The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-05-23


But instead Of good nights rest, the
came htful slumber, disturbed by frightful
dreams that had haunted her pillow night
after night for week, LEFT the widow War
ncr the following morning paler than usual
but with a l0OS Of determination and resolu-
tion never before seen on her mild, gentle
face, while the first words that greeted her
daughter were,
"Eellie, am going to Washington you
must help me get ready, for must start i'm
mediately."
40 Washington why, mother, what do
you meauf Surely you have not heard
'No, no; have heard nothing, my child;
il is simply this have been tortured late
Is, day and night, with the idea that our boy
Is sick and suffering, or in some great trou-
bic. Night after night have dreamed of
him, sometimes being with him on the bat
tlefeld, and again in hospitals filled with
the wounded and dying and all last night
I dreamed he was d little child again, sick
and moaning in my arms. ! didn't like 20
speak u it before, Nellie, for fear Of alarm
ing you, but can't endure it longer, for
feel, 1 kAOlC my boy is suffering, perhaps
wounded, and It may be, dying"
"But, mother, if Robert is whore you fear
be is, how would you gnd him 7 1t seems
to me al imposeibility. " ait q day or two,
mother, ana be calm you know we shall
hear again soon II there has been another
battle"
"How viii End him, Nellie? Ny child,
the instincts OF mothers heart never fail
her, and tie same power that warned me OF
his present danger will also with the help OF
God, lead me to him. He is piniBg for me
he needs his mother; and she viii, must,
End hlm.7
She sat down a moment, and, folding her
bands, gsEed with a dreamy, far-of look out
into the sunlight while she murmured in a
low tore, "Yes, yes, Robbie, my golden
haired boy, mother will come"
Living, as they did, in an out-of- the way
place, where news travelled slowly, it never
theless reached them before the widow War
ner had finished her preparation for depar-
ture. There has been another battle. News
paper columns were Glled With the sickening
details, while he long liss Of killed wound
ed, and missing were eagerly examined BY
the thousands Of ANXIOUS, trembling ones
at home and while some folded the paper
with long, deep sigh Of relief, and a
thank GOu has name As not there" many
found the dear name, and, scarcely con
sciously, read It over and over In stony des-
pa until at last t seemed ia letters vi IRE,
burning deeper and deeper into their agOn-
lied hearts. Robert Nalncr's name was
among the wounded, and now that her fears
were confirmed, his mother started imme-
diateiy on her sad journey.
We must finish our little story in one Of
the numerous hospitals, flied by the poor
mengle., bleeding men brought from the re-
cent battle field. They had al been cared
Tor, aud something like order and peace was
once more restored 10 the place so recently
ali1n confusion, mingled with groans and
crlea q despair, while many Of the poor fell
lowe we're borne cut to their last resting
place tie grave, How many different faces
loo ked CUT from these little cots, as one
passed down The long apartment some with
the gray shadows OF death already settling
over them, others in delirium Of fever, fran
hcaly urging their conn AIDES on TO the contest
while several, weak and feeble from the loss
OF blood, lay looking around them, with
1oIelHse, hOme-slck look on their sad faces.
In one VI me cots at tue further end OF
the room lay beG1siful boy, seeming
scarcely more than chiid,-slight and fra
glie, with HeaIth Of golden BAR clustering
round broad, white brow, and features
dehcats aud far as a giTPs. lie appeared
70 De sleeping,-yet 1t almost seemed the
sleep VI death, 50 still and white be was
While nurse AID physician were both bend
ing enziously over him, the latter gently
feeling for the feeble pulse, shaking his mead,
meanwhile With look that told plainly as
words, his opinion Of the poor lads condi-
4lon.
AS .hey turned to leave the CO.., low
Hnurnur came from the lips Of the sleeping
boy, and they heard the words, Mother,
mother, o, / knew you would come"
GsThat is lust it,r said the nurse, in
whisper ri tell you, doctor, if that boys
mother was here be would get well. Poor
little fellow be is home-siek and Just pining
himself to death for his mother. You cay
yourself his wounds are doing well, and be
mas no fever, then why can We not save him."
eyes, but be Is sinking every days and
cannOas a0W see the least chance tor him.
Bot YOU must care for him tenderly, nurse.
Poor little lad, il is q sad case, indeed" and
the kind hearted physician passed on.
Somehow the boy had already endeared
himself to every one around him. The doc
tors watched him closely, while the nurses
lowered round his cot, cheering and enco0r-
aging with hopeful, kindly words, and try
ing 10 tempt his appetite With every dellcaey
within their reach. Not a voro Of complaint
did lie ever utter, smiling swee iy on all who
came near him,-yet each DIV found him
paier and weaker and apparently nearer the
grave.
A lady came to the hospital one day,-a
gray-haired, sad-loOking woman, and en-
quiTcd for Robert Warner. Yes, he was |
there, and awe. That was all there was |
no hope, and the widow sank down in the |
nearest seat, aud bowed her face in her |
hands, weeping silently, and praying for |
Zoo IN his mercy to spare her boy.
AT last rnnoF reached the nurse before |
mentioned, that Robert Warmers mother had |
arrived AT the hospital, and with glad |
heart and quick feet she sped away, ana |
finding the sorrowful mother, gently said to
heF (; BE calm, madam, just left your boy,
and can tell you al about him. lie is very
weak and iow,--the physician thinks pass
nep,--but believe that his mothsa's pre-
sence will do more for him than anything
Else in the world. 1 think you can save
lim."
II knew il, | knew it. Oh I! take me to
him quickly" pleaded the poor mother.
"No," said the kind nC-se. 81 will first
Zee you made comfortable, and then will
70 and prepare him for the happy SURF rise
in store for him. He is very weak and must
not be excited"
The nurse FASTENED back to her post, and
10 she neared Roberts bed the boy opened
his eyes and said
f'Oh, nurse, had such dream. thought
ny mother had come to take me back home
but il Was nothing bus dream after ALL"
md the blue eyes filed with tears, and the
lips tTembled Like q gfiesed child's. Ii
EDO Y0u want to see your mother very
inch, Robert" II
's0h, % much you'd get well Il mother I
onld come"