The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-09-17
Saturday Morning, Sept II, 1864.
The Day and the Strength.

&aS 1@J 0k<A viz wv OAk tAs
War the very word sent a shudder to the
heart OF Mrs. Irwin. FROM = child up she had
been associated with the idea that war was
horrible and wicked. To become soldier,
seemed to her perception 10 involve cruel in-
stinct. She saw no glory in the profession OF
arms. icy drums aud swords were never
seen in the hands Of her children, except
through the unwelcome agency OF aunts, un-
cles or friends, and they were in these cases
soon removed, with sober homiles on their
bad significance.
~ wIli teach my children" "she would say,
"to love their enemies; not to hate and des-
troy them. To be ever on the side OF peace
and good will to mankind; not on the side of
hatred and destruction.
Mrs. Irwin read tracts and books published
by peace societies, and In the argument against
war crowded her mind with facts, statistics
and reasons 10 degree thar made her "a for
midable debater on the non-combatiye ques-
tion With almost every one that happened TO
be drawn into an argument. Ii was usele s.
10 talk 10 her about the Gndying antagonism
between good and evil, and the necessity OF
external as well as internal combats OF nation
al regeneration through the baptism OF blood;
OF stable peace only through the destruc-
tion oil enemies. She denied the position. All
wars were wrong, she coniended, aud might
be avoided.
Not in anything had Mrs. Irwin swerved
from her peace principles, up TO the period
when Sumter ieii. But thai event was like
throwing suddenly iuto strong smooth cur
rent broad obstruction. Her whole being
was Ia tumuit. She caught for breath like
one In danger OF sutfocation. She felt rs
though the rirm foundation on which she had
been standing for years was crumbling under
her1eet Mrs. Irwin loved her country and
reyered its flag; aud this assault upon the one
aud dissertation OF the other, fired her soul
with Indignation; and when her eldest boy,
not yet IN his twenty-hrst year, said to her
with cienched handsand flashing eyes:
Mother this must be avenged"
She did not answer, but sal with pale lips
and face, looking at him In such trouble aud
bewiiderment OF mind that no thoughts be-
cane coherent enough for words, until as he
drew his slender form 10 It's utmost height,
and said
"And there is one ready
"Johni Johni7 fell In weak remonstrance
from Mrs. Irwin. -Don't let q murderous
spirit bear you away"
-popt say murderous, replied the boy, with
20 much reouka 10 bis tones that his mother
answered quickly
"A spirit Of revenge then. John. Ven
geanee is mine saith the Lord, and l viii repay
"Mother. shall we tamely submit TO see this
nallul destroyed, and its flag which has been
honored for eighty years, shot at, rent, tramp
led upon " The ooy's eyes CLEANED hsrceiy.
.-for ons say no, Aud | have mistaken
my mothers heart, Ii il does not echo back
the word. ! do not forget the lesson you
taught me years ago, that love Of country Is
next 70 love OF God. Aud ii We love an OBJ
ject purely, will we not defend it when assail-
ed2 Nay, nlsy down our lives in It's pro-
tectiop ~
In spite OF all her peace principles and hor-
rors u war, there flowed into the mind o.
Mrs. ir win suen feeling Of admiration for
tne outspoken patriotism OF her son, that even
he read pride and approval in his mothers
countenanee,
"War is an awful thing, Jonn," said Mrs.
lrwlu.
u know II is, mother. But there are worse
things than war, and that worse thing is at
our door. You understand this as well as
do. rney have thrown down the gauge Of
war, aud there is nothing lelt 10: Us but TO ac-
eept tne hard necessity"
tBut you are not called to this work, john"
said Mrs. Irwin, the words iaitering on her
tongue. rnere are strong men enough who
viii respond 10 the Presidents call. Tcannot
let you 20, my son. The wet eyes OF Mrs.
IRWIN oycrhowed.
John laid his hands firmly upon his mothers
shoulders, and looked steadily into her face,
Tnen he Kissed her tenderiy. For the bless
ings we enjoy, did not the mothers OF the
Revolution give their sons TO the battle
deld2'
Il cannot bear 1t, my SOM am not strong
enough for this" Aud Mrs. Irwin laid her
head upon the breast Of her boy and wept
sluaaeringiy.
..As our day Is, SO shall our strength be,
mother. Don't you believe this ?''
Il do. Johp,n answered Mrs. Irwin, lifting
her face, aud through half binding tear
looking at him wonderingiy. Nay, more than
wpnderngly, with rising glow OF pride in
her heart. kvery woman adnires courage in
g man, and the true mother loves II in her son.
A new sentiment was taking force In the mind
OF Mis-. Irwin aud giving strength for duty
and sacrifice. She seemed to herself like one
undergoing q quick transformation. New
IDEAS and new estimates OF things were press
lag upon Der, and thrusting old forms oi
Thought aside. Il do, my son." she repeated
"but never thought to see this day"
"The day has come upon US" replied the
yeupg man, ''aad shall we not be equal 10 IL;
demand? ! am resdy, aud yau arc ready
also,"
He spoke in quick, inspiring voice, for hi
saw strength In the eyes OF his mother, and !
Onls = little while longer was there stril
ia the l.iGd of Mrs. Irwin; only little whll'
longer did old prejudIces and fcregone conclu
sions battle with new convictions only it'll
while longer did shrinking, natural fear stanl
Ia the way OF duty.
A week after, and Mrs Irwin held the han,
Of her son in parting. How changed he was
Ia single week be had seemed 10 grow osdel
py years The urmiy knit mouth; the stead!
eyes; the finely erect figure; the alread,
browning face, Tor he had been drilling in tn
open air for days; the brave, resolute bearing
were all wonderful TO look upon as the worl
Of SO briel time. Is It strange that Mrs. Ii
yin was proud OF her soldier boy:-She he'll
his hand In parting.
Fpo your duty, John she said in no weak
ness Of tone.
II will, mother
"Be brave"
81 will never turn my back upon the CD,
N.Y. ffH
"God bless you and keep you, my son
IRA. Irwin's eyes filed now aud her woman
heart trenbied in Aer yaies.
II shalt be in His hands Just the sam
mother"
Il know Ii, John, and II death comes TO yC
---r Mrs. Irwin broke down. She cou
not Hnish the sentence.
.It will be through His permission. A
not even the sparrows In His keepingp" So
John calmly. aHow much more hums
souls"
They parted. Very pale, for all Of that dl
and the next, was Mrs. Irwin. But her bea
log was firm. Ii her heart was troubled
was not weak. She was wonder to herself
sTruly it is so,s she would repeat oyer al
over again, In her thoughts; "as our day Is
shall our strength be-"
To an intimate friend she said