Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1864-01-23

forth in one gush of irresistible sorrow. BY
and by. the paroxysm passed, and she rose
from her bed, breathing long, deep breaths.
as If sweet sense of relief had come over
her, and, lying down ON her pillow, said
softly
Good Lord, thy will be done. Put the
book by, Susan and go to bed"
And the still hours of that moonlight night
rolled on to the day, and the unconscious
children, unawakened, dreamed their happy
dreams. and the oldest daughter-sad, as
tonished, but weary-went to sleep before
the cock crew; but of all within that poor
log but, after midnight passed, the mothers
sleep was the sweetest.
Hardly had the toiling woman gathered
her fall crops. Few hands made heavy work,
and it was slow and weary business indeed
to go over the two acres, hill by hill, till all
was done. The bulk of the harvest, how
ever. was gathered in las good yield as
could be expectcd) when Johns letter came !;
and the very next day, leaving as good di-
rections as she could to Susan, and charging
the younger children to mind her, with II
promise not to be gone very long Mrs. Riley
was on her way to Green Ridge to find her
wounded drummer boy
The feelings of the wife that had so fierce
ly struggled, well nigh to breaking her
heart, for her recent luss, was now subdued
and tranquil, as conscious that the old rela-
tionship had passed away with her hus-
bands ebbing blood-linger only on the ST.
lence Of the grave; and all the mother awoke
within her as she turned from the dead to
the living
She was some nearer to her destination
when the cars left her at Shannon Dale ter
minus-a village with seven houses. How
to get conveyance for the rest of the way
was the next question. Not even cart or
oxen could she find. At length an ill.lool-
ing negro came along, to whom sheHt once
applied for information.
Can you tell me where I'll find g team p
"Yes'm."
"Where, then I"
"lse got one
''Well, what is it "a horse. donkey, or
pair of steers And what's the wagon
Tell me about it,"
Mule and cart, Missus."
"What'll you ask TO Green Ridge 2"
FIFTY dollars"
'Stay at home with your old mule, We
wicked swindlin' nigger--to take advantage
of. poor, lone womanl Esk ten hundred,
why didn't ye, when yo ask about it But
ye may make yer money oHt o somebody
else. III 60 aiootn
And OF she started leaving the exorbitant
African NATURALLY sobered of his grin, and
starting after her with an expression of
emi-ferccness, as If he half neditated doing
something more wicked still.
Mrs. Riley saw no cause to repent of her
resolution. She had but gone over eight or
ten of the weary stretch Of miles when an
army teamster overlook her and gave her
seat among his powder kegs. The ride,
however, was rather change of exercise
than a rest to her, for the road was frightful
bad. From the teamster she learned that
the FOrtyninth Pennsylvania was not with
in twenty or thirty miles of the spot it was
when her son dated his letter, but had NOV
ed to or near place, called Sullivan's Pass,
taking their wounded with them. The coul-
municative driver furthermore informed her
that he was to stop eight miles short of this
latter place. lie declared, after he had
heard Mrs. Rley's story, that if he were not
in the employ of the government he would
see her clear to .he Pass himself, free of
charge.
The next foot journey ofthc resolute widow
was eXhausting in the eXtreme--Iocks, gull
lies marshes, and above all the inevitable
and omnipresent tangle Of laurel brushwood
lay across her path, and obstructed her feet
~ NFtit sup WIN thS
thought that her boy had passed over that
way, she persevered and struggled through
to find, alas on arriving, worn out with
fatigue as the place she sought, only ashes
and the scattered debris of departed army
The regiment had gone two days.
But the persistent woman was not to he
discouraged Resting herself awhile, she
set about for team, and after some trouble
she procured man, at large price, to take
her in his cart to the regiment where her
boy belonged. As they came within the
lines they were hailed and fired upon by II
picket, but escaped harm, and in due time
the flags and tents of the 10th appeared
around the spur of the mountain.
Stopped by q seutinel at the camp line,
she inquired for Patrick Riley, the drummer
boy, aud was told that he was not there.
That was all the soldier knew about it. And
whether he was dead or alive he did not
say. She was not to be put off, and cor
poral of the guard was summoned, who
passed her within the camp, and she hasten
cd forthwith to make inquiries of the colo
mel himself.
(Which way did you come p asked the
colonel.
"By the Plummer road"
You passed your boy within mile.
lett him with all my wounded, al NeriCo's
station. A company Of soldiers WAS placed
around a long, rough looking house, with a
flag Oh il, and she knew ii was the hospital
A guard stopped the horse long before they
reached the Building, but Mrs. Riley snatch
ed the whip from the driver and lashed the
beast up TO the very door in spite of oppo-
sition-when, springing from the cart, she
pushed by the sentinel quick Us thought,
and without stopping To near the epithels of
"hag" and "she,deyil' that were Shot after
her as she passed In, she stood in another
second IN tho Wy midst OF tho wounded
soldiers.
"l'alrlek RILEY" |" she shouted out, almost
out OF breath, and looking about her as ii
afraid her senses would deceive her.
There Was no mistaking the quick down
right tone of Widow Riley. II the boy Mas
there, he would certainly answer.
"Oh, mother" gasped weak boys voice,
and tumblrd heap Ia one corner stirred,
amt rushing towards IL, the faithful woman
SAN her poor htlle drummer boy sitting up,
but 10 changed that nane out his mother
Nonld have knaeh hlm.
Poor i'si you've bad sorry time that's
clear"
And heIs the wondeIgul energies of the
nlolhsT Nkleh bad kept pp ~ lOng ~ hsr
child sss ~ be sengchld l0g l0oda angela
hsar an tilh hana. fla airnuath - tsl.tls