The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-03-23
THE GATE CITY
THURSDAY, MARCH %.


iiOn...sIx n . Family.
The better part of mans nature, ~
we'll az The worst features, are often made
visible at the Supervisors volunteering
room. A whole family. mother and I've
children, led by their ssalwart head, the
husband aod father, presented themselves
: few DAYS since to Chairman Blunt in
New York, for the six hundred dollars
bounty, he, the husband, having just been
examined and mustered in. It was .
large family, and a sorrowful one-all ex.
ce5t the little tow. headed fellow in its
mo hers arms, who was leaping and
growing as though he really thought IL
was excellent fun, capital joke. The
family appeared as a respectable one.
though The hand of poverty evidently
rested heavily upon it. and this, most
likely, was the last resort, the last hope,
the throwing Of one overheard to save the
rest. AS Mr.. Blunt counted the money
-cne, two, three. four. Eve, six hundred
dollars, and presented it, . kind Of sickly,
faint smile was visible through the m
hidden tears which were ooursiug down
hi. checks, for bis time, be knew, with
his familg-its joys aud hopes-was now
abou. up. His children were clinging to
his legs, begging him not TO leave them !;
his wife. too full too speak, looked nnut-
tersblc griefs and clung all the Closer to
her babe.
The money was all right he held it in
his hand-more than he had owned at
oucs during all his lifetime. "God bless
you, wife and children /; We must now
part, perhaps forever. This money, wife,
is yours; but let me give some to each ;
it will crafty me and 60 to you whenever
you want it. Here, vile, is one hundred
dollars for you; may Heaven bless il and
you Here, Billy. is enc hundred dollars
for you; be good and true to your mo-
Their, and, as you are the Oldest, watch
faithfully over your brothers and sisters
james. here is one hundred dollars fol
you; give il to Jour mother whenevel
she wants it. Mary, take this one hun,
drei dollars, be good girl, and in yonl
prayers remember your father. Come
here, my pet Alice, here is one hundred
dollars for you to keep until good mamms
requires it. And nov my little toad
without a name-yes, let Us call him
Hope do yoa say SO, wife p 1t was as
senled to. "Then here, you little crow.
ing cock-blcss the little fellow! may
never see him again. Kiss me, boy
Here, put this one hundred dollars ir
your little hand, and don't eat it, bu
pass il over to your mother as soon nj
possible" The noble hearted fellow,
heavy frame seemed to culver all over a.
he flushed bis distribution and knew tha
his time had come. lie embraced eact
and al separately, and declared himsel
ready to go.
"Bat," says Mr.. Blunt, "there 10 an
other hundred dollars . ouing TO you-tht
hand money. Who brought you here ?
"Tnst wee bit CT a babe, your honor; | Z
never come in the world had it not beer
for that dear babe" "Well, then, the
hand money or premium belongs to him y
''Bless ne, is it SO? Wife, put that one
hundred dollars in Inc savings bank fol
Hope, and never touch It if you can helr
it-ifyou can help it, mind-rntil he
comes Of age. God bless the little fel-
low . He stands well in the world after
all, aud may yet be President"
The man stepped upon the platform Of
the turns.lie, and was whiled 10 out Of
eight of the world and oil he loved. The
whole ne-was most touching one
emo OF true family a'fection.' and long TO
be remembered by all who witnessed it
Who says that poverty sears and dries up
tae living streams of affection, and the
material love which we bear toward our
kind?