The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1863-09-09

tears of half lifetime nov seemed 70 tow forth
in one gush Of irresistible sorrow. By and by
the paroxysm passed, and she rose from her bed
breathing long deep breaths, as if a sweet sense
OF relief had come over her aud lying down Oh
her pillow, said softly
Good Lord, Thy will be done Put the book
by Susan and 90 to bed"
And the still hours Of that moonlight night
rolled on 10 the day, and the unconscious child
ren, uBawakened, dreamed their happy dreams,
and the oldest daughter-sad, astonished but
weary-went to sleep again before the cock
crow but Of all within that poor log hut after
midnight passed the mothers sleep the
/ sweetest.
Hardly had the toiling woman gathered her
fall crop. Few hands made heavy work, and il
was slow and weary business indeed to 60 over
the two acres, hill by h till all was done. The
bulk OF the harvest, however, was gathered in
as good a yield as could be expecIed) when
Johns letter came. And the very next day,
leaving good directions as she could TO Susan,
and charging the younger children TO mind her,
with a promise not TO be gone very long, Mrs.
Riley was on her wav to Green Ridge, TO find
her wounded drummer-boy.
The feelings of the wife, that had 80 iercely
struggled, well-nigh to breaking her heart, for
her recent loss, we're now subdned and tranquil
as conscious that the old relationship had passed
away with the husbands ebbing blOod-ingered
only in the slerce Of the grave and the mother
awOke within her a. she TUNED to the living.
She was somewhat nearer 10 her destination
when the cars left her at Shannon Dale terminus,
a village with seven houses How to get con
veyance for the rest of the way was tiis next
question
/ Not even a cant or oxen could she find At
length an Unlocking negro came along, to whom
she applied for information.
Can you tell me where III find team ~
Yes'm"
"Where, then ,"
"Ise got one"
"Wen, what is it "a horse donkey. or a
pair OF steers2 And what's the wagon Tell
me all about it,"
"Mule and cart, missus."
"What will We ask to Green Ridge ="
g Fifty dollars"
Stay at home with yer old mule, We wicked
swindln nigger-tO take advantage OF poor
lone woman Ask ten hundred, why didn't ye,
when We was about it But yc may make yer
money out o somebody else. I'll go afOot.'
And eff she started, leaving the exOrbitant
African materially sobered of his grin, and star
ing at her with an expression OF semi-6erceness,
as II he half meditated doing something wickeder
still
MIS- iAI''N saw no Cdu-t 10 repent Oi utT res
Olution. She had gone over but eight or ten Of
the weary stretch of miles when army team.
ster overlook her and gave her a seat among
his powder kegs The ride, however, was rather
a change of exercise than a rest to her for the
road was frghtfully bad. From the teamster
she learned that the Forty y-ninth Pennsylvania
was not within twenty OF thirty miles of the spot
it was when her son dated his letter, but had
moved to or place called Sullivan's Pass,
taking their wounded with them. The cOmmu-
ncative driver furthermore informed her that he
was to stop eight miles short Of this latter place.
He declared, after he had heard Mrs. Reys story,
that if he we're not in the employ of the Gov
ernment, be would see her clear for the Pass
HIMSELF free Of charge.
The next foot journey of the resolute widow
was exhausting in the extreme-roeks, gullies,
marches, and above all, the tangle of laurel
brushwoOd lay across her path, and obstructed
her feet at every step. Supporting herself with
the thought that her boy had passed over that
way, she persevered and struggled through-to
find, aasl on arriving, worn out with fatigue, at
the place she sought, only ashes and the scatter
ed debris of a departed army The regiment
had been gone two days.
But the persistent woman was not to be dis
couraged. Resting herself awhile, she set about
for a team, and after some trouble she procured
a mar, at large price, to take her in bis cart to
the regiment where her boy belonged. As they
came within the lines they were hailed and fired
on by picket, but escaped harm, and in due
time the flags aud white tents of the Forty-ninth
appeared around the spur of a mountain.
Stopped by the sentinel at the camp line, she
inquired for Patrick Riley the drummer boy
and was told that he was not there. That was
all the soldier knew about it. Whether he was
daad mr. slivn ha did NOT cav ha u,oo NOT IN
be put off, and corporal of the guard was sum-
moned, who passed her within the camp, and
she fastened forthwith to make inquiries of the
colonel himself
(Which way did you come ?" said the colonel
" By the Plummer road"
" You passed your boy within half a mile.
left him, with all my wounded, at VerricO's Sta
ton, to be taken off to Harrisburg as soon as
they are able. think you'll find him there
He was badly hurt in the arm"
With all possible dispatch, the widow drove
back the Plummer road to Verricos Station
A company of soldiers was placed around
long, rough-oOking house, with flag on it, and
she knew it was the hospital A guard stopped
the horse long before they reached the building
but Mrs. Riley, snatched. the whip from the dri
yer and lashed the terrified beast up to the very
door, in spite Of all opposition when, springing
i
quick as thought, and. without stopping to hear
the epithets OF "hag" and - she devil" that we're
shot after Der as she passed in she stood, in an
other second, in the very midst Of the wounded
soldiers.
"Patrick Riley ;" she called out, almost out
of breath, and looking all about her, as if afraid
her senses would deceive her.
There was no mistaking the quick, downright
tone of Widow Riley. II the boy was there,
he would certainly answer.
90 mother" gasped weak boys voice, and
tumbled heap in one corner stirred, and
rushing toward it, the faithful mother saw her
poOs little drummer boy sitting up, but so chan
ged that none but his mother would have known
/ him.
/ And here the wonderful energies of the moth.
er, which had kept up so long as her child was
to be searched for Gods angels bear. up with
hands the strength of mothers in such emer-
gencies,l gave way now that her child was found,
and she sank down almost faintng upon the
straw pallet before her
Look up, mother, and don't We feel bad
I'm all right" said the pluoky little fellow. Ny
arms hurt so't shan't drum no more; but now
you come feel ike | could lick off the rebels
with one hand"
Mrs. Riley soon recovered, .and set about nur-
sing her boy.
She came in the nick of time, for bis arm had
Just been amputated, and he was somewhat fe-
verish Probably his mothers care was the on
Is thing that saved him In a week be was able
] .sl h,-- J IL