St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1868-12-04

years, went ~ AuaGleSiOll, Ill DOdlS,
twelve miles, taking them two days to
perform the journey"
A SPARTAN MOTHER.
At Lees Mills jeremiah Bishop and
Il. H. Rowell We're severely wounded,
Peter Dantorth and Orlando Stevens
killed the only ones injured who went
from brighton. Young Stevens was the
eldest son OF widow Stevens, who de-
serves II passing notice. Mrs. Stevens
was left 4 widow nine years ago with
five children. three sons and two daugh-
ters-tlle eldest eleven, and the youngest
three years of aye All the estate left
them WAS few acres of land under good
cultivation, on which was Il comfortable
house and barn. She managed to cult
vate her little patch Of ground, the avails
OF which, together with what she could
earn working out, a part of the time
nursing the sick, cooking for hotels, &c,
was sufficient TO ciothe her children, and
send them to school until the oldest boy
could he spared portion Of tie time to
work out in summer and attend school i'll
winter. Thus they managed to live un
til the rebellion broke out That seem
ed to rouse up in her the same patriotic
spirit which was 50 often manifested by
the matruus Of l716. Mrs. Stevens
seemed 10 take a deep interest in the
movement of the armies from the first
and late in autumn, when the roads were
muddy, she would walk two miles twice
i week To meet with the other patriotic
ladies of the village, to contribute her
mite towards furnishing socks and under
clothing for the soldiers OF the Third VI,
Tor which many "God bless YOU" went
out from the hearts Of those brave boys
when permitted to change their clothing
after Il hard days work III the mud and
wet of the sacred soil OF Old Virginia.
! All this Mrs. Stevens did before her own
boys had thought OF volunteering.
! soon recruiting officer made his ap-
pearaucr asking for volunteers, and her
/ lwo oldest -ui.%-one 20 and the other
| : wears of age->igniticd their wish To
obey their counlry's call. Though hard
to par; with her main supports in her
dyclining wears, yet, Spartan like, She
hiI them 90. and Immediately set about
Getting them ready. accompanied them
NIGHT through the untroddsn snow, SAW
them sign their names received the low
iug kiss hid them good bye, with an in
junction TO remember they were ''Circen
! Mountain boys" lett them to take the
early train for tIc seat OF war, returning
to her home how made lonely for the
sake of her country. \ few weeks at-
terward the recruiting officer again re-
turned, when lcr only remaining son,
then lG wears old, asked permission Of hi,
mother 10 follow his brothers. She iclt she
cuu.duot spare him she could not at first
bear the thought OF one SO young and SC
, fail going to the field OF strife to endure tn,
toll and prlvatlons OF camp lite, but the
picadn@s of the boy and the love o
: country finally ovcrcame the mothers de
, sire to keep ham near her. and she con
>ented soon he WA, ready, and though
| little was >:id, the fearful eye and quiv
? ering lip spoke louder than words OF the
l mothers anguish and sisters sorrow a
e they pronounced the last good bye.
D \ telegram announces that Orlando Ste
e vens is among the killed. A messenge
o is dispatched to the widows cottage will
i the melancholy intelligence that he
= eldest son was killed by 4 rebel bullet
The depth of anguish of that mother an,
t those sisters cannot be known except b
= those who have experienced Il simila
II loss But there is an addition 10 tn
II message which seems to give a little re
v lief, it said, lie died bravely fightin
: the enemy" The bravery and devoto
IS then exhibited will make the Gree
e Mountain State proud of her sons. Th
Ii widow said at is hard 10 hear, but
II am glad to hear he was doing his duty
+ suppose hundreds of mothers i'll til
= land are mourning to-day as L am 1t
It necessary fer some to die to save tn
lie country"
re Mrs. Stevens found many sympathii
IN inc friends, and efforts were at one
ID made by the citizens to procure the r.
mains Of her son, that they might repo
d by the side of his kindred upon the banl
Id of that beautiful lake he had 50 oftt
h. visited in his childish sports but, Ill
It. fortunately they could not be identifie
As An extract from q letter written
a the Youngest son to the mother, soon a
II. ter the battle Q4ee's Mills manifests Il
r. same heroic tortitude. lie says: ''Br
xe ;her Orlando was shot in the breast III
IL died instantly, but while lie lived
e. fought like tiger; and, thank God.
inn died in q noble cause. Let this be
ut comfort to you, mother; keep up go
ut courage, we will soon whip the reb