Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-07-23

not finish the sentence.
1t will be through His permission. Are
not even the sparrows in his keeping SAID
John calmly. " How much more human
souls"
They parted Very pale, for all that day
and the next, was Mrs. Irwin. But her bear
ing was firm. If her heart was troubled, 1t
was not weak She was wonder to herself.
Truly it is so" she would repeat over and
over again, in her thoughts; "as our day is
so shall our strength be-"
To an intimate friend she said
81 sometimes ask myself if l am not
dreaming. Can it be possible that my boy
is a soldier and in the face of the enemy /;
and that he is there with my consent?"
"Would YOU have him baek?" asked the
friend.
A quick change as of surprise was seen for
moment in the face of Mrs. Irwin; then
she answered calmly
"No, yield him to his country"
''He looked so brave and manly" said the
friend.
"And seemed" was added, =" to compre-
bend SO clearly the issues at stake. 1t 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
it the courage to meet death in defence OF
country and right. / honor you, my friend,
in being the mother of such a son"
How strangely pleasureable were the
pulses that leaped away from the heart OF
Mrs. Irwin.
This praise of her son was very sweet.
Weeks passed With what an absorbing
interest did Mrs. Irwin watch the progress of
events. Once she turned with an instructive
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 marshaliDg
of troops, their movements, strength and po-
sitiOns, 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 she look 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 a 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
skirmishing 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
white lips and starting eyes she bent over the
brief dispatches. What is this ? Her sons
name The paper shivers in her hand She
cannot read the paragraph. Desperately she
thrusts the sheet down upon a table to hold
it firmly; but a mist comes over her eyes
she does not make out the words Killed or
wounded?
ooh, God give me strength !"
The dimness 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-
ceived a 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 wfole 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 uplifted, 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.
"Icould not stay away from you after read
| ing the news this morning."
A friend said this as he came in a little
while afterwards. Are you not a proud
woman to-day, Mrs. Irwin !?
81 feel glad and humble" was the subdued
answer.
"But did he not act nObly? Who would
have thought that in your quiet, retiring boy,
there was such daring spirit ?"
at does not seem as if it were my son
who has been so brave" said the mother.
"The act has apparently removed him to a
distance, and set itself up as question OF
| right against me. He is not mine in the
sense l have hitherto regarded him. Higher
| duties than those of a son are laid upon him
and must give him to his country in de-
| gree not understood when he went forth at
| bis country's call. / pray, now, that God
will make him equal to his duty under all
circumstances. To lose him would be fear
| full thing; but to find him a weak coward in
the day of battle, would be more fearful
| stilln
"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 self-reliance 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 my boy
will pass unscathed in the ordeal of battle.
But come what will, l will trust in God and
He will lay no sorrow upon my heart too heavy
to bear. If | had ten sons, feeling as / do
now, l 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 selfsacrifice 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.
e