was
drowned in the stormy, convulsive sobs that
shook the next instant through the strong
frame of Mrs. Rily, as if they would rend it
asunder.
The deep waters were loosed, and boarded
tears of half lifetime now seemed to flow
forth in one gush of irresistible sorrow By
and by the paroxysm passed, and she rose
from her bed breathing long, deep breaths,