Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1863-03-27
rHE SOLDIERS LETTER

When did you hear from Thomas p
A young lady had stopped at the door Of
small house, standing on the outskirts of
village in Pennsylvania, and asked this qnes
ton of a woman who sat working Oh a coarse
garment.
Iss more than two months since I've had
word from him. replied the woman, in a
half troubled half complaining tone. Thea
rising, she added, won't you come in, Miss
Annie?
The young lady accepted the Invitation, and
os she took the proferctl chair, said :;
Two months is a long time nos' to have
hcggr from your son, Mrs Rogers. Where is
he 2
.The last news had cpme from Williams
bls-g, plst after the battle. IFe seat ME three
or four ldes II, let n,e know that he wasn't
hurt
Aud you have heard nothing siUce ?
Nothing, Miss Annie. He mary be dead OF
prisoner, for all Know. Oh dear! Oh
dear rs worrying the life ont Of me-
When did y,u write to him last ? inquired
the young lady.
Mrs. Rogers moved uneasily, and shame
flush covered her face as She replied
i haven't taken pen in my fingers these
five years They're all cramped with hard
work, ard couldn't write fit to be seen
a single liue from your hand, blotted and
| SCREWED though it might have been, would
lave come to Thomas in his far away camp as
| a most welcome visitor from home. Think of
! his comrades getting letters every mail, while
| there came not a word or a token for him.
oh! but Miss Annie, I've sent him two
pair of stockings knit with my own hands,
and he's never so much as let me ksow he re-
ceived them
A letter should have accompanied them,
said the young lady. The stockings, is they
ever reached him, were but dumb sign; a
loving sentence, even if he had been obliged
to spell it out slowly from Informed words.
would have spoken to his heart, and warmed
it with living pleasure. Write to your son,
Mrs Rogers. Nothing you can send him.
will do Thomas half as much good as letter
from his mother. A single line will be pre-
eious Don't let him any longer have the feel
ing among his comrades, that be alone has nc
one TO care for him, or send him sweet remem
brancrs.'
L don't believe 1 can write, Miss Annie,
said Mrs. Rogers.
FRY Have you pen and ink p
No, Miss. As told you just now, have
nor Id pen in my fingers ;l!Ase FIVE years
and don't believe / gould compose lettt'
even if ! had skill to write it out
You must try, Mrs. Rogers. 1t will nevel
do in the world for Thomas to go any lOnge
. without letter from home. have a spar
iukstand, and will step around for it,
Ard the young lady arose, saying, as sh
went out:
I'm be back in little while, with pen, ink
/ and paper. Between US Thomas must have
Q letter
On Annie's return with the writing mater
Y ais, Mrs. Rogers, still reluctant to undertak
the uuaccustomed task of penning letter
sat down, half per force, and made sundr
awkward attempts to form words and senten
ces, by way of practice, before essaying th
epistlc, which her ardent young visitor ha
:, made up her mind should be produced an
. mailed to an absent soldier that day.
Very well done! OF course you ca
writer said Annie, 'encouragingly, as sh
watched the efforts of Mrs. Rogers. 30
on on take sheet of paper, and just think you al
talking 10 him. Write down whatever 20
would like to say, just as mufh about hom
ng of what is going on heTe as you,think, weul
:. interest him, as you can call to mind. TAX
cd your time 10 it, and don't feel hurried. |
come around again in the course of an hou
and see what you have done. Then we'll bot
= go over it, and I'll make all the correction
needed, so that you can copy it out fairly
s My word for it, there will be nice letter i
= Thomas, that will do bis heart good"
In az hour Annie came back, as she HI
promised. Mrs. Rogers had fiIled4tY pag
.ge Of paper with rather badly spelled sentence
but the matter was all right, Ear as it wei
Annie made alhneeded corrections, and th
waited until Mrs Rogers had copied the !
ter. which she folded and directed for her.
Shall I mail it for you P
: sIf you please, said Mrs. Rogers.
: And the young lady went away, taking
letter. Since learning that Thomas Roge
whom she very well remembered, had not OF
''O received a letter from his mother. although
had been absent over year, she had felt P
and concern for the young man, whom she
\ membered as little wild in his habits bef