Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1863-11-12
THE SOLDIERS MOTHER.


the mother; and children JohI
Susan. James. Patrick, Sedgwick ar
little Bess. Bred to hard living, thel
was not one who would shrink to fat
catamount, or bear, or an Indisr
or End fault with hard bread and col
quarters.
Attbe breaking out of the war, III
father, John, James and Patrick enlist
ed-the last as drummer boy. Sedg
wick kcried-to 60, but was-told, to hi
great grief and indignation, that b
was only twelve years old, and sbou
three feet two. The wife and mothel
had as big heart as anybody, AMI
there can be no question but that be
heart gave a sharp twang when COX
John" and the boys left her; but sht
nevertheless, declared that she woult
have gone herself if they hadn't
They might go. and God speed tc
them, for there was no help for it; and
as for her, she had not a doubt what
ever but that it was decreed from The
foundation of the world tbat she should
be left TO carry on their business,
which was farming and shoeuasing, &C.
cording to the season, all alone, Just as
she was. And she could do it. if worse
came to worst-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 indoors, and the
mother, according TO ber statement,
''took care of all out DOORS" with Su-
sans help, whenever she was off duty,
and with Sedgwick's always. Little
Bess was unanimously voted good for
nothing yet, but TO keep bread and
cheese from moulding. Mrs. Riley
plowed the gleb with the old one.horse
plow, with Sedgwick to ride. Mrs.
Riley planted it with corn and potatoes,
with Sedgwick to drop them for her;
and when hoeiDg time came, she and
Susan boed it, while Sedgwick did the
best he could at pulling weeds, and
Bess ran actively and noiselessly about,
picking up angle worms and treading
on the hills.
The season wore round thus, and
still the indefatigable industry Of Mrs.
Riley kept appearances very much as
they were. The cowshed had several
windows, perhaps not left by the car.
penter, and the COW herself showed a
hide Of hair that pointed several ways;
but appearances were, if the truth was
known, not so much against Mrs.
Riley's management after sll. Said
cow and cOwsbed had never been kept
in a state Of perfect repair. The hens
and turkeys always took care of them
selves, and of course they looked as
well as ever. The old horse, habitual-
ly light in flesh, may have betrayed
his ribs trile palmer, and possibly the
pig was shaving less fat; but let moth
ing be said about trifes 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, cultivate her farm. When con-
scription goes through our towns and
cities, sweeping every able bodied man
away, we shall thea see how many
women there are like ber.
With all this outdoor labor, Susan
Riley did not so far forget "tbe shop"
as to justify the taking down of the old
shingle-
"BooTs d. SHus NED & 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 cobbling and farming to-
gether, you may be sure.
Meanwhile she was kept informed
tolerably well OF the movements of her
husband and boys, for though all of
them were but Indifferent writers, she
depended on Susan to decipher the
letters when they came, for not word
could she read of good or bad writing
yet they made up in frequency and
piIh what they lacked in penmsnship
and rhetoric. Their regiment did du-
ty most of the year in Western Vir-
ginia. The Riley's had enlisted in two
reginents-tbe father and youngest
son in one. and John and James in the
other; and it Jared with them about
alike.
In October letter came from John,
bearing, in rustic but touching
phrase, bad news mingled with good:
CAMP GREENE RIDe Sep twenty.
DEER MorHER-A Crate battles bin
ct d wev beat but mother that amt all
The 49th got cut up wusent We did and
fathers ded l donno nuther whall be-
come poor little pat for they say hes
wundid to but | cant git leye to go
seem & weer ordird to march to NOR
rer at oclok with days rashuus q
God help us coodn't ye cum mother
wars terrible thing auihow but father
dyed in the thick o the 6te jist as 1
may be God bless ye mother cum if ye
can Jim well and sends love
vure sun IouN
There was enough Of natural atfec-
tion in that rough Riley iamily-deep,
genuine. downright love. II one
member possessed is more than any ef
the rest, it was the mother. Bluntly
and coarsely as she always talked, and
hard featured as she was to look upon,
no poetess ever had q richer vein Of
.Lryrar sentiment than NJ. D:l...re.l