The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-02-03

those beautiful slippers, the gift OF one who
sweeps aud sings--resting comfortably by the
stove and my aching head reclining agans
the generous support of the old rocking chair
Aud though my lips are motionless, my heart
says to the young woman in the room above
me, Sing away Mrs. R-y, | love to hear it.
1t does me good A moment ago | was
lonely indeed was sad, for was thinking
! of the poor soldiers. 1t is esld, dark, rainy
evening and promises to be stormy night.
shall have my supper, presently, but N any Of
the soldiers will not. shall lie down on
soft, warm bed, with sheets and pillow. cases as
white as snow, but they, many Of them, hum
dreds of them, will BIO cut in the storm all
night. They will shiver with cold, and feel
the pinchiDgs OF hunger. Some of them are
sick, some wounded, some lonesome and dis
couraged, some heart-broken. have BROTH
er among them, a mere lad. But noble boy
is be. who left his Latin ire, sri, itmm and
his Greek tapto, tupteis, taptti, to 60 and
strike in very truth for his country, and his
God. Heaven shield him from the cold, and
the storm, and the bullets. Give him shoes
for his feet, and blankets for his body, and
every good thought, and purpose, and hope
for his brave young heart His mother and
sister are in Heaven, and he, like myself, is
alone-al alone Who shall weep Tor him
if he falls, or kiss him, if he returns Not
. mother, not sister. And yet we are not
oprhans, James. Earthly father we have none,
no mother, but there is One above us, and
| want you every morning, to look up, and
remembering me as | will remember you say,
Our Father who art in Hearcn
feel better. The song has inspired me
with more courage, more faith. can look
up. There is time coming when we shall
be separated from the things that afict US, or
they shall be separated from u.s. The song
tells me that
There is a land of pure desAt''
and believe it. My faith is satisfied
There is a time coming when, instead of
mourning, there shall DO music. And that
is the reason why feel better, even while
am thinking of the soldiers that are out in
the rain, and the cold, and the storm, hungry,
and sick, and wounded and dying.
Sweeping and singing Bat the tune is
changed now, and SO is the occupation, for
the baby-that mysterious and seemingly es-
seotlal appurtenance, or impertinence, OF every
weil-roguiated household-has opened her
eyes, and her mouth, too, and is making her
wants known in way That, should think,
would secure immediate attention. What
ever her little ne essines,t they seem convenient
ly supplied, for she has ceased her easiy-iu-
terpretabie camorings, and, SO far as | can
Judge, is as perfectly satisfied as | remember
nysef to Rave been in the like circumstances.
And now the young mother is
Rocking and singing. That is better STILL
That is, if possible, more homelke. 1t makes
me child again. Was there not one who
sung 10 me long, long years ago Did she not
rock the cradle with her foot, and ply her
needle, and in lev, pantive accents sweet and
loving as the breathings of an angel murmur
her luIlabies Where is she now The eyes
that locked upon me theD---in the days when
| could weep and feel better after 1.-THE voice
that spoke softly, and called me by every en-
deariDg name the lips that kissed me; the
hands that caresssd me the arms that folded
me 10 mothers heart-these shall see, and
hear, and feel no more on earth | may 20
to the old homestead again may sit in the
same corner where | sat in the long years Of
the past ; may see tho bright blaze as it
mounts the chimney, and hear the crickets un-
der the hearth and the old clock on the man
tie there may be voices around me, and kind
looks upon me, and words of welcome but
for all that it is not home any more. The
crickets under the hearth are not the same
that hi,ruped for me when [ was child;
the blazing OF the fire seems to wear an air Of
modern dignity. The old clock is the only