Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1864-12-27
1fltetrII0ul!.
stephen Gray,
NJ llitly a. r,utEsrn.


"Come cailj, uid mother, make the coffee
ard set tlc table, snd we'll have breakfast right
Saay. l54g .J'hsr - IN . hurry to get off TO the
woods as be has ;8o bands to help him today
Au. SO ! went about my work. The boyi
Hilarious with ninth, came in from the barn with
teen milk p's, and he rnen tinkered with their
tvss and chains the otusr eide Of the stove, while
mother ana ] worked on- way around them, she
VIA patent good Lumo7, |, very much out OF
s.r, with oil the world. lou know how dreAfy
is tat eagtg, frosty morning, when II is 80 dark
and cold laaj the temper must flash out little
10 make light asd heat. BESIDES, tsis kitchen
work bad grown distastslul 10 me this homely
domestic lilo seemed prosaic, and so | had only
tnaip word g my brothers fun and Mischief
silent t'na1- under M fathers gooe-aaiured
rai..ery, aad grave tscs under my mothers
w.s,iu., sympathzrs look.
The psgN vas flied, tho potstoes boiled, the
Biscuit baked, and the osffse ssnt It's fragrance
through he room as We gathered around our
frugal board. Our heads we're bowed moment
as father reve-enty acknowledged the Giver Of
our blessings, remembering our country's need,
even IN that short benedicuon on our food. And
then naturally talked OF the war.news, the policy
o. the administration, or the necessity OF another
dral. Listening to them, felt strong and
proud, that had given my best to nay country.
80 We dim the line gold OF our virtues. We do
heroic deeds and worship ourselves for them.
is they discussed draft, my impatient tongue
grew hot with Indignation that DRAFT should be
needed. Ihers we're men enough in our town
who might volunteer, and for those who awaited
themselves Of any excuse to be exempt from ser
vice, / had no patience with them. The multi
piled forms Of physical inability, that had disabled
90 many Of our man, the sudden family arrange
ments Uy which the parents depended on Ger
tain son, the unexpec, ed removal to other places
how ligaily | ran over these, and how scorn
fully dropped oil my tongue the epithets | ap
piled TO these eXempts,' this eowardly set c
men.
Father laughed at my enthusiasm, but sa'
the color deepen in the cheek Of one Of the mel
Stephen Gray, and his eye flashed little as b
bent over his plate. lie said nothing in reply
my TRADE, bu5 as | caught that look in his ey
Iememb red that he had been drafted the yes
before, bat The care Of an invalid sister and wiz
owed mother had been received as suflicer
excuse for not holding him.
40 the talk went on, and father was spsaku
Of on. brave boys, he replied, {" There be sou
that stay at home who,e task is harder. Tho
who caHi 30 are to De pted, as well as tho
who do go
Would you 20 ?" said little Henry.
"Ceftsiny would, were It not for mother al
Hannah, be replied.
boxed az The man & homely, grave fce,
Ba,wart il.m and brswny arms, that had dol
their work on the sane farm from earliest chill
hood. remembered him when he did not loo
40 sober, Nlen he uieI TO come to cur house
v0.N VIII the Older oolsi many time he HI
tossed IN an ,ts hoy or saaksa dowa the ros
checked arp.s' TO hIi my basaet Ills father h
ulsd uaa .s, u.m 70 provide far weak quer
Jas mother uga 0et.ridten slstes Inc sms
rocky arm ,e.i'd ha, nor profit tnd I
At.e brown Aou.s grew older sul more home
Ia rs roushho,,hnc and primitive iurnlu
Bl: Tie mother t.usg psrtiascious.y 10 the {
EcGs, sad would listen TO no change o. impr'
mga,, ant ,ne SISTER, III naturtd aud stupid, b
no vlmlnly Gits lu gladden. ngr brothers he'
had her strength been equal or her health ~
cieat. Ard So The youta grew into manic,
with hard hbof outdoors aad ll.lle comfort wi
Iui faithful. honsst and psuen, in the lot fal
10 ann With suly common abilities and
ordinary education Of poot tarm.rs boy,
Ne mus; b, humble enough. There had co
80 him cree, Is there comes 10 other young m
d,eam of pleasant home vi h face he lo'
Ha bed booked into Mary Lees bright eyes,
ha hoa,s. brat had growa warmer as he wal
ed her bti,k movements around her athers XII
a., or be,rl hsr voice in snatohas Of songs as
breush. ia het trimming mix pals, when
worked there in" having time but how &C
he esk tue gfl he loyed to beir the poverty
discomfort " bic home, with no prospect Of
king /. better oe psaanisr? His mother
sister we're oo tet N their way. to allow
Interference. And yet there was kind of
10 his heart The, some day things would char
ssd 10 hs waited, but at last Mary got mar
and went to Oaio - live. Alter that he 5
sober and old. No wife to St a, his table,
children to gather round his hearth the mo
inore childish the sister more feeble aud e.
ihFt vas il strange taat he grew sober aud
AID into this menolonous llie had GENE the
to arm himself for his country, cal to 90
from sha, dull, dreary life into the keen 81
nent and stirring sesnes Of the atmy. But