The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1884-10-16
FOR HIS COUNTRY.

They wondered, in that quiet little.
country village, how Edward Dorrance
could leave his family and 90 straight
forward into the midst of deadly bat
tie, and they wondered how Rachel
could let him GO.
Edward was twenty-eight years of
age; strong, healthy. intelligent.
handsome man; halter by trade, with
steady work, and sure of good wages. !;
His wife, Rachel. was two years
younger; and everything as a woman
that her husband was as a man.
Before her marriage she had been
the life of the social circle in which
she moved; no gathering for healthful
amusement could be thought perfect
that had not her for one of its directors.
And their marriage did not remove
them from society.
OF course, they found not so much
time to devote to lighter affairs; but
the more weighty affairs-especially
everything that had to do with the re-
ligious society with which they wor-
shipped-never suffered because OF
their absence.
Their union had been blessed with
two children-a boy and a girl-Eddie,
aged five, and little Ella, aged three
two beautiful, bright-faced, golden
haired, laughter-loving children, be-
loved by all.
The war had been going on a year
when. Edward Dorrance had fully come
to the conclusion that he ought to go.
He was man of deep and strong con-
victions, and when his mind had been
once made up. nothing less than a
stroke of Providence could turn him
from it.
Rachel" he said to his wife, as
they sat alone late in the evening,
suppose l should live to be an old
man, what shall | tell my children,
and my grandchildren, when they gather
around, and ask me to tell them the
story of battlep If l should tell
them that / stayed at home, while
others did the fighting, what should l
give as my reason? Ah, they would
not ask. They would shrink away,
shamefaced and pitiful; and l can fancy
their saying to themselves: "Foor
grandpa! l won't ask him what made
him afraid Darling, think how /
have talked during the past year; how
l have urged others to enlist; and how
| have proclaimed the sacredness of
our cause. And now, my precious, l
am offered company, if l will go.
Charles Weston. and George Ambrose,
and Walter Jacobs are going-all mar
ried, and two of them have children.
Rachel, what say your
First Edward, tell me your own
deepest wish"
"Can you seriously askp 1 think 1
should never hold up my head again if
/ should hold back"
Rachel swallowed the big lump in
her throat; she kept back the rising
tears, and finally, with her arms
around his neck, and her head pillowed
upon his bosom, she hoarsely whis-
pered:
Darling, will not be a coward.
Go. and may the God of battles be
inerciful."
In Just one week from that time Ed
ward D1rrance was in full uniform,
with his captains commission in his
pocket.
People gazed in surprise. 1t seemed
to them strange and unnatural. He'
was so necessary to the life of the viii
lagc, and his little family was such a
picture of comfort and happiness.
What need was there? There were
enough without him. How could Rachel
endure it?
How they pitied her! how they pitied
her! But he was going, and Rachel
smiled when she last held his hand and
cheerily bade him Godspeed.
fI'hoy caw oil that bUf tbGV did not
see her afterwards. alone in the cham
Der, upon her bended knees by her bed:
side, sobbing and praying. and weep
ing, as though her heart was breaking
All, they would have pitied her then
had they seen, and they would have
pitied with cause.
But she rose bravely after a time,
and when the first ordeal was passed
she resumed her household duties, and
sought relief from painful thought by
mingling in society, and giving her aid
wherever it could be of benefit as of
old.
At length came word of battle in
which she knew her husbands regi-
ment was engaged. She hastened for
the newspaper, eager for the true in
telligeuce. That harm had befallen
Edward did not enter her mind.
She found the paper and carried it
home. Little Eddie was old enough to
understand and possessed understand
ing enough to be anxious for news OF
papa
''Oh, Eddie! Eddie! Papa is ma
jor! There has been a great battle.
Listen: Captain Edward Torrance, by
his own personal bravery, and marvel
lous daring. saved Hungerman's oivi-
sion from rout, and so, in fact saved
the day for u.s. And here is the last
line: He was made major on the
held Alas! how many brave men
fell"
but papa is safep"
''Yes. papa is safe"
''Oh, am so glad! Do YOU think.
mamma, that he will be safe always?''
What a pang shot through her heart
as the eager boy asked the childish
question. She could not answer.
The weeks and the months passed
Oil. and other battles were fought; and
when the news of the battle came, Ra-
chel could find no peace till she had
obtained the paper and read the full
account
AT the end of six Iuonths letter
came from her husband that made her
proud and happy.
"My darling" he wrote. ':give me-