The Portland daily press., 1864-03-03
MISCELLANY.

BY t. S. ARTHUR.

been associated in her mind with all that was
horrible and wicked. To become a soldier
seemed, to her PERCEPTION of the case, to in
yolye cruel instinct. She saw no glory in
the profession of arms. Toy drums and swords
were never seen in the hands of her children,
except through the unwelcom agency Of auuts
and uncles, OF friends, and they were in these
eases removed, with sober homilies on their
bad significance.
II will teach my children she would say
ito love their enemies; not to hate and des-
troy them. To be ever on the side of peace
and good will to mankind not on the side of
hatred and destruction.
Mrs. Irwin read tracts and books published
by peace societies, and in the arguments, war
crowded her mind with facts, statistics, and
reasons, to degree that made her a formida-
Bile DICTATOR on the non-combative question,
with almost every one that happened to be
drawn into argument. 1t was useless to talk
wish her about the undying antagonsm be-
tween good and evil, and the necessity of ex-
ternal as well as internal combat; of natural
regeneration through the baptism of blood; of
stable peace, only through the destruction of
the enemy. She denied the position. All
wars were wrong she contended, and might
be avoided.
Not in anything had Mrs. Irwin swerved
from her peace principles, up to the period
when Sumpter fell. But that event was like
throwing. suddenly, into a strong smooth
current broad obstruction. Her whole be-
ing was in tumnlt. She caught for breath
like one in danger OF sufiocation. She felt
as though the firm foundation on which she
had been standing for years, were crumbling
uuder her feet. Mrs. Irwin loved her coun-
try and reyered its flag: and this assault up
on one, and dissertation of the other, fired her
soul with indignation and when her oldest boy
not yet in his twenty-first year, said to her
with clenched hands and flashing eyes,
Mother, this, must be avenged -
She did not answer, but sat with pale lips
and face, looking at him in such trouble and
bewilderment of mind that no thoughts be-
came coherent enough for words, until he
added, drawing his slender form to its utmost
hight.
sand there Is one ready
John! john" fell in weak remonstrances,
from Mrs. Irwin. "Dont speak so. don't let
murderous spirit lead you away"
Don't say murderous," replied, the boy.
with SO much rebuke in his tone that his
mother answered Quickly
"A spirit of revenge, then, John. Ven
gence Is mine, saith the Lord and win re-
pay it."
nation destroyed, and its flag, which has been
honored throughout the world for eighty years
shot at, rent, and trampled upon?'
The boys eyes CLEANED iercely. "For one
l say no! And / have mistaken my mothers
heart, II 1t does not echo back the word. /
have not forgotten the lesson you taught me
years ago, that love of country is next to
love of God. And if we love an object purely
we will defend il when assailed? Nay, even
lay down our lives in its protection?,
In spite of all her peace principles, and hor-
ror OF war, there fi2wed into the mind OF Mrs.
Irwin, such a feeling Of admiration for this
outspoken patriotism of her son. that even he
read pride and approval in her humid eyes.
"WaI IS an awful thing, john" said Mrs.
Irwin.
II know it is, mo Their. But there are worse
things than war; and that worse thing is at
our door. You understand this as well as /
do. They have thrown down the gauge of
war, and there is nothing left for us but to
accept the hard necessity"
But you are not called to this work John,
said Mrs. Irwin, the word fatering on her
tongue. There are strong men enough who
Will respond to the Presidents call | can
not let you go my son. The wet eyes of
Mrs. Irwin overflowed.
John laid his hand firmly on his moth
er's shoulder, and looked steadily into her
face. Then he kissed her tenderly "For the
blessings We enjoy did not the mothers of the
Revolution give their sons to the battle field q
Il cannot bear 1t, my son / am not strong
enough for this" And Mrs. Irwin laid her
face on the breast Of her boy and wept shud-
eringly.
"As our day ISIS shall our strength be
mother. Don't you believe this?"
Il do john" answered Mrs. Irwin, lifting
her face, and though half binding with tears.
looked at him wondringly; with rising glow
IN her heart. Every woman admires courage
10 man; and the true mother loves it in her
son. A new sentiment was taking force in
the mind OF Mrs. Irwin, aud giving strength
Tor duty and for sacrifice. She seemed TO her
self like one undergoing quick transforma-
lion. New ideas and new estimates of things
were pressing upon her, sud thursting old
forms OF thought aside. Il do my son she re-
peated but never thought to see this day.
Inc day has come upon u.s. replied the
young man, "and shall we not be equal to its
so.n
de spoke in quick inspiriting voice, for he
saw strength in his mothers eyes and q gath
ering lrmness aLout her mouth.
Only little while longer did old preiudiees
and foregone conclusions battle with new con-
victions; only little while longer did shrink
ing natural fear stand 10 the way of duty.
A week later and Mrs Irwin held the hand
oil her noble boy at parting. How changed
ne was In single week be had seemed to
grow old by years. The firm knit mouth and
steady eyes, the fine erect figure; the already
Drowned face, for he had been drilling in the
open air for days; the brave resolute bearing.
were all wonderful to look upon as the work
OF SO briefa time. Is ii strange that Mrs. Ir-
win was proud of her soldier boy9 She held
his hand in parting.
ness of tone.
II will, mother
"Be brave"
my
"God keep you and bless you my son = Mrs.
TWINS eyes filled now, and her woman's heart
trembed in her voice
Il shall be In his keeping Just the same
MOTHER
Il know it, John, aud if death comes to
yon.'-
Mrs Irwin broke down, she could not finish
the sentence.
1T will be through his permission Are not
the sparrows in his keeping ?" said John calm
ly. How much more human souls,
They parted. Very pale all day was Mrs.
Irwin. But her bearing was firm. If her
heart was troubled, /; was not weak. She was
wonder TO herself.
"Truly it is SOL she would repeat over and
over again, in her thought: as our day is so
shall our strength be-"
To an intimate friend she said
II sometimes ask myself If it is not all
dream. Can it be possible that my boy is a
soldier, and In the face Of the enemy and that
he is there with my consent?,
'Wonld you have him back ?" asked the
friend.