The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1863-09-09
SWIFT selistrllanp.
THE ALTAR OF LIBERTY.
SEVENTEEN sEyENTY-sIX.

The following little story has been float
ing about; it has nothing in it to please the
fancy; 10 rhymes, no wcll-turned phrases;
but it is rich i'll the right spirit; spirit, We
verify believe, that belongs as inuch to 1863
as it did to l176.
We print it for the soldiers, the womcns
and the chidrcn's sake, and we beg them
all to read it; to think how little they of the
Revolutionary days had to fight for, and for
how much it is ours to do battle. The lit
tie plant has become a mighty tree, and we
have all sung under its shade.
Let us all do something it much or
little-cheerfully heartily, that we may say
with little Grace There's been something
put on the altar of Liberty to-day"
Dick sprang, and had the table out III a
trice, with an abundant clattcr, and put up
the leaves with quite an air His mothcr
with the silent and gliding motion charac-
teristic of her, quietly took out the table
cloth and spread it, and began to set the
saucers and cups in order, and to put on the
plates and knives, while Aunt llitty bustlcd
about the tea.
an be glad when the wars over, for one
reason, said she, I'm pretty much tired of
drinking sage tea, for one, knew"
"Well. Aunt llitty, how you scolded that
real tea J"
80 be sure did Suppose Id be taking
any of his old tea, bought of the British ?
Fling every tea-cup in his face first"
"Well, mother" said Dick, Il never cx-
actly understood what it was about the tea,
and why the Boston folks throw it all over
board"
because there was an unlawful tax laid
upon it that tho Government had no right
to lay. 1t wasn't much in itself; but it was
part of whole system of oppressive
meanness, designed to take away our rights,
and make us slaves of a foreign power"
"Slaves!" said Dick, drawing himself up
proudly; father asavc"
"But they would not be slavesl They
saw clearly where it would all end, and they
would not begin to submit to it ever so lit
tie" said the mother
~ wouldn't, if were they" said Dick.
Besides" said his mother, drawing him
toward her, sit wasn't for themselves alone
they did it. This is great country, and it
will be greater and greater; and it is very
important that we shall have free and equal
laws, becaUse by and by it will be so great,
This country, if it is free one, will be the
light of the worid-a city set on hill, that
can not be hid and all the oppressed and
distressed irom other countries shal come
here to enjoy equal rights and freedom.
Phis, dear boy, is why your father and UNI
cles have gone to fight, and why they do
stay and fight, though God knows what they
suffcr'-and the large blue eyes of the
mother were full of tears; yet strong,
bright beam of exultation and pride shonc
through those tears.
"Well, well, Roxy, you can always talk,
everybody knows" said Aunt Hitty, who
had been tho least attentive listener Of this
little patriotic harangue; "but you see the
tea is getting cold, and yonder | sec the
sleigh is at the door, and Johns come; SO
let us set up our chairs for supper"
| The chairs were soon set up; when John
the eldest son, a lad of about fifteen, entered
with letter, There was one general ex-
clamation, and stretching Of the hand to-
ward it. John threw it into his mothers
| lap; the tea-table was forgotten, and the
tea-kettle sang unpoticcd by the fire, as all
hands crowded about mothers chair to hear
the news. 1t was from Captain Ward, then
in the American army at Valley Forge.
Mrs. Ward ran it over hastily, and then