The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-08-24

cent-looking that it seemed almost like rob-
bling trundle-bed to comply with his earn
est request that should allow him to I'M
dertake the barn-burning
But he was plucky and persistent. and
after little questioning gave him few
directions and my permission. though felt
more like sending him back TO his mothers
knee, from which he evidently had not
graduated many years. l, of course, had
but little confidence in the success of his
daring undertaking. As the evening wore
on the riae-balls kept up their musket-ike
singing at times unpleasantly near our
heads. | began to believe that we must
wait AZ patiently as possible until we could
send over a shell to abate the nuisance.
Suddenly the firing ceased, and a loud
cheer from our camp brought me from my
bunk to see the woods lighted up by the,
glare of the burning building. l knew my
drummer-boy had done his work; but how
| could not find out until few years later
for in the excitement of the next days en-
gagement, and in the hard work that fol>
lowed, lost track of the brave little chap
Upon assuming my official duties in the
prison after the war, while making my first
round through the different apartments to
see who my charges were, ran across
boy who struck me at once as being sadly
out Of place. asked him how he came here.
He said: II was sent here for arson, sir,
and took my first lesson under you" Then
l knew my drummer boy. l cannot de-
scribe to you the effects his words had up
Ga me; bat from that day the boy had
peculiar place in my heart, and could not
but feel that was debtor to my unfortu-
nate young prisoner
at once made inquiries concernig him,
and found that he was q favorite in the pris
on, and that by his pleasant, winning ways
and willing compliance with the prison
discipline, he had won the good opinion of
every officer of the institution. He was
sentenced for q long term of years, but
was resolved to use every possible means
to obtain his par don. l soon had several
strong influences at work in his behalf and
fe.t confident that his pardon would be Sc.
cured My plan was working admirably,
and was already fixing the time in my
mind that Icould set him free, when one
day an elderly lady came to me and said she
had heard that measures were being taken
for the release Of the boy, and asked me
with great e.rnestnesss to stop all pro-
ceedngs in his behalf. WAS surprised to
hear such request from a woman fer
petitions from women are proverbially In
behalf of the imprisoned.
She was nice looking, gray haired lady
with kind, benevolent face that bore traces
of deep sorrow, aud her manner of speaking
was 5 tender that knew she did not make
her strange request from resentment or i'll
will, though could not understand her
motive. Her explanation was the strangest,
| h ha, &c
her only son; that she wasa widow that she
had lost three sons in the war, and that this
boy was all that was left to her now.
She said he was not bad boy, but that
when at liberty he was easily led into troub
lie by hi. companions, and though not
vicious his army life had made him reckless
With tears rolling down her motherly
care worn face she entreated me not to re
rease him, for he was all the world to her
and when he was IN prison she knew wher,
he was, but if he was free she feared sh,
might lose her boy asked what could
do for her, and she said all she would ash
was that would keep him where he was
to be kind to him, and let her come and SEE
him once week 1t was little for me t
promise.
SO once week the boy has half-h holiday
though he ls not allowed TO 60 out OF IN
prison yari. Every Saturday afternoon tn
mother comes to see him. They have tn
pleasantest room in the prison reserved 10
their meeting; but when the weather IS I'M
an easy chair is placed in the sunny corner
Of the yard, and there the mother spend
. the hours from noon until early evening. an
is happy with her boy
Oflentlmes | see them, she with som
light work in her hands, and the boy sleep
: ing in the sunlight with his head resting o
his mothers knee as it should have beel
that night when first saw him. And Will
4 the slver>halred mother watches over III
sleeper. the hope is growing stronger an
!, stronger within her heart that III her ow
:. way she may some day bring her boy bac
:, TO herself and her home again -Phstads
; phI1 Press,