The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-05-21

forth the simple emblep of her bridal
statc-the pure white rose. The morn
ing broke through heavy snowdrifts and
piercing winds-a day as melancholy as
the hearts of the mothers, sisters, wives
and friends who were then about to part
with those 50 near and dear to them,
perhaps never again to meet. IL WAS
not till the last waving hands could no
longer be distinguished through the
binding SNOW shower and dim gray twi-
light that the anxious household felt
how really terrible the separation WAS
under such circumstances us the pres
ent. Their very Ignorance of the STATE
of affairs in the country increased the
feeling OF uncasinrSs that prevailed; all
WAS horrible uncertainty and fearful
con lecture.
And how Jared it with our poor Agnes
mt this trying moment? She had borne
up couragrously, beyond even her old
Gncles most sanguinc hopes, till the last,
but when the object of her affections WAS
no longer visible to her aching eyes she
flung herself into her mothers arms and
wept, till worn out with excess of grief
the more violent from having been so
long rrpresSrd-shc Mt last sObbcd her
self 10 sleep upon her mothers breast
like M o'cr-wearied infant. Her young
companions laid her on the sofa and sor-
rowIullv went to their task OF restoring
all things to their former state and re-
sumcd once more their everyday gar
mcnts, having aside the bridal tiuery for
some more suspicious day.
And now il was that the family, like
hundreds similarly situated ut this period,
began to feel the hclplesSncss Of their
condition. y second percmptory sum-
mons hastenCdth departure ofDll the men
servants. Nor did Mr.. Drnham and
Uncle Frederic hesitate to obey the call.
They were neither too old nor too iutirm
To carry arms. and leaving the family to
the care of the female servants ard old
Michael Regain to tend the cattle and be
their newer OF wood and drawer of water,
they also departed.
Bat, unfortunately, old Michael was
seized with very announcement fit of
military urlor. and hurried of TO Join the
volunteers ut II, seeing afar OIL
visions of plumber and visions of glory.
His departure was signal for the two
faitlIl"ss damsels, Biddy and Catharinc,
10 depart also, declaring that they dare
not stay for their lives now all the men
folks were gone, for the rebels and
Yankees would be up directly they heard
the master and all TIA" mcn were away
80 oft they went and returned no more.
Ia this dilemma 1t was in vain TO look
for help from nciglbOrs or friends; all
that could he done WAS tn rely upon their
own unasSi,t"d efforts. Harry now found
himself Il person Of no small importance.
On this little fellow dcvolvCd the heavy
task of supplying the house with wood
and water, feeding the cattle, and many
other things; and III these matters he
WAS often Obliged, though reluctantly,
to accept the hcl p OF his sisters and the
other bridesmaids who had remained
from the day of the wedding, not deem
ing II safe to return to their more dis
taut homes. There were other girls in
the ncighbOrhOod whose unprotected
state had moved the maternal compass
sion If Mrs. Denham 10 offer them an
asylun till they should be enabled to re-
turn to their lonely and dcSoiate homes,
and but for the tOrmenting state OF anx-
iety that was endured us to tho fate of
/ those who had left them, SO large party
must have been merry and cheerful. As
il was, they alternately helped to com
fort or alarm each other, us rmnOrB Of
I the distant rebellion reached them
through some of the poor distressed wo-
men, who vcnturCd to the town from
time to time to gather news of their alb
sent Sons anl husbands.
Three days Of agoniZing suspense had
followed the report of Colonel Noodles
death and the expectation that the rebels
were about to enter the capital, when
Agnes noticed dark figure moving slow
~ along through the deep snow-drifts
that blocked the untracked road across
the clearing. Who could it be? was a
matter of conjecture not ummiXed with
interest to those to whom every stranger
was now, in some shape or other, con-
ncctcd with the fate of their country and
absent friends.
1t was evidently female: from the
dress and faltcring movements, and Harry
WAS dispatched to offer what help he
could to the weary traveller, and bear the
news. Ina few minlltes the good natur-
ed boy ran i'll, bearing i'll his aims IL
bundle, which he put into Agnes arms,
while with 4 face radiant with joy he eX-
claimed:
agnes, dear, joy! JOY! the war is
over, the rebels flying; George will be
back soon. IIurrah! hurrah for Sir
Francis Head and the gallant volunteers
But take care Of the poor baby, while |
run out for the mother" and away flew
Harry, leaving half-frozen babe in his
astonished sisters lap, while, with Il
gallantry and feeling hardly to be ex-
pectcd in little fellow of ten years old,
he FASTENED to lend his arm to the young
mother, who, defying the dreadful state
had left her home, which WAS some
miles higher up the road, had taken her
young infant in her arms, and Travelled
TO the distant town to inquire for her
husband. She had none with whom to
leave her child-no person to assist her
in her almost pcrilous undertaking; but
what will not woman do, what can not
woman bear for the man she lOvcs--thc
husband Of her heart, the father of her
child? She said, "loy for the good news
she brought had kept up her strength
and spirits for many miles OIL journey,
but her clothes had become SO heavy
with the accumulation of ice and snow
that she could go no further, and was
fearful, lest, as the day grew colder, the
baby might be frozen in her arms"
How the poor, half-hozcn traveller
was cherished, admired and applauded
by the whole household! What an
angle of female hcroism and self devotion
did she appear III the eyes of the delight
ed Agnes.
What a revolution from doubt and
dread to joy and rapturous delight had
been effected by few brief words" The
rebels are dispersed and flying in all di-
rections; the gallant band of loyal volun-
teers will be home directly" Agnes re-
peated these welcome words over n
thousand times, and laughed and wept
by turns; but now her tears, like those
Of the wives, sisters aud friends of ouI
brave Canadian volunteers, were tears OF
JOY.
Every hour now broughtup fresh news
of victory and return.
1t was then late in the evening of the
following day, when just as the family
were gathered round the fire previous to
retiring to rest, quick step WIS heard
on the crisp snow on the footpath be-
meath the window.
"Hark, some one is coming with news
for u.s." exclaimed Harry, starting uI
and Fastening to unbar the door.
"It is papa !" cried Ellen.
cit is my own George--my hus
band! !" burst from the lips Of Agnes
"For lovers cars SHARP to hear"
: The next moment the arms of George
were clasped about the neck OF his bride
} We will not describe their prcptinp