Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1864-01-23
TALES AND SKETCHES.
THE SOLDIERS MOTHER

legnen1eS STANDS small log mouse, whlcn
once held a large family-John Riley, the
father; Susan Riley, the mother; and chill
dren John, Susan, James, Patrick, Sedge-
wick and little Bess. Bred to hard living,
there was not one who shrank to face a
catamount, or bear, or an Indian, or
find fault with hard bread and cold quar-
ters.
At the breaking out of the war, the faith
er, John, James and Patrick enlisted--the
last as drummer boy. Sedgewick cried
to go, but was told, to his great grief and
indignation, that he would have to wait and
grow as he was only twelve years old, and
about three feet two. The wife and moth
er had as big heart as any body, and there
can be no question but that her heart gave
a sharp twang when "Oid John" and the
boys left her; but she, nevertheless, de-
claring that she would have gone herself if
they hadn't. They might go, and God.
speed to them, there was no help fort; and
as for her, she had not doubt whatever
but that it was deCrecd from the foundation
of the world that she should be left TO carry
on their business, which was farming and
shoemaking, according to the season, all
alone, if worst came to worst-she was sure
of that
So half the Riley family went from the
log house to the war, and half STAYED ut
home. Susan took care of what little there
was indoors and that mother, according to
her statement, took care of all outdoors, -
with Susan's help, whenever she was off
duty, and with Sedgwick's always. Little
Bcss was unanimously voted good for moth
ing yet but to keep bread and cheese
from moulding. Mrs Riley plowed the
glebe with the old onc-horse plow, Sedgwicis
to ride. Mrs. Riley planted it with corn
and potatoes, with Sedgwick to drop them
for her and when hoeing time came, she
and Susan hoed 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 indeiatigable industry of Mrs. Riley
kept appearances very much as they were
The cowshed had several windows, perhaps,
not left by the carpenter and the COW her
self showed hide of hair that pointed sew
eral ways; but appearances were, if the
truth was known, not SO much against Mrs
Riley's management after all. Said COW
and cowshed ha6 never been kept in a state
OF perfect repair. The hens and turkeys
always took care of themselves, and of
course they looked as well as ever. The
old horse, habitually light in flesh, may
have betrayed his ribs a triHe palmer, and
possibly the pig was shaving less fat; but
let nothing be said about trities 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, cul-
tivate her farm. When CONSUMPTION goes
thro' our towns and cities, sweeping every
able-bodied man away, we shall then see
how many women there are like her.
With all this outdoor labor, Susan Riley
did not so far forget ''the shop" as to iusti-
ty the taking down of the old shingle :
Doors Il SHUs MED &MINDED HEER."
When customers came and left work be-
fore 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 coblipg and
farming together, you may be sure.
Meanwhile she was kept informed tolera-
bly, 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
wrlting-yet they made up in frequency
and plth what they lacked in penmansbip
and rhetoric. Their regiments did duty
most of.the year in Western Virginia. The
Riley's had enlisted in two regiments-the
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, bear.
ing, in rustic but touching phrase, bad news
mingled with good:
CAMP GREEN RIDGE Sep Twenty
DEAR MUTHER Crate battles ben fit &
wcy bet but muther that aint all the 49th
got cut up wusent we did and fathers ded
donno muther whall become poor little pat
for thay say hes wundid to but i cant Git
leve to go seem & weer ordird to marh to
morrcr at o'clock with 3 days rashus &
God help us coodnt yc cum muther wars a
terribul thing annihow but father dyed in
the thick o the tite jist as may be God
bless ye muther cum if you can Jim wei and
sens luv yure sun
JoHS
There was enough of natural affection in
that rough Riley family-dcep, genuine,
downright love- If one member possessed
it more than any of the rest, it was the
mother. Bluntly and coarsely as she al
ways talked, and hard featured as she was
TO look upon, no poetess ever had richer
vein of human sentiment than Mrs. Riley,
and Florence Nighteneale herself could not
handle case OF aggravated distress more
tenderly than she. The news sf her hus-
bands death came with a sudden stroke
that almost felled her to the iioor But she
bore il brayeiy, till her work was done for
that day, and let the younger eyes she'd the
tears,
"Why don't you cry. mother 7" said little
Bess, who was sobbing bitterly with Susan
and sedgwick, over grief she could not
understand but the pale, thin lips OF the
mother did not move.
In the middle of the night, long after
sleep had stolen over the ehildren's SORROW,
Susan Was awakened by a groan She
started up, and found her mother sitting Ia
the bed, In the harvest moon that shone
through tho one window, white as shroud-
ell corpse.
Light the candle, susan," she heard her
whisper, and then the terrified girl obeyed
and inquired, huTTiedly, u she should bring
the eamphOT OF heat some water. Mrs III.
Icy shook her head, and said, faintly--
Get the Testament and read.'
sasah go. the book, and asked where shs
should read.
NO matter, much. Open somewhere 10
the middle
And kgeeling by the bed, With the candle
Ia heT hand, the younger aaughteT read, with
trembling Voice and simple, unleaIned em
phssis Flat act your heart he troubled
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