Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1867-11-08

Send him down to my counting-room to-
| morrow" M
Tommy went, and SO became under-clerk
! in a large commercial house on Central
Wharf. When he drew his fret month 8
pay he brought it home, and pouring it all
into his grandmother's lap, threw his arms
about her neck, and said a.
"Now, grandmother, you shall shut up
shop. won't have no more of your sell
ing apples"
But the old woman was not 30 easily
lured from the walks of commerce" She
did not Z" shut up shop" She still kept her
stand on the Common; but In summer she
staid at home on rainy days, and in winter
laid by, like the frogs, doing neither wash
ing nor sewing.
So three years went away, and then Fort
Sumter fell, and President Lincoln called
for seventy-fiye thousand volunteers to
suppress the rebellion. When Tommy
went home that night with the news, his
grandmother was thoughtful for a time
then, looking in his face, she said: Z" Tom
my, the country has done everything for
you; hadn't you ought to do something for
the country"
You mean | ought to volunteer ?" said
Tommy.
eyes if Mr.. Speegle is willing"
Mr.. Speegle was willing; and so, soon
afterwards, a queer scene was witnessed on
the Common. The whole parade ground
was in commotion. A regiment, which
had been under review, was marching out
Of one of the gateways, and the old wo-
man, perched on her three-legged stool,
was wildly waving her umbrella, and, at
the top of her lungs, cheering the depart
ing soldiers. At her back sat little maid
en-, holding her head In her hands, and try
ing to hide her tears in her handkerchief
This was Roses; and Tommy was going
away with tho regiment. He was the only
stay of his grandmother only hope of
her eighty years but cheerfully, and at
her own prompting, she had given him up
to the country. "'The country had done
everything for him he ought to do some
thing for the country"
He wasaway several months, and then
came back, re-enlisted, and went away
again, leaving his bounty with his grand
mother. After this he was often heard
from, and always with honor; and the old
woman seemed to grow young again, In re-
counting his daring deeds to some patient
listener at her apple-stand. "Just to
think, she would say, with tears in her
rear such brave boy for the country!"
2 At last news came of great battle.
Thousands it was said, had fallen on both
sides; and every morning, with beating
heart, the old woman went to the mail for
a letter from Tommy. But no letter came,
and few days later she found his name
among the list of those who, in the great
struggle, had given up their lives for their
country.
ri She went home that night, and the next
morning did not go as usual upon the Com
mon. Noticing her absence Mr.. Speegle
went to her humble home at nightfall.
The curtains were down but in the dim
light he saw her stretched upon her bed,
and Rose kneeling by her side weeping.
He took her hand, but something in her
face kept back the words he would have
spoken. After moment she said ." Mr..
Speegle, I'm glad you re come. oweyou,
and you owe me; but / guess the balance
is in my favor. Pay 1t to Rosy"
. 81 will, p" said the mau, his voice husky.
She made no reply, but lay for many
minutes without speaking. Then, clutch
Ing the young girls hand, she said "Rosy,
I'm going; but love the Lord, and some
day you will be together again forever"
Then her head sank back, and she went
went to live in home even higher
above the earth than the top floor of that
dingy old house at the North End of Bos
ton. ,T.,F.,. E,.. .-.~.,E g 1@
And now, all of her that was ugly, and
all that was old, is atlrest in a narrow
grave not hundred rods from where / am
writing. AT its head standsa simple stone,
and on 1t is this inscription
BETSEY SANDERS, ~
Aged 50.
She;was poor and friendless; but she loved God
T. - and her country. & 81