Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1867-11-14
% New Series--v r.. Mo. AZ.


dow, and by the dim light he saw the old
woman and the two children kneeliDg
by the low bed in the corner. She was
holding the hand of the young woman,
who lay with her eyes upturned to, the
fading sky, as il looking in clouds for
some one coming. He had come, the
Great Angel, and he had already taken
her TO the bosom of the All-Father.
For several years after this the old wo-
mans life rippled along as smoothly as a
gentle stream flowing on over sandy
bed to the great ocean. The old umbTel-
la got many a patch, the new bonnet
grew old, and the black silk gown that
she frat wore at her daughters funeral
was turned and returned to fit IL to ap-
pear on Sundays; but she never begged,
and never borrowed, and the winter was
never 80 hard but she had enough ready
money at command TO buy her small
wares "by Wholesale" '"' '7yD i'..t1 ."
Little by little the young lads and hun
cry lovers who frequented the Common
came to know her; and though many a
rival apple-stand from time 10 time dis
puted her right to monopolize the trade,
in stomach-ache they soon had to eat
their own candy, and to "fold their tents
like the Arabs, and silently steal away"
One day the gentleman who had learn
ed of her his first lessons in Christianity,
passing her stand, noticed some new flags
oftruce floating from herpippins. who
wrote these, Aunt Betsey 2" he asked,
pausing to look at the placards.
"Oh, Tommy did them, Sir. He's
amazin' smart at such things. He can
write like any schoolmaster.n
"And how old is he now?" .-.
"Going on fifteen; and I'm thinking,
Sir, it's about time he was doing some-
thing. / might support him some long
er but he's larned all he can larn out of
college,"
"What does he take to?"
e'Well, he wants TO be a merchant. I
suppose he gets a-hankerin' arter it from
my bein' in the business; but there's q
world of wickedness between buyin' and
sellin'. Don't ye think he'd better be a
lawyer?" ~ .. Ia- -
"a lawyer! There's not an honest
lawyer living. Let him bea merchant.
Send him down to my counting-room to-
morrow '.'' %
Tommy went, and so became under
clerk in large commercial house on
Central Wharf. When he drew his first
months pay he brought it home, and
pouring it all into his grandmother's lap,
threw his arms about her neck, and said:
Now, grandmother, you shall shut up
shop. won't have no more Of your sell
ing apples"
But the old woman was not 80 easily
lured from the "walks OF commerce. ~
She did not "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, do
ing neither washing nor sewing.
So three years went away, and then
Fort Sumter fell, and President Lincoln
called for seyenty-five thousand volun-
teers to suppress the Rebellion. When
Tommy went home that night with the
for time; then, looking in his face, she
erything foyD sou; hadn't you ought to
do something for the country?"
"You mean 1 ought to volunteer ?"
said Tolpmy. .--'.. a
Yes! if Mr.. Speegle is willing"
Mr.. Speegle was willing; and so, soon
afterward, 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 gate-ways,
and the old woman, perehed on her three
legged stool, was wildly waving her um-
brella, and, at the top of her lungs, cheer
ing the departing soldiers. At her back
sat a little maiden holding her head in
her hands, and trying to hide her tears
in her handkerchief. This WAS Rose;
and Tommy was going away with the
regiment. He was the only stay OF his
grandmother the 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 every
thing for him; he ought to do something
for the country" .. -.
He was away 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 recounting his daring deeds to some
patient listener at her apple-stand.-
"Just to think" she would say, that q
poor woman like me should rear such q
brave boy for the countryW 7.1-'
t At last news came Of a great battle
Thousands, it was said, had fallen on
| both sides and every morning, with q
beating heart, the old woman went to
the mail for letter from Tommy. But
no letter came, and q 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. ..t-.-.
EoiiC WcHt nOinC tudt hiehsy anu thS
next morning did not go as usual upon
the Common. 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 the bed, and Rose kneeling by. hel
side weeping. He took her hand, but
something in her face kept back the
words he would have spoken. After q
moment she said: "Mr. Speegle, I'm glad
you're come. 1 owe you, and you owe
me. but, guess, the balance is In my IA.
vor. Pay it to Rosy" r.,
"Iwill, said the man, hisvoice 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 we will be together again for
ever"
Then her head sank back, and she
went-went to live in home even high
er above the earth than the top-hoor o
that dingy old house at the North Enc
of Boston.
And now, all Of her that WAS ugly, ant
all that was old, IL at rest in a narrow
grave not hundred rods from where
am writing. At its head stands simple
stone, and on IL is this inscription: 80
.ss BETSEY SANDERS, r..
a-I,Iad slr AaED82.
SHE WAS POoR AND FRIErDLEsS; But