Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1886-05-27


than this, though it is SO desolate-so
very, very desolate.
'But the boys They were never
separated until Il few months before the
war broke out. My son grew restless
and talked of going out into the world
and doing great things. We held him
here, his father and |, foolish souls that
we were, feeling that we could not let
him go; that To go once meant really to
60 for ever. You know that when
birds once try their wings they never
go back to the nest. And we had only
one other child, our girl, our Katie. At
last the pressure upon his restless spirit
rasped his ever quick temper, and he
quarreled with his father, left us in the
night without word
She rose, turned her face away, and
stood so long silent that thought she
meant to say no more.
But she went on presently, stopping
down and picking up flower from the
soldiers grave. Never before had
trial like that. His father had been
stern with him, | know, but lie loved
him, and loved them both, and now
anger ragged in their hearts toward each
other. One was going where could
not help him, and the other hugged his
wrath in silence at home.
oh, the agony of those days One
by one they went by without bringing
word from my boy. The hours sat
upon my heart like mountains. The
disgrace of it almost killed us. To
think that our son-our only son whom
we so loyed-had fled from his home
like a thief in the night, aud was wan.
dering, we knew not where
AT last Wilbur came to me one day,
bringing letter from Willis, which he
had sent within one to him. He wrote
humbly to me, begging me to forgive
his unceremonious departure and assur-
ing me again and again of his love, but
said not word of his father. His
heart was still full Of anger toward
him, | could see. have that letter
yet. | have read il thousand times.
1t was the last line ever had from his
hand.
she was in Georgia. Why he went
South do not yet understand. Per-
haps it was accident !; perhaps it was
destiny. Even then there were rumors
of war. and in short time it burst up
on the country in all its terror and hor'
ror. These quiet hills echoed the
sounds of the bugle and the drum from
morning till night, Down in the town
companies were forming and regiments
waited to be ordered to the front. Will
bur Rathbone commanded a company,
and waited in camp for an order to de-
part. Before he left the news came
one day that our Willis had joined the
Confederate army; that he was captain
Of company under Longstreet. l
tried to doubt that awful story.
would not believe it-I could not. That
he had LETT us In anger was sorrow and
disgrace enough to know that he was
in arms against his and our country
was too great an afiliction to be calmly
borne. His father raved like mad
man. and forbade us to speak of Willis
in his presence.
Il saw Wilbur march away wi tn a
heart heavier than stone. If my boy
had only been with him, it seemed to
me could have laughed from joy. But
now, these two whose lives had been
spent in brotherly companionship were
in arms against each other. The roll
of the drums sounded in my ears day
after day and would not die out even
after every soldier had been sent on to
the south. l awoke night after night
from dreams of battles in which | saw
my Willis wounded and dying. Some
times called his name in my sleep and
his fathers groans of anguish would
wake me.
'When the body of Wilbur Rathbone
was sent home, l envied his mother
her sorrow, He had died for his coun-
try-died for freedom. | stood dry
eyed by his grave, loving him as a son,
and feeling that my own sorrow was
greater than death. My daughter died
few months later. This affliction we
bort unmurmuringly ; but that other,
that unspeakaEle sor ow, grieved us
increasingly.
AT last l, too, grew stern and unre-
lenting toward my son, banished him
from my thoughts. | drove his memo.
ry from my heart. had no forgive
ness for him. And SO the years went
on-those awful years of the war when
the whole country mOurned and suffer
ed. At last it was over. Peace came
and the country bound up its wounds
and began to live again. Nearly a year
later we learned that Willis had been
killed while fighting at Chickamauga.
His fathers heart softened then. He