Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1863-02-06

to inquire about your mother. Is sde able t(
sit up?"
Yes, sir. She sat up most all day yes.er
] day, and sewed part Of the time. And shes
up again Won't you come in. May be shed
like to see yoa."
Not this morning. I'll call around again.
Say that Mr.. Preston called. 1 am glad that
( she is better. Good by
! Coed by, SIR"
felt the low. almost choking fatter Of the
chid's voice, away down in my heart. Ny
! eyes we're din as 1 turned away. What did
I it mean?"
She has given most of ALL" said my com
panion As we walked away.
"What has she given?"
Her husband"
is he in the army?"
! "IIe is dead!'
"What! Dead.'
s'Kil d in battle" stood still.
In battle ?"
"Yes. Three weeks ago the news came
He rests with the slain ut Newborn"
"Who and what was he ~ l asked, raliii 81, =
myself, for 1 felt 40 overpowering sense Of
weakness.
"a SOBER industrious mechanic: good hus-
band and good father. saw his wife on the
day after lis march with the regiment that
went from here six months ago. The parting
had tried her severely, but she was brave with
it all, and full Of a noble beroism. ale is
strong aud courageous, and will do his duty, .
she said to me; "and the country must have
men. could not cling to him weakly and in
tears, as some wives did 10 their husbands,
aud hold him back when my heart bl1le him
go. He is IN Gods bands. Men die at home
of Sickness as well as in battle. l trust in
God" Her eyes were full of tears as she spoke,
and her voice betrayed the fear and suffering
that were in her heart. All, sir, neither you
nor l will ever comprehend what that humble
wife endured in parting from good husband
on whose strong arm she has leaned for so
many years-in parting from him thus"
| We walked on3again, silent for some moments
How mean aud poor seemed my ha'f exorted
gift-I say half exorted, because there was
really more of the being seen of men thar gen
uine patriotism in the act-to the priceless
contribution of this poor woman! l had sign
ed a check for five hundred dollars; chat was
ALL No consciousness Of the draft of that
check followed. l did not feel my comfort di-
minishing. l did not relinquish single pleas
ure; there was nothing sacrificed except love
of money. But she had given her husband
She, poor dependant on his life for the sap
port OF herself aud her children, said, when his
country called, Go! And the sacrifice had
been complete.
''The blow must have been terrible" I said
Poor woman! this is indeed a sorrow"
''Shc staggard and feIl,' was replied. "For
a week the struggle between life aud death
was almost evenly balanced. Then the reac-
ton cume and the poor, crushed heart began
to gather up lis rent fbres, aud to string its
quivering nerves for new efforts and dutics-
The strong arm on which she had foT 50 many
years was broken, an she must sie.iJ hence-
forth alone. How she Elltercd and staggered
with uncertain steps first! Fer s4ioars she
would sit and weep. But slowly strength
came. aud now you remember the cLild's words
she sat up most all day yesterday, and sewed
part Of the time" 4 heavy burleu has been
laid upon her, and she must walk hcnccforth
with STOPPING shoulders and weary feet Her
own hands must earn he food with which her
children are fed, and the garments with which
they arc to be clothed. Her Toll and her care
are more than tvce doubled: and with them
are the widows sorrows. What are my
burllen5-what are yours 10 this? All sir,
there is no room for compliment, for boasfing
! With us the sacrifice is nothing in comparison
1t is hardest with those who are least thought
Of, and who get least of public sympathy
1--WE must do something for this woman"
said |. Her case touches NE deeply"
! Your possessions and niue would lose mere
Than half their value were such calamity as
the dsmembcrment Of our country to fall
was answered "Our enemies are man in arms
and we must oppose man with man in battle
! While they fight and die ge are at home, and
in their blood and suffering we find safety
Is there honor is there Justice, is there human
ity in forgetting this service, and leaving the
widows and orphans Of our dead soldiers to
bear unaided their burdens of want and sor-
row? l think not. Yes, assurediy, we must
do something for this woman. She has given
her all, and if she have no share henceforlh
in our abundance, then we are not sguiltless
in the sight OF heaven"
How small seemed all the contributions l
had made, and Of which 1 was self gratulate!
NV cheeks were hot with shame. Not since
have referred to that last subject in conver-
saton, nor has a word about the coming but
den oftaxes escaped nay lips would blush
at complaints now. Burdens! They who
seem to have the largest share, feel their press
ure lghtest On the poor, the humble, the
too often despised aud neglected, the heaviest
of our troubles will fall. Let us see 20 it that
we sin not in f0rgetfulness of what we owe to
them, that we do not let widows and orphans
cast in all their living as the price of our safe
ty.