Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-07-23
THE DAY AND THE STRENGTH
BY 7. ;. ARTHUR.

Warl the very word sent a shudder to the
heart of Mrs. Irwin. From a child up she
had been associated with the idea that war
was horrible and wicked To become a SOL
der, seemed to her perception to involve
cruel instinct. She saw no glory in the pro-
fessiOn of arms. Toy drums and swords were
never seen in the hands of her children, ex-
eept through the unwelcOme agency of aunts,
uncles or friends, and they were in these ca
ses soon removed, with sober homilies on
their bad significance.
at will teach my children" she would say,
s'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 to a degree that made
her formidable debater on the nOn-cOmbat-
i've question with almost every one that hap
pened to be drawn into an argument Ii was
useless to talk to her about the undying an
tagonism between good and evil, and the me-
cessIty of external as well as internal COM
bats; of national regeneration through the
baptism of blood; of a stable peace only
through the destruction of enemies. She de-
MED the position. All wars were wrong,
she contended, and might be avoided.
Not in anything had Mrs. Irwin swerved
from her peace principles, up to the period
when Sumter fell. But that event was like
throwing suddenly into a strong smooth cur
rent a broad obstruction. Her whole being
was in tumult She caught for breath like
one in danger of suffocatiOn. She felt as
though the firm foundation on which she had
been standing for years was crumbling under
her feet. Mrs. Irwin loved her country and
revered its flag, and this assault upon the one
and dissertation of the other, fired her soul
with indignation and when her eldest boy,
not yet in his twenty-frst year, said to her
with clenched hands and flashing eyes,
mother, this must be avengedm-
She did not answer, but sat with pale lips
and face, looking at him in such trouble and
bewilderment of mind that no thoughts be-
came coherent enough for words, until as he
drew his slender form to its utmost height,
and said
"And there is one ready"
"John! Johnl" fell in weak remonstrance
from Mrs. Irwin. Don't let a murderOus
spirit bear you away"
"Don't say murderous," replied the boy,
with so much of rebuke in his tones that his
mother answered quickly
a spirit of revenge then, John. Ven
geanee is mine saith the Lord, and | will re-
pay it."
'Mother! shall we tamely submit to see
this nation destroyed, and its flag which has
been honored for eighty years, shot at, rent,
trampled upon 2" The boys eyes cleaned
fercely. "For one l say, no! And / have
mistaken my mothers heart, if it does not
echo back the word. / do not forget the les
son you taught me years ago, that love of
e 10 Of cd nd
love an object purely, will we not defend it
when assailed? Nay, even lay down our lives
in its protectiOn?"
In spite of all her peace principles and hOr-
rors of war, there flowed into the mind of
Mrs. Irwin such a feeling of admiration for
the outspoken patriotism of her son, that
even he read pride and approval in his moth
er's countenance.
"War is an awful thing, john" said Mrs.
Irwin.
81 know it is, mother But there are
worse things than war, and that worse thing
is at our door. You understand this as well
as do. They have thrown down the guage
of war, and there is nothing left for us but to
accept the hard necessity"
But you are not called to this work,
John" said Mrs. Irwin, the words faltering on
her tongue. "There are strong men enough
who will respond to the Presidents call. |
cannot let you 60, my son." The wet eyes of
MIS-. Irwin OverfOwed.
John laid his hands firmly upon his moth
er's shoulders, and looked steadily into her
face. Then he kissed her tenderly For
the blessings we enjoy, did not the mothers
of the Revolution give their sons to the
battlefield"
81 cannot bear it, my son! / am not
strong enough for this" And Mrs. Irwin laid
her hand upon the breast of her boy and
wePt shudderingly.
"' As our day is, so shall our strength be, ,
mother. Don't you believe this?"
81 do, John" answered Mrs Irwin, lifting
her face, and through half binding tears,
looking at him wOnderingly Nay, more
than wOnderingly, with rising glow of pride
in her heart. Every woman admires cour-
age in a man, and the true mother loves it in
heEson. A new sentiment was taking force
in the mind of Mrs. Irwin and giving strength
for duty and sacrifice. She seemed to her.
self like one undergoing quick transforma-
ton. New ideas and new estimates of things
were pressing upon her, and thrusting old
forms OF thought aside. al do, my son." she
repeated, "but | never thought to see this
day"
''The day has come upon US" replied the
young man, "and shall we not be- equal to its
demand? l am ready, and you are ready
also.S
he spoke in a quick, inspiring voice, for he
saw strength in the eyes of his mother, and
gathering irmness about her mouth.
Only little while longer was there strife
in the mind of Mrs. Irwin only little while
longer did old prejudices and foregone con-
illusions battle with new convictions only a
little while longer did shrinking, natural fear
stand in the way of duty.
A week after, and Mrs. Irwin held. the
hand of her son in parting How changed he
was in single week he had seemed to
grow older by years. The firmly knit mouth !;
the steady eyes; the finely erect figure the
already browning face, for he had been drill.
ing IN the open air for days; the brave reso-
lutte bearing, were all wonderful to look upon
as the work of so brief time. Is it strange
that Mrs Irwin was proud of her soldier ioy
She held his hand in parting.
Do your duty, John" she said, in no
weakness of tone.
will, mother"
Be brave"
envy"
God bless you and keep you my SON lp-
MIS- TWINS eyes filled now, and her woman's