Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-10-23
Captain Charley.
80 think how in yon sleeping town
Such happy mothers be,
Who keep their many sons at home,
While IL had but thee, "

" lAD hNNb tAlblA llAtlllJ oDlAo ~ llblllNy
While II had but thee"
There was sunshine in the room, an
the breath Of flowers, A golden throat
ed bird trilled notes Of gushing, musica
joy to the roses and heliotropes in tn
window below him. 1t did not soun,
like the song of a Gagged bird. Perhap
the sweet odor stealing up to him from
the blossoms, the sunshine on his colder
wings, stirred some slumbering bir,
memory of his, and made him think h,
was at home again in the summer isl,
round which the purple sea breaks mur
murously, and where the roses bloom al
the year. The furniture was light ant
graceful. The carpet was gay. Moth
ing was sad there but the two faces
mother and son.
They had been talking long and earn.
estly. Then for while they had sat in
silence, which the son, Charley Wayne,
was the first to break
If you were poor, mother, and really
needed me, ! would stay at home with
out saying n word
My heart is poor-my heart needs
you. You are my all. For the rest, If
it will keep you, l win sell all I have
and give to the poor and you shall stay
and work for me-.
Charley looked up at her with eyes
"hose meaning Away stirred her soul,
for they were the eyes Of her youths
love. Over those eyes grew the roses
and yiolets Of that same June Of 1862.
What would father have said, moth
er !"
The question found its mark. She
well knew whence came her sons quick
courage, his eyes OF earnest meaning,
bis heart true R5 steel, warm as summer.
II father we're living, he would not have
been the last to follow the bugle call.
Yet she did not want to utter her own
sentence of doom. She did not speak
for little while. She seemed to see
again the face OF her lost loye--to hear
his voice, which had through the years
of their life together been guide at once
and comfort. She almost seemed to hear,
in the stiIl summer air, the downward
swoop Of wings, and to feel upon her
brow touch of peace and healing. She
looked up again at Charley. How
strong he was-handsome, noble, brave,
Just the stuff Of which heroes are made.
Had she any right to deprive the good
cause of the blows that stout right arm
could strike? After all what were peace
and security, which only the sacrifice of |
the right could purchase? If this life
were all-but when the words spoken
here must echo through the everlasting /
space, when the deeds done here must
make or mar the life that never ends, |
could ever love and loneliness make her
so weak as to purchase the present with
the future She looked at Charley still,
but she could not see him for the tears
gathering in her soft, motherly blue eyes.
Father would say go she whisper
ed, 'and | must say what father would,
must not? l must prove myself worthy
to have been his wife, But he is dead,
and if l should o5eyou also, oh ! whom
have left?
God ?
Did Charley speak, or was it the voice
Of a strong angel calling down from the
eternal heights| 2
Mrs. Wayne bowed her head reverr
emily, silenced by that word, by the
thought Of the love beyond hope or long
ng which might be hers if she would.
She dared not again call herself alone
n the universe. She only put out her
lahd slehtly' ana Chariey took 1t.
never fear, mother All who fight
10 not ian' shall come back to you,