Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1864-01-27


than l. There are. it is presumed, many
proud mothers in America to-day, but
where is there one that is prouder than
70" Did ever Sparta produce a sub.
Inner exhibition of patriotic self-denial?
One of South Cardinals noblest, most
patriotic sons was early thrown into pris-
on for the objectionable crime of refusing
to deny his allegiance to the Union and
to cast in his fortunes with those of the
Confederacy. After the battle of Manas-
as. the Confederates, drunk with triumph
at their victory, as also mad with rage
over the vast number of victims who had
fallen in their ranks, offered this young
man not only his freedom, but promotion
and honor if he would espouse their cause.
His military and scientific attainments
being considerable, they were the more
anxious on this account, to secure his
services. 81 have sworn allegiance to
the Union," said he, "an1 am hot the
man to break my pledge" When tempt
ed by promotion, if he could be prevailed
upon to enlist under their banner, he
said I" You cannot buy my loyalty, l
love Carolina and the South but | love
my country better" Finding him faith
ful to the flag he loved, they remanded
him to prison, confined him in damp,
ill-yentlated cell, and left him to the
tender mercies of a drunken and insolent
keeper. Poor fellow he sank beneath
his troubles, and was soon removed from
the persecution of his oppressors. The
day before his death he said to his wife,
Mary, you are beggared and bereaved
because | would not be disloyal," "God
be thanked for your fidelity" replied the
noble wife. Il know they have taken
your property, know they will take your
life, but there is one thing, blessed be
Gol of which they cannot rob you, and
that is your honor; and our children
shall grow up to inherit an unsullied
name, My husband, rejoice in your f.
deity, in your loyalty and truth" On
returning to her friends after his death
she openly declared that her proudest
boast should be, that her husband died a
martyr to his patriotism. Who shall say
that the day of heroism is past. Nay
the Spartan matrons, | am sure will be
proud to have their names and deeds
coupled and emblazoned with those of the
American mothers, wives and sisters, who
have cheerfully placed their dearest treas.
ures upon the altar of their country
Florence Nightingale, whose conduct in
the Crimea was a living witness to the
singular purity of her motives, will moi
be unwilling to share the historic page
which we so recently awarded to her
with scores and hundreds of our brave
women who have not only cheerfully
though tearfully, given up their loved
ones to fight and die in defense of Their
native land, but have themselves Otter
foregone all the comfortsand endearments
of home, and devoted themselves untir'
ingly to ministering, kindly, tenderly, tt
the wants of our. sick and wounded sol
diers at our numerous hospitals anc
camps But for this war, indeed, W,
should have always pointed to Sparta fol
examples of feminine heroism, and tc
England for instances of woman's philaD
thropy, little dreaming that right here a
home. were slumbering the same elements
of strength and tenderness, awaiting only
the baptism of suffering to spring up anc
furnish Instances of as earnest work, al
unainching patriotism and high moral en-
deavor, as the world ever saw. Ought w
not, assuredly, to be prouder of our ma
tiopality to-day than ever before ?--to b
devoutly thankful for such new and ricl
developments 9---to rejoice that our moth
ers and sisters have done so much, anc
are still doing 50 much, to ennoble ou
country, and shed new luster on our race
We have loved our women hitherto be
cause OF their beauty, gentleness, or vir
tues. They have now shown themselve
to be heroic and noble, devoted and patri
otto, and have thus earned their claims t
a deaner love. n more fervent. heartfelt