The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-08
"WATTINGFOR EDISON. !"
1 Pathetic Story of the Late War.
BY JENNIE P. MERCHANT.

IS TrTIN SOM
beea I'D Caseyyille bat few months when, IN
one or her Saturday rambles, she came upon
tiny cottage and quaint well-kept bit OF gar
Cen.
The lonely. occupant Of the cottage noticed
the lingering glance Of interest bestowed on
her bone by the strange lady and tinidly
advancing, preferred her "nOsegay."
Ere long Miss Grayson went to board with
the poor old lady, hoping to cheer and bright
en- the life made so lonely by the loss of both
husband and son.
Mss Grayson learned from village gossip
that the news of his soldier sons death had
stricken down NJ Hailctf. and that kindly
meaning friends had told Mrs. II. that her boy
was taken prisoner" hoping thereby to soften
the blow.
But the news completely stunned the poor
mother, and beyond it she could comprehend
nothing.
Alter the fever which followed upon Nr.
Hallett's death, the widows one thought seemed
TO Be Of her boy in prison; her one prayer for
his release and return.
Mrs Hallett would not read 4 newspaper;
would not listen to any army talk, but took
to reading the Bible ia every spare moment.
Soon. the old lady was voted queer and in
course Of time WAS slammed.
Miss Gravs1n was deemed eccentric for
choosing to live at the Ont-eage Of town with
such a poor cd witICss body"
One evening. whea the iIlaes and snow balls
were all gone, when the vines c.d!nheTing over
the windows were laden with roses that per
fume3 the air, airs. Hailatt said:
Nargie, dear, sit down on this stool near
me. I've meant all along TO tell ye about my
b0y-tle hull story. tt pears to me I'm
4Tearin' out an / think sometimes I sha MT
last till Edison comes.
EFF Tn gone Wheu he gifts back yell be
good TO him as ye hev 10 me-wOn't ye, Mar
gie2"
A worn. trembling hand was laid caTessingly
on the girls head. She reached up and took
ii ID her 0Tn as she answered;
Yes. indeed. I wiI}; for Margie Grayson
always humoFed the old lady
Mrs. Hallett resumed:
{" I've tried hard to be patient an fiji IN time
with work: but somehow lately 1 don't seem
SIS strong as ] was. I guess I've leaned good
bit on y0n. an we've heen q good prop. too
+ He cant think how this place looked when
we first come here. Ny husband an Edison an
me. we jest thought We never could stay. But
we he3 bought il. an We Bedut much money
Jeff, 50 We bed to make the best of it. There
va, n Z tree here. only some cott0GW woods. The
house was new, that was some comfort, for
wouldn't hey liked somebody's old leayin's OF
house.
Edson he was nigh onto eighteen then,
an We was bHlldiu' high hopes on him, l can
tel &c.
Ny husband was q disappointed man; he
he'd a good eddieati0n. but somehow he never
peared to get on very we'll in business.
When he made mp his mind 10 come West,
didn't say word agin It; l thought 1t might
be good thing for Edson.
Ny folks want in favor Of the move; bat
] thought John kBowed what was right. But
] did hate TO TURF by back on the place where
I was born an raised, where / married John.
an where Edison was born. But. AIargie. its
wiies duty TO stick to her husband, an / stuck
10 John.
NY folks wanted me 10 stay there spell
an let John 20 ahead an get all fixed first;
but I want thar kind of q woman.
1--WE hadn been here 10 time at all when John
GOT to bookkeepin' for Squire Lawson, so he
want to ham much Of the tine. Edison he
pl0wed an planted. au' after a spell we began
to feel kind OF settled like.
An then, jest as we vas beginnin' to ike
our hum SO well, up cum this cry OF war !
@, Margie! my very heart would stand still
when I'd sec my boy a-Teadiu' the news. He
took seen an interest ID the doin's, l jest knew
he'd want 10 jiEe the army. An he did, too
he'd 70 give my consent Al last, but held out
for tETeG months
Dsarv ne! ye never saw a boy kill time
with work ike Edison done them three months
lie set ont them laylocks an SNOWFALL trees,
an spaded up beds-'twas Spring time
-au al last he was ready to march away. He
was tall an broad shouldered an nv but he
did look handsome III his soldier suit.
hLen our boy was gone 1t 'peared Ike
was jest lost. John an me, we coald hardly
eat car vIttles we took it SO hard. John
used to read the news IN the mornin down 10
the o1Hce, an tell me at noon.
Bat, / tel ye, dinner was nothin' TO Us the
Gay we got Eds9H,s first letter. We used to
take turns Fea4iu' IT, till it was most wore out.
fa..- E-.- Hs-- 80 ..-f-- E.
left, Squire Lawson brought John home in his
buggy 1 Was scared, for I knowed su thin
had happened. We got him 10 bed, an I tried
everything I knowed Of, but the doctor said
nolhin' could save him.
They didn't tell me what took John, that
he got sick SO student. I only knowed my
JOHN lay there without bein' able 70 speak to
me, an in two days he died Then l was all
alone.
Tie aezt thing I knowed, some one said
the rebels he'd my boy in prison. They told
lie not to fret, he'd get OUT an come back "a
me- now ] was left so lonely.
+" Well, Gargie, l couldn't help frettin an ]
got down sick. The folks said lay seen a long
spell they thought I'd never get up.
Then was the time nv hair got gray an
my eyes hollow. / tried 10 get strong, sos
might keep things trim till my boy would
come; for as soon as he's free lie viii come
sure.
They say there amt DO war now, but how
ab0Gt the pris0ners2 They're got en- some
where, ar, my poor boy Is among EN-. He mus
come soon, if he's ever to see me; don't yor
think 50, Margie2o
Gently came the reply:
Yes, my dear friend, / think So But, 70,
know, ii lee fails TO come, you can yet NEE
him in Heaven"
Ii was alI the girl could say
Well, dear, All not fret about it. The tim,
viii not be long. we've promised 10 stay b,
me, an ve will 7 know
Before the bright hucs Of Autamn had faded
ana tie mellow sunshine had lost its warmth
tic spirit Of that loving, patient mother haC
passed from earth.
II Last!" we're the words inscribed o.
Airs. Lallell's tombstone. Her resting-place
net neglected. With each returning Sprin
q sweet-taced matron-once known as Mis-
GraTs0n-yisits and stTeWs with flowers tn
grave Of the friend whose last DAYS she hersel
had made happy.
Tie Grant Memorial Fuad.
The Grant Memorial Association Of Ne
York, through the Executive Committee. ha
authorized the extension Of the TING for II
ceiVIug models and plans for tne proposed NJ
fionai Memorial TO Gen. Grant from Nov.
165S 10 Jan. ., lSs9.