The Portland daily press., 1864-09-30
MISCELLANY.
Ny Three offerings.
BIZ MRS. C. N. THOMAS.


1t was day you all remember, when It'd
ings of disaster and defeat were flashed cleo
trically all over the North, and brave men mis-
took the measured, paralyzed beating of their
own hearts for the death-knell of the repub-
lie.
You remember the volcanic upheaval OF the
smouldering patriotism OF the country when
the first numbness of despair had passed, ana
how living stream of men poured lnto tno
heart OF the nation through all the great iron
arteries of the North.
1t was then gave my first Offering,
The life of the nation tremoieo IN ene Dai-
ance and placed my husDanu Sa,o'y ~ Slo
scale AGAINST il. did it cheerfuly, proudly,
but did no more than others.
Ha came to me one night with the light Of
a great resolve in his piercing eye. / knew
instinctively what it meant. My own fortune
was ample to secure me against want or de-
pendence upon friends, nv children were no
longer helpless, and What was l, that
should hold him back?
He was born to be leader and commander
Of the people. The insignia Of authority had
been God given, and everywhere his fellow
men recognized his right to command. His
presence seemed magnetic, and men crowded
enthusiastically to his standard.
With my own hands l adjusted the splendid
military trappings and the costly sword which
had been the gift of his native State.
de went forth fearlessly, and to was brave
Indeed my partial heart almost deemed MN
capable of coping alone with the whole reDea,
llous South. My last prayers Tor nun Wei
firmly uttered-the last clasp OF my manu- was
untremuluos!
Rnt oh. the loneliness and heartache that fol-
lowed! NV se!fimposed courage and unnat-
ural tirmness utterly deserted me, and were
succeeded nv a more than childish fear and
weakness.
Victor and Edith read the papers before they
wera placed ia my hands, lest L might mad
yertenty stumble upon some paragraph which
in my present state would add to my already
feVerish excitement
But this was not long. 1t was only the re-
action after intense ELECTROMAGNETIC outburst
of long repressed feeling. was calmer then.
From my quiet home watched my husbands
proud career. His glory was mine-his sue
cess was mine, for he was successful.
Two brilliant engagements. through which
he had passed unscathed, had won for him the
plaudits and thanks of mighty people. Ieas-
lily persuaded myself that he bore charmed
life-that the Almighty had need of his puny
arm!
There came time when was awakened
from this lulling dream of security. There
was subdued excitement in the street. l
felt a breathless hush 10 the very air. Men
crowded around the bulletin boards of the var
ious newspapers, and blocked the ways lead
ing to the telegraph office. 49,.
There was no need to inquire. l read the
sad news in every face-the news of victory,
but victory dearly purchased.
What an array OF names, KILLED, wounded
and missing" Ny husbands name was on the
first list. l saw it in staring capitals. l saw
no other. was blind, fainting, dying
thought. the wife of General, who had
been cited as heroine, when the trial came
could only weep and pray like any other fee
BILE woman.
recovered in time to receive the dear, mu-
tilated remains. Isaw them laid in state be-
meath the dome of the capital, overshadowed
by the glorious flag in whose defence he had
fallen. The pail was covered with rich and
rare exotics, and the tall guard stood motion
less, like carved statues, at his head and
feet.
He looked like one in calm and pleasant
sleep, and thanked God that no disiguring
wound had been allowed to mar that noble
face.
Victor and Edith, my poor fatherless chill
dren, rode in the carriage with me. My brain
whirled as the vast procession swept slowly
onward.
The booming of guns, the tolling of bells,
the solemn music, and all the pageantry of a
military funeral, heard and saw like one who
heard and saw not So laid my first offering
upon the altar of my country, and my home
was desOlate. ~
And still the tide of war swept on. "Send
us more men," licked the telegraph, and men
of all classes donned the army blue, turned
their backs upon their homes, and tramped
steadily southwark.
Victor watched them with intense and ca
ger eyes. l knew the thought of his heart,
but gave him no opportunity of expressing
it. l resolutely avoided the subject, but the
crisis came at length.
The telegraph licked again.
"Three hundred thousan dmore."
Victor, my only sonny beautiful, curly
haired boy, came and laid his head on my lap
and besought me to let him go. know not
how it was. My tongue was truer than my
heart. He went, and went with my bless
ing.
My Victor, my raven-haired, eagle-eyed boy
was my second offering.
There is a sacred spot somewhere in the
path that leads "On to Richmond" which has
drank the blood Of my soldier boy. Whether
his bones lie bleaching under a Southern sun,
whether they were tenderly buried by friend,
or carelessly covered by foe know not. We
have only his memory-Edith and l.
Poor Edith my frail flower, SO tenderly nu-
tured. She seems sinking under this last blow.
Selhshly absorbed in my own grief, have ne
elected to sustain and comfort her? 1t may
be so. Victor was her idol. From infancy
they have been inseperable.
l thought my work was done that my last
Offering had been made; that my sacrifice was
complete. But it is not so. Edith droops like
lilly, and know, by unmistakable signs, that
my golden-haired, sunny-browed child, dies