The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1869-10-15
WASHINGTON LETTER.
ieSaPasaala I.nont JoatssI.l
WAsHINGroN, D. O., October 3. lsI


WASHINGTON, d. O., October 3, 1869.
am going to venture upon little story.
II concerns parties living here in Washing
Ton, persons l am acquainted with. If it
doesn't prove interesting, it is because your
correspondent cannot tell story, or because
che subjects have not .siistsnce s-of cline
Or date-''lo lend enehartnient to he view ;
Early in the rebellion poor widow Iiv.
ed on farm in Wisconsin. The land was
not yet half reclaimed from the native wild.
ness in which it vas Obtained from Govern
lnent. This was all the worldly estate the
head of abe family left behind him, But he
left his widow surrounded by three sons, all
hearty, and well-fOrmed boys, to be counted
worth more than their keep on barren
rock in the middle Of Lake Michigan.
The widow, "a kttle body in herself was
justified iE counting much on her brave bows
Two of them had attained to mans estate.
aud the Youngest was usefullump of boy
But the rebellion broke out, and the thrin
Of electrified patriotism stopped not short Of
rhe nerves and arteries of those young
prairie 1t was finally decided, in
that little circle, after many asurge Of feel
ing for country and many a counter-surge
for mother" and for''son," respectively,
that the two Oldest should enlist; and that
the mother and youngest should stick TO the
"Plaoe, and keep home for the soldier
boys, if God should spare their lives TO
want it. 10 9WOtt 8E l)Gs
So the two big boys Joined regiments of
her State, and bsde their first gOod-by 10
their mother, brother and home.
But fO1 the fear of taking to much of your
room would have begun my story farther
back, and told you that Mrs. B. was PiO-
neer's daughter, and had gone to the frontier
so early in life, and had travelled about, and
lived, SO far outside of educational means
aud opportunities, with both father and hus-
band, ever snce, that she had meyer learned
to write or to read writing So great had
been her experience in the out of-door, camp
life of "westiDg" .emigrants, as a sailor
would say, she had learned to tell the time
of night and the points of the compass by
the stars. But reading the stars was not
the kind Of reading now wanted.
OF course the boys were TO write homo Of
ten. But what then? How was she TO get
possession of the contents, of their Ietters2
and more, hoH were the boys 70 hear from
her? The younger brother, although then
oh.
heart in that little bOdyl-sh would learn to
read writing and 70 write. All the work of
the house aud farm was to be done by her
single SELF save only the help of that young
boy; yet she would read her boys letters
from the army and answer them, herself.
Aud she did See that little sturdy woman
holding the plOw, while her son drives the
oxen; and follow her there into the night,
taking advantage of the moon eke out
the inadequate labor of the day. Aud now
see her in the house, farther on in the night,
alone, the beasts cared for aud at rest and
her son sbed By the solitary candle she
sits decipbering, letter by letter, the words
of her sOldier-boys precious epistles, catch
ing clue to the meanings here aud there
by the intuitions of a mother, and interpret
ting other words by their obvious Connection;
and so on; and noting the forme closely,
meanwhile, for her imitation of them in re-
turu. That was thei way she learned to
write. Think of III
The youngest of the two sons was, killed.
The poor lone Widows eyes were thence.
forth less frequently and less wearingly
tried in the small hours of the night deciph-
ering and fac-similizing, but obi it was at
a terrible expense of her heart Still she
struggled on; though the "place" could be a
home for one of her boys no more. Next she
deciphered that the eldest had lost an arm.
And still she struggled On.-And stiH far
ther trial awaited her. The heart OF the
youngest son, instead of being cowed by
these bire casualties, was only swelling
in his bosom past restraint. end she was
obliged 10 part with her last. Then the
heroic woman yielded 60 eutreaties snd the
physical imPOssibility of getting along alb
solutely alone, and went into a settlement to
live. - - E r
The story is eurtsiled at every step; yet
in the matter of pure heroism, challenge a
comparison between this modest, obscure
soldies boys mother and any Of the heroism
of history.
Here they both are at present. Lately
Il f,1- 1f >
daughters to be daughter to his mother
The young lady sccredits herself
connaisseuse Of good stock in accepting the
situation.
The youngest remains in the army, and
Is on active duty, so far unscathed.
A very intelligent and veracious gentle
man, now a clerk in the Treasury Depart
ment, looking over diary, day or two
since, which he kept from I546 to SO, while
resident of Dublin, Ireland, had progressed
as far as 1851, when be came across long
entry of a very disturbing dream to the
effect that he had been shot through the
right side. Noting the date of the entry,
be found that 10 years to day from the
dream he was actually shot through the
right lung in one Of our engagements with
the rebels in 81. He will publish a verified
account of the coincidence.
The President and Sec. Boutwell, did not
differ concerning the recent sale of gold in
New York, reports to the contrary notwitb-
sanding. The Sec. has ordered the sale of
$l,OOO,OOO every Tuesday and Friday till
Nov. l, aud purchase each Wednesday of
S2,OOO,OOO bonds, in addition to the existing
order on acct of sinking fund.
The President has not expressed any
preference for Gen.. Williams Mrs. Douglas
husband) for U. S. Senator of Va. He
merely spoke well of the Gen., when named.
Gen. Sherman has been mandamus-ed for
refusing to allow some attorneys to practice
before the War Department on account Of
alleged corruption. The General referred
the matter to the Atty General, who is said
to agree with Gen. Sherman,
The Arion Quartette Club German gave
a concert Tuesday night, for the relief of
the Avondale sufferers. About $500 was
netted. Our German citizens are making
themselves as notable for their intelligence,
taste. and Iberality, as they and their
nationality have always been in this country
for their industry and thrift aud rational
pleasure taking.
Several prominent Republicans, among
u -nn.nhnrr md nr-nnon,herr Of the