Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1864-05-13
@'Hl 2E3tIU2 FROM the Continental Monthly
A Parts or STOCKINGS =
FROM THE ARMr.I

d.. "a Pafty or srocIkrsSs.A r. -"
..r - .,.s.4 FROM TIE ARMY qH ag.,l.nan
Kate was sitting by the window. | was
sitting besideaber. 1t mays be well to statc
herethat Kate wasa young hay, ana that I
am young cntleman. Kate had large, lus:
trous dark eyes, which Just then were COW
cred with friaged, dropping cyehshcs. She
hatiloraiGs oftiark hair wreathed around her
head, n soft pink acolur in her cheeks, and a
rosebud mouth, wo,nar,ly, fresh ana iovclv.
Kate was clad in u rinltC,msii dress, lwf..i,ffS
tiny white rilfilc around her white throat
She was ARMED with four steely needles,
which. were So many brigh. arrows that
pierced my heart through and, through. Over
her fingers glided smal! bluo thread, which
proceeded from the ball Of yarn | Held in my
hand.gus a3} gG lD~a#sf uWma14 iaa3'
Kate was knitting stocking, and surely,
irrevocabiy she was taking me captive; al,
ready | felt myself entanslcd by those small
threads. .'tNJi .''. '71..
We were the inmates of a hoafding house.
Kate was q new boarGer. / had known her
but few weeks. ...7 ... u.., f....g hv.
The evening was warm, and took up, a
paln,.lcaf fam and famed her. She thanked
me. l2loakod at her white hands, gliding in
and out under the blue yarn; Ithoaeh how
nicely one would look upon that ring finger
"a tiny gold circlet, with two hearts Joined
upon it, and on the inside two names written
hers and mine Then thought Of Kate
as my wife. always clad in a pink muslin
dress, always with her hair in just such
glossy braids, and knitting stockings to the
cod Of time. ...,-E aaF >1l -A.H Iaiu'a.'
Kate shall be my wife, said to myself
in rash pride, as L anned her more cncrgety
ically. | did not know that tho way to a
woman's bcart was more intricate thana lab
yrinth but had tAeCluc in the blue yarn
which | held in my hand. little knew what
undertook. katewns shy as a wild deer,
timid as iawn, with an atmosphere OF re-
serve aboat hen which one csoEd not well
break through. IT, -a.a-G r.I ..ia%sr2a
'FoF whom are you knitting those stock
ings, Miss Kate z I asked. ~. - s@a.f.a ~
Eor aso!dier, Mr.. Armstrong, she replied,
her eye kindIing with patriotism. eao,' I,rr
If viii be one of the Homo tiuards, and
stay and take care Of you, will you knit me
q pair ? ... ed 10. g. hae q "aeH1gH
'Never. feel abundanly' able 10 ,talte
care Of myself. | wish you would enlist, Mr.
Armstrong. When you do, 1 will knit you
a pair 3 .-D a,n.g st} 2a.t.ga a-
: Il would be almost worth the Sacrifice ]
gppllg4..J . i -la- ..,.a.'~..a' .'5 = i .r.
- Sacrifice Mould YOU sacrifice Yourself
for pair Of stothings2 Have you not pat.
riotsp enough to Offer yourself upon the al
tar Of, your county,? Ii | were q man,
would enlist in q moment, though had ten
thousand year, and a wife and seven chill.
drcn.' .,... .... !e.-...- 70 .rrr&' a-r
! viii confess to you, gentle reader, that
was not sucA q craven as appeared. The
fires Of patriotism, were smoul,iering in my.
bosom, and heedcd only a spark from kate's-
hand t. light them into life and acilon.r ,kate
rose and loft the room, her check glowing
with spirit and sat and famed the chair
where she had sat, for . few momcnts. f. 4,
was too bad to break UP the delicious tttc a.
tcte SO soon. -..lh bra bgbau1r
! fingered in the parlor after the gas was
lighted, but she did not come. nut on my
hat, and vent out. | would enlist. II had
meant TO do so al along | had managed
my business in reference to it--the onIv
drawback was the, thought, OF Kate. How
pleasant it would be to remind her of her
promise, and ask her for The stockings and
herself with them! Visions Of tender part
'nss and interesting lettersdloated around me
i. ..tg. s# .
There was a meeting N fremont Temple
in aid Of recruiting. Etgs hung droopng
FROM the ceiling, bands of music were in at
tendance in the galleries, aud distinguished
and Eloquent speakers occupied the platform.
| doanot .hink their elo1uCnce had much 10
do Tith my action, for had resolved before,
hand. lwent forward at the close Of the
meeting, and signed my name to the roll as
a MASSACHUSETTS, volunteer. Apair of hands
IN The gallery began the thunder ofappiat,se
that greeted the act. | looked ,up;a kateawas
there clappinS ENTHUSIASTICALLY, n But who
WAS That tan itllow in Uniform by her side,
witt, NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., and eyes which
fiashe9dt brighter than hcr soEn? ilc, then,
'was tue soldier for whoa she was knitting
the Sidt'ilFqags. The rest Of the meeting was
}" .1ntth - aii ~ 20 inp' .eivEL4d 8dI .4UFl' its
] watched and, foIloTed them to heldoor
OF tffe boarding house, Ihid myself behind
a lamp post, as they paused on The steps -
SIG turned toward him, her face all agow
with. feeling 80 ,;',,r.,s4 ,,.t r.,tl 'sfs
Good by, Ffani, Take good care Of your,
self I'm glad to have, you enlst, but so
sorry to lose YOU and tears trenbled in her
eyes. 80 .,.. -, ,,., ,rrrr ls tss1g
Good by, Kate, darling; and after the
war is over, will come home and take care
of ny BIRD and be furRed away. y.aaa 2aissi:
STOP Frank T.. -. -. q 6fs afJ
We'll, birdie 2 "a i ,..es.c, ..4.g Z,
Those. are not fit words to dismiss o sol. 4
dicr With Here, I'll give you q watehword.
Think Of Il, Frank: INN s1,g7,y{s l.it,7 gg|
'.Neyer give up though tie grape shot may rattle
o. The thick Ihandsr clonds oyer you burst. ds7
stand ike rock! in the storm Or che batte, ~,
In,px, t,at-
Brave words, Kate. You deserve q kiss
for them 1t was given. turned away in
desperation, and walled onward, not caring
where went. Policemen watched me, but
the latehess Of the hour made no difference
to me. could have walked Ill night, At,
length came 70 O. bridge. The moon was
shining upon the ripping water. 1t looked
cold and dark, except whore the ripples were.
There would be plunge, and then the wa. |
ter wo,ilA How over my head. Why,no,? +
did not know had loved her wi,h such de. |
voton. " It was all over now. She belonged
to another. My foot was on the rail. : /
thought then OF the name had siyned;to
thsroli =. No, Jacob Armstrong. YOU have
no right TO take the life which YOU have civ, !
en- TO yoaF conntry.' tnrnAd away toyardl
place. full Of bitterness ss aud dc.
spar. tiny glove was Oh the stairs / /
piekedIit up and pressed it passionatcly to
ny lips, asd cursed myself for Tie act as. i !
threw il down again. 80
The days that followed we're weary enough. !.
! Interchangeable for my departure With I
speed. Tavoided Kate, and was
cold and s.aushty ii MY saititations. am
veryi disnilied natafalfy. can be an, Iceberg
in hunaaf, shape when wish. One evening
| wentinto the parior before tea, and took !
up a newspaper. Kate came in. q + but on !
my dignity. ard tried TO be Interested in Dol. |
itiess thought could think CT nothing butt
the dainty figure opposite, and the cleaning