Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-07-21
/" | sE1allbe in His hands just the same,

you--n MrsIrwin broke down. shecould
not finish the sentence. 81 RI
q 1t viii be through His permissi on. Are
not even the sparrows in his keepingf" said
John calmly. How much moreshunnan
souls" - 81 -
= Thesparted. Very pale, for all that day
and the next, was Mrs. Irwin. But her bear
ing was firm If her heart was troubled, II
was not weak She was wonder TO hersen;
Truly it is So" she would repeat over ana
over again, in her thoughts as our gay IF
so shall our strength be-. ..F5E p
To an intimate friend she said
81 sometimes ask myself if l 49,.
dreaming. Can it be possible th'at nnr . b no1
is soldier and in the face o. the en e NY }.
and that he is there with my consent -,
.=s Mould you haye hip back 2n~ asked the.
friend. d WIG
A quick change ss,of surprise was seen for
a moment in the'face Of Mrs, irwin. tben
she answered calnily-
''No, yield him TO his eouptry.n
''He looked so brave and manIy.n said tho
friend. sex =
and seemed" was added, " to comnre-
bend so clearly the issues at stake. It was
no murderous thirst. for blood, no love of
excitement and change that filed his heart:
but that true patriotism which is the inspira.
ton OF an honorable mind, and gives
1t the courage to meet death in defence of
country and right;<~I honor you, my friend.
in being the mother of such SON."
How strangely -pleasureable were the
pulses that leaped away from the heart of
Mrs. Irwin - Z:
This praise of her son was very sweet.
Weeks passed. With what an absorbing
interest did Mrs. Irwin watch the progress Of
HnP acba
repugnance from all accounts of military
movements and battles; but now she had no
taste for anything else. The whole country
was spread out, like map, in her mind, and
every strategic point, with its camps and
soldiers, strongly marked The marshaling
OF troops, their movements, strength and DO
l.sltlons, were now familiar things; and her
heart beat high with pleasure at every tri-
fling success, or yelled itself with shadows
when even the smallest reverse was sustain
ed. With what an irrepressible Impotence
did shesloeks for the regularly. coming letters
from her son; and with what proud salts
faction did she read every detail of his new
life that showed courage, endurance and self
denial. She felt that he was true soldier,
and therefore she was very, very proud of
him.
The news came that the regiment in which
her son was serving had made an advance
upon the enemy's lines; that some severe
sklrmlshing had taken place, and that an en-
gagement was imminent a sudden fear
shook the nerves of Mrs. Irwin. Even as
she read OF the advance, bloody battle
might be going on; and her son be among the
dead or dying. The hours of sleepless sus-
pense that went by until the news of a
victory was flashed over the country, we will
not venture to describe With breathless
eagerness she deVoured their names, as with
Whlte ups and starting eyes she bent over the
sbrlet dispatches. What is this? Her sons
sname The paper shivers in her hand. She
cannot read the paragraph. Desperately she
thrusts the sheet down upon table to hold
1t firmly; but mist comes over her ewes :: |
she does not make out the words Killed or
wounded?
"Oh, God g i've me strength !"
The dlmness passes as she reads ..
Among the brave men who distinguished
themselves, private John Irwin deserves hon
orable mention. In a desperate assault upon
the rebels, the captain of his company re-
celved severe wound and fell to the ground.
He was few PAGES in advance of his men,
and as he fell two of the enemy sprang for
ward to bayonet him. Irwin, seeing this,
flung himself before his PROSTATE captain,
shot one of the men, and in a hand-to-hand
encounter disabled the other Be then bore |
the wounded officer from the field. During |
the whole fight this young man, who is not |
twenty one years of age, conducted himself |
with the coolest courage, and in more than |
one instance rallied his falling comrades He |
has the stuff of which officers are made. and |
the Department should send him a commits |
sion" ..- |
Mrs. Irwin bowed down, with her face up |
on the table, trembling in every nerve: weak
in glad ewilderment-tearful. Then drop-
ping upon her knees, with clasped hands and |
eyes upltted, she said family
90, Lord is he not Thine ?"
A deep peace fell upon her spirit, and she
remained for some time kneeling. But pray
er formed itself in no other words.
"Ieould not stay away from you after read
ing the news this morning"
TREND said this as he came in a little
while afterwards. care YOU not proud
woman to-day, Mrs. Irwin ?"
az feel glad and humble" was the suhduad
answer. 1:
But did he not act nobly? Who would
have thought that in your quiet, retiring bow,
there was such daring spirit ?".
at does not seem as if it were nv son
who has been so brave" said the mother.
The act has apparently removed him to a |
distance, and set itself up as a question of
right against me. He is not mine in the
sense have hitherto regarded him. Higher
duties than those OF son are laid upon him
and must give him to his country in a de-
gree not understood when he went forth at
his countrys CALL l pray, now, that God |
Will make him equal to his duty under all |
circumstances. To lose him would be fear
ful thing; but to find him weak coward in
the day of battle, would be more fearful
still"
To hear such words from your lips From
whence has come this new spirit-this new
courage?"
"As our day is so shall our strength be-
replied Mrs Irwin. "God gives the spirit of
endurance and selfreliance when we have
need of it; and this is our time of need /
do not fiatter myself with the hope that my
heart and home will be spared-that nv boy
will pass unscathed in the ordeal of battle.
But come what will, 1 will trust in God: and
tie will lay no sorrow upon my heart too heavy
to bear. If had ten sons, feeling as | do
now, would give them all for this contest
and send them forth in Gods name"
And to the thousands of mothers hearts
strength and spirit of self-sacrifce have
come in this time of trial. as it came to the
heart of Mrs. Irwin. Like her their souls are
in the cause, and their brave hearts giving
out courage and endurance to tens of thous
ands OF brave sons now battling for right and
their country. 1t is the old spirit of the
Revolution, and by virtue of its sacred fires
our armies prevail.
CHEESE MAKISG.-The factory at Stittv;IIa
Y takes tho milk fro,, o;rl,.