The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-05-06
Presently George came to my quiet corner,

and, seating himself beside me, talked so man.
fully and cheerfully OF the war. Of our duties,
both men and women, and Of the many things
that he seemed instinotivcly to feel would In
terest busy, happy old woman like me. that
I quite forgot his paltry confession about the
draft. It may seem foolish in me to say so;
but have always noticed that when young
gentleman can enjoy an hours quiet talk with
woman neither young, beautiful, nor fascin-
ating in any way, but simply hopeful and in
earnest, there's sure to be something good and
genuine in him. He even told me ofa lotion
which his mother had used very successfully
for hor rheumatism (and, by-thc-way, mean
to try It myself when get timc.) Then he
hintcd so gently that he thought was making
my sock q little too big Gas ifyou could get q
hospital thing too big!), and every thing just
as natural and easy in his manner rs If he'd
been m old bachelor brother instead Of the
handsome youngster that hc was. 1'l '7.
II struck me that George wanted to outstay
the other visitors; but they were so much de.
lighted either with Netty or themselves (though
she looked weary enough of their chit-chat,
poor girl!) that he unwillingly took his de-
parture late In the evening, leaving them still
in possession Of the field, or, rather, the sofa.
All the next day had such trouble with
Netty. 1t was almost impossible to get on
with the child. She was neither cross nor i'll
natured (my darling was too sweet tempered
naturally for that; but she was SO ftful, so
fevcrish, and so inclined to sigh every five min
utes, that when found she couldn't be coaxed
into taking little magnesia. or going to bed
and having warm bricks to her feet, I began to
be really worried. .t ...r ,-
At last, about four o'clock in the aftercnoon,
as we sat working together, just as had turn
ed the heel of the last one of my half dozen
pair, out came the real trouble. a-..r
'Did you ever see two such stupids, Aun-
tyr" T." ...
Thinking. of course, that she alluded to last
nights committee from "Young Americs,"
replied, promptly: . -...a... .....i i
"They certainly ,cerc very insipid, my dear.
wondered that you could endure them for an
instant" '..H'
"Ma'am!" calculated Netty, in real aston
ishment. .r
"Oh, ifyou mean George Holmes and Hen
ry Kirtland," laughed, "I'll retract. con-
slider them both very fno young men, though
George is my favoritc." e,au :l.a.
"IIc isn't my favorite," said Nctty, tossing
her head. "In times like these true men would
never shrink from their duty. They're cow
ards, both Of them; but must say George
Holiness fear Of being drafted is perfectly
amusing" And she burst into tears BY way
Of ILLUSTRATION. ~ rf. ..r4. ra3 a1t (.
She didn't intend that should know 1t, but
saw the bright drops falling one by one upon
her sewing.
"Don't think Of them, dcaric," said, sooth-
ingly. "Therc are plenty Of brave young fel-
lows in the world. and better worthy my girls
thoughts. Henry Kirkland. If am not mistake
en-, isa-" rI .r#f-f r.i r rr.-
$50 he is, )" interrupted Netty, excitedly. III
really am tired and sick of his nonsense and
last night his shameless avowal Of unpatriotic
sentiments made me fairly despisc him. He Is
agreeable and amusing enough but hate
these agreeable men," she added, biting Other
thread with snap, as though 1t were the "one
neck" of all mankind 80 longed for BY that old
tyrant in Plutarch's Lives. . r.
"Then you must hate George Holmes, too"
I said, ms o sort Of left-handcd plea for my
protege "for he Is certainly very agreeable at
times"
"I do hate him, and ho isn't one bit agrcca-
blc." pouted Nctty, as she made vigorous
stitch, drawing her thread through with D
jerk. go ...r -Ga lrs la.s
"He was little gawky last night, I own,"
was my amiable response but" 1lra Ha
"Gawky - cried Nctty'; swell. II that isn't
a strange charge to make against George
Holmes. I'm sure never saw anything in the
least way gawky about him. It's his principles
that object to-" vt
"Ah, his principles - I echoed, remembering
his .nti-draft notions. "Ycs, they're not what
they ought to be, that's certain"
.why, Aunt Hester - exclaimed Nettie, lay
ing her work upon her lap and looking me full
in the face "what in the world has Mr.. Holmes
ever done to you that you should talk so dread
fully about him,'' l7 cln'g'2 .al
In sheer despair of suiting the poor, distract
ed child, explained. -'.'.'' ..'-' '
.'Oh, it's only about not wanting to go to the
war, my dear in other respects lconsider him
to be one Of the finest young men lever knew"
"Umph 7" she answered ;"I don't sec any
thing particularly fne about him for my part.
One thing is certain, he's coward, though he
PROCESSES to be such o stanch Union man. I'll
have nothing moro to say to bim )" and Net
tvs sewing caught one tear after another.
mothering their fall in Its soft folds as though
Il pitied her. 11 sfE hna ,a1m ,'h lo 0..5eil
| wa. just thinking what should say next,
when tho door-bell rang. ~ i. y III lI
In On instant our new colored boy handed in
o letter. ,, Ife T,g s.da5,nlEBi f.lnrr,s |
..For Miss Netty.' said he, looking with NO
little curiosity around the room as he spoke,
for II was oil novel TO him yet. "The mans q
waitin' fur an answer" aH ,sao1sn q oib 20
Netty read her letter. Il contained some
thing very important |; Iknev that by her man
ncr. Then she got out her little desk and sat
writing for . few minutes. Her lips were pale.
and could see that her hand trcmbled good
deal. Aflert tho messenger had gone swsywith
her reply, i took an old aunty's privilege and
asked who her letter was FROM ssH sol 700 o.
-asE.or, IIanrv KirAlsndL lnnI IIsskar- - aha |