The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-06-18

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the question, aud colored just little
as she glanced up at her mother.
You lock sober"
"Do l?" Katie forced herself to
answer.
eyes"
Perhaps feel so.'' Then, after a
pause she added, don't think this
kind Of work is very favorable to high
spirits. can't belp thinking of Frank
and Willy. Poor boys! Are they not
soldiers 2"
"Dear, brave boys 70 said the mother
with feeling. eyes they are soldiers
true soldiers, / trust.
But what a change for them,
mother! Home life and camp life
could anything be more different ?'
Lilies highest enjoyment is in the
mind Katie. They are doing their
duty, and that consciousness will more
than compensate for loss of ease and
bodily comfort. How cheerfully and
bravely they write home to us! No
complaining : no looking back = no
coward fears! What thrill passed
over me as | came to the closing words
of WHY'S last letter: "For my God
and my country first and next for yon,
my darling motherr' And the words
thrill me over and over again, as
think of them with new and deep
emotion"
Katie turned her face little further
away from her mother, and bent little
lower over her knitting. Often had
the contrast between the spirit of her
brothers = boys still = and that OF
George Mason presented itself; now it
stood ont before her in sharp relief.
AS she sat, working in sience-for she
did not respond to her mothers last re
mark-her thoughts went back in re-
view. She counted over well remeui-
bered sentiments which Mason had Ut.
tered in her presence, and saw in them
lukewarmness, if not downright indif
ference TO the great issues at stake, felt
betore-now preceived distinctly. Her
father talked of scarcely anything but
the state OF the country George found
many themes of interest outside of this
absorbing question, and when he did
converse on matters of public concern
it was with so little of earnestness and
comprehensive intelligence that she al
ways experienced feeling of dissatis-
faction.
The light tone of ridicule with which
he had treated Katie's declaration that
she was going to knit stockings for the
soldiers hurt her at the time, for her
mind was in glow of earnest eDthusi-
asm, aud The pain that followed quick
ened all her PERCEPTIONS. The incident
pushed young Mason back from the
very near position in which he had for
some time stood, and gave Katie All
opportunity to look at him with less
embarrassment and more discriminat
ing inspection. Before there had been
strong sphere of attraction when she
thought of him; now she was sensible
of the counteracting repulsion. Ian
guage that seemed to mean little when
spoken, remembered now had marked
significance.
1t was observed by both Mr.. and
Mrs. Maxwell that Katie was unusually
absent minded at tea time. MIR. Max
well talked about national affairs, as
was his custom, and Katie listened at
tentively, as was her wont. Among
other things he said:
{" In love of country-which involves
an unselfish regard for the good of all
in the country, every virtue is included.
The man who is not true patriot cam
not be good citizen, nor a true Chris
tian; for love of country is that vessel
in the natural mind into which flows a
love of Gods Kingdom; and he who
loves and seeks to establish that which
is highest as Gods universal kingdom
in the earth, helps TO establish all that
is lowest. In. times like these, when
our national existence is threatened by
a force of giant multitude and intense
purpose-when all that we hold dear as
a people is threatened with destruction
there must be in any man who can
look Oh quietly and take his ease, who
can be !ukewarm, and put even straws
as hindrances IN the way of any pairi-
otic end, however bumbly exhibited, a
leaven selfishness So vital with its own
mean life that it will pervade the whole
aud give its quality 10 every
section. hold such men-and they
are all around us-at distance. /