Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-10-19
"Wal, they hev, then. Here come

less and barefoot boy, stopped at the
postofice building. The Squire slowly
and with dignity proceeded to that
place, unlocked the door, took in the
lean leather pouch, unlocked it, and
proceeded carefully and laboriously to
distribute the two letters and four
newspapers that it contained.
The weekly arrival of the mail was
an important event here. On this oc-
casion it called to the spot half the
adult population of the hamlet, per-
haps thirty people of both sexes.
Rumors of Loafer Jake's indefinite
news had spread, and anxious inquiries
were made. Sparse as was the popula
ton of this little valley, it was repre-
sented at the front by dozen recruits.
News from the army was anxiously
scanned.
"Letter for the Reverend Tobias
Means" called out the Deacon; land
one for Mrs. Bell. Papers for regular
subscribers. Here is yours, Mr..
Meadows"
"See if there's any war-news," clam
ored an eager chorus of voices.
While the Deacon was wiping his
glasses, preparatory to searching his
paper, the store-keeper had opened his
copy, and was running his eye over it's
columns. Itwas Philadelphia week
~. and dated that day. The word
Gettysburg appeared in large type,
with headlines following it. The
reader hurriedly took in the details.
eyes, there's been big battle some
where down beyond York." he said
Thousands killed and wounded
Union victory-enemy retreating."
A cheer greeted the words.
"Any of our boys hurt?' an eager
voice asked.
"Ill see. Here's some long lists.
Dreadful time they've had; lots of reg
iments suffered. o, here!-here's the
til Pennsylvania. What's this? By
mighty! captain Webster Bell, killedr"
An instant silence fell upon the
crowd. There were white faces there.
Some one said in whisper that every
body heard, web Boil dead-Web?
Good God!"
A middle-aged woman entered. The
silence became painful. She saw that
no one greeted her; she saw the looks
OF plGY ana distress.
"What's the matter?" she asked.
There was no answer. But the Squire
managed to say, "Here's letter for
you, Mrs. Bell.
She took it and opened it. One of the
dead Captains men had hastily written
it with lead-pencil on the morning of
the 4th. The company had it's full
share of killed and wounded; but its
Captain was the only one from this
hamlet. He had fallen on the LIST, at
the opening of the battle. The letter
described the spot. The writer thought
that none of the dead had been buried
yet. The regiment was to march i'm
mediately, and he could say no more.
| The mothers face was white as she
read, but she did not faint. Somebody
brought her a chair and glass OF
water. No one had get found tongue.
"Web dead?' she uttered, in vague
way. Then the tears came. Womer
came and wept with her; some rough
backed hands were drawn across moist
eyes.
"My dear Mrs. Bell, we are all dis.
tressed by this terrible news" the
Squire said. well all stand by you
in your trouble. I'll start for Gettys.
burg tomorrow and bring back his
body, if it can be done. And I'll see tc
it, indeed will, that you women are
taken care of.
The stricken face expressed graft
tude from its tears.
who'll tell her?" she family asked.
Aye, who would? Who would &c
over to yonder cottage and tell the
young wife of less than a year. holding
q babe that its father had never seen
that the husband and father was
among the dead at Gettysburg?
No one volunteered that painful
duty.
Chad signs and forerunners of this,
the mother moaned, "but I wouldn't
believe them. 1 dreamed of him the
last three nights. Yesterday his pic.
ture fell off the table as Jenny was
busting, and the glass broke. Cant
some one go and break the news kind
of gently to her? She amt stronn
like me. I don't know whatll come
of it."
They looked at her and at each 9th.
er, but they spoke not. The mothe,
rose from her chair.
II don't blame you," she said. 81
can do it better. Come with me, some
of you; it's got to be done. Women
We're made to suffer. God be mercifu]
to us!"
So she went on her piteous errand,
that strong, heroic American mother
crushing back for the time her own
agony. Other women followed he,
across the street in the hot sunshine
and pulseless air. Let the door of that
cottage close between them and u.s.
Chicago Ledger.
Pins, Twelve Dollars Paper.
From an article entitled Hard Times
/ in file ConfadoracxN IN 4La naaa 4.....