Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1863-03-24
More frEcIous man ssoTd. !
By T. a. ARTHER.

This war r ssid Mr.. Holmes. with
partly affected, aud partly real impati.
ence. 1t will never cease demanding IL
viii rob Us of everything. Increased taxa
ton, increased prices-lessening incomes
contributions here, and contributions
there Nothing will be left Of rs in the
eDdl' rl .. - --.a-. --..
If the nations life is saved, the cost will
not be too dear was answered. All that
aman hath will be given for his life. All
that the people have, will they give to SAFE
this nation
4 have not held back, so far: Mr.. Brown.
ing There was tone Of self-approval--
! something little bOastful-about Mr..
Holmes. No one can say that have re-
fused To contribute my share. How much
do you suppose have given to the Volun.
teer Rsfreshment Saloons, during the past
year2' ~
The person with whom he was conyers-
ing-we have called him Mr. Browning
shOnk his head saying, i can't imagine
You'd hardly credit the sum. SIX hun.
drsd dullarsl That's what I've given in
| this direction alenr. 1t costs Just about.
one hundred dollars to give a meal to one
! regiment OF q thousand men. So you see
PVe fed six thousand brave soldiers on
their way through our city. That's some
thing towards helping the country ......
You have done nubIy in this said Mr..
Browning. IF all would do as well accur
! ding to their means # l fss. - U.s.
.ies, If al would do as WE'LL responded
Mr.. uulems. But all won't do as we'll -
I'm not taking merit to myself. I've only
done my duty. When the State lie 10 dan.
ger, every true citizen will spring to the
re4cue' .. e.t. .. .- =. ....-s-
And Mr.. Holmes leaned back ir bis
chair, the immage of dignifed self appros
vsl a.tF r-. ~
Then there Is the bounty fund.- re-
marked one Of the little group who were
conversing. 'If there was nothing besides
feeding the soldiers, on their way through,
this would be Q light matter 5i'a 7'-t
Light as feather 4 broke in Mr..
HOlmes. Yes. there is the bounty fund.-
as you say. Well, I've done my part in
that direction also. The time was when
we put our names to subscription papers TO
the tune Of tweniies and 6fties, and thought
il liberia. But change has come Ger the
spirit Of our dream. We must 20 I'D TO
hundreds now. The public know what
have contributed to the bounty fund = for
tue committee is garrulous.' 4--. -- -r..-
Yes, saw your Dame down for Eve
hundred dollars
'As vas saying, we are up to the hun
dreds now resumed Mr.. Holmes. But 1
am not the one to finch or make Wry faces
decided on the amount at once, ar d sent
check to the committee. like money as
| well as any of my neighbours; and | have
reason to do 90. for ! worked hard enough
to get it, but what will our money be worth
if this accused rebellion should prevail?
If our country is lost what OF the people?
True enough, Mr.. Ii lines what Of the
people? To save his government, is worth
the sacrifice of every dollar we possess
| with faint, involuntary sigh.
And | sometimes fear, replied the other
that it will take the last dollar. was
counting up, Gully to-day. what it had cost
me in actual gifts of money, to say nothing
of losses in business aud deprecated val>
ues. The sum almost frightened me. Four
Thousand dOllarsl LIS true. l am not
speaking boastfull-l don't take merit to
myself only declare the fact. Huns
dreds and thousands around me, are doing
as much, or more. Treasure is being pour
ed out like WATER
And blood said the low, clear voice,
that penetrated ike sword. The speak
er was a woman. She had been q silent
listener.
'Yes, and blood = answered Mr.. Holems.
IL was but an echo, faint and falling.
Which Is more precious than gold.'-
The voice was still low and clear, cutting
down to conviction like the thrust of A
sword. And life added the speaker. Her
| caImness failed. There was a throb in her
voice. She arose, with a quiet repressed
manner. and went from the room.
Who is she?' asked Mr.. Holmes, with a
shame look upon his face.
Her name is Edgar
Not the widow Of Captain Edgar!'
'Yes.'
He dropped his eyes. A shadow crept
over his face.
More precious than golG = he said look,
ing up after few moments. Yes, yes
Aud what q rebukel I, boastfuliy talking
in her presence, of my golden offerings,
when she had given blood and life, in her
brave. heroic husband Gold and treasure
may come back again, but not 60 blood
and life.
She has given gold and treasure as well
as life.' said one. In losing her husband
che hos lost al: There were few truer,
kinder, better, men than Capt Edgar
While he lived, the worlds rough places
Wero smooth for her feet; and If he had
teen srareS, they would have been kept
smooth. Bot. 8S have said, in bis loss,
she has lost all and now her hands un-
used to labor, are reaching out, and search.
ing for the means of self.support.
Has she children p ID -.-.. ~
Two
Observation-Disclosures =
And poor sa as @
A long silence followed. In breaking il.
the subject was not renewed; nor was there
any more parade Of money-contribution
and sacrifice for the war.