The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-03-15
His speech blinded her perception. Sh

"Have your wages been reduced?
knew cid Mr., Hughs is very stingy. Per-
haps we can get along though, if we are
very saving, if the winter is SO hard. 1
could get along almest anyhew with ysu
and baby"
The streng man bowed his head over
hers and grsaned. The trial Of their
lives was upon them. How should he
tell her the awful truth2
"Marien," he faltered. Marisn, am
drafted r' " ~
She started-shewed him white ter
rifed face, and then she was very still.
1t was ever. He had told her, and that
patient, passionate, earnest heart had been
sentenced to its TEXTURE. She lay very
still in his arms, moaning as enc means
when, hope has been overcome by life.
This was the skeleton she had tried to
hide, and, new how naked, hew distinct
and terrible-hsw ghastlyiit stood up be-
fere her! What woman's heart suffers,
what it .bsars--what it breaks with, was
coming to this child woman.
Baby Grace wakencd up and stretched
cut her arms and smiled Marion arose
slowly and went and raised her to her
bosom. She had given up Jshn as to
death, and she felt this was all that was
left her The night fell as it had fallen
upon her heart. /
John Elmer could have bought his life
for paltry sum; but he had not the sum
which could buy it. Three hundred doll
lars is pitiful amount, bat for want, of
it Martens heart was beginning to petri-
fy. Marion did what she could. 1t was
but little, that which she could not do
was killing her. He could make no pro-
visions rwife or child--there was nsne
in his power. He would leave them in |
the care of Him who fed the ravens. The
morning came when John Elmer was to
leave his home-dark and rainy-cold,
and oh! so dreary. He felt that it was
for the last time. He parted from Ma
rien-oh, what parting! So wretehed, so
sorrowful 1t was justllike soul torn
from the body--he looked into her face
he san -nething--hat a and that !
strange stiffness which semetimes comes
unaceouatably over children was upon
Grace He snatched himself away-he
dared not look back Marion took up her
child, close against her bosom, SO close it
trsset free, and turned and went
in. A rich stockholder remarked at din
ner that day, having paid six hundred fer
TIVE sons!-"That copperhead Elmer went
to-day--csuld net raise the 'spondulicks.
Good enough for him--he might have
volunteered long ago.
Such sympathy had Marion.
Weeks and months passed on. It was
dreary with Marion; oh, SO lonely. She
had nothing but Grace now. She heard
from Jshn but seldom. 1t was very sell
dem he sent her money, for the wages of
a drafted man are not wonderful, and it
WAS hard to make the ends meet The
winter had come on, and erythiag was
going up; her house rents had fallen due,
and she was in need of weed. Strange
what changes are wrought in SO short a
time From the modest ease Marion ives
csning to want--it might be to suffering
or staryatien--she could not tell. She |
left her baby and went cut to hunt for
work. She had her sewing machine, and
she could sew She had not counted the
difficulties. Her husband was drafted
mana "butternut had nothing
for her to dc. They gave their work to
Union volunteers. Marion locked in
their faces and wondered what they meant.
Was belief reprsach7 Was it dis
grace to be drafted? IF SO, it fell upon
him. She was proud-this little woman.
But when she went back and found Grace
crying fer her, and the rosm cold, her
pride began to give way to dispair One
day came letter to Marien, she read it'll
tsarlsssly, but it was the wedge that,
driven sharply in, divided the already
broken heart. 1t was from a csmpanien
of johns telling how he had been unable
to bear the rsugh usuages Of war, hew he
had fallen i'll, aud after lying long time
in the hospital, had died. He should
have written her before, but had been
separated from John on detach service
during his sickness. Then itspoke of
his gallantry, his close observance Of his
assumed duties, &c. But what mattered
all this to Marion? He was dead--he
was gone-shs could never, never see his
dear face again. She would never be
held in his arms-never feel the pressure
Of his kiss. He Was dead and Grace was
fatherless. Bat Martens grief was silent.
she rose up and toek up her burden, and
thought she would live for the sake of the
little one. But it was hard work to live.
She get ssme little work to de-, but she