The National tribune., 1889-04-25

June, the sun just dis
appearing beyond the
kills. and everything looked as peaceful as
though war was unheard of.
One brown gypsy Of a girl held the gate 10
the Enclosure half open, and moving il rest
lessly to and fro exclaimed:
20, why was I not boy, girls?" Pm just
diving to be a soldier"
"A soldier You little mite!" cried her three
companions. merrily. What would you do II
anybudy should get hurt?"
could be brave" said Harrie, deprecat-
ingly, the heavily fringed lids yelling the
brown eyes for 8 second; yes, ] know
could" she sancily added. Though | dld cry
when my dear little doggic was crushed under
that heavy wheel"
She knew very well that her friends were
remembering that episode of few days before
The bravest are the teuderest;
The loving arc the daring;
quoted the young Captain Of the Home Guards
as he gave her an admiring glance, and passed
rapidly up the walk TO where his widowed,
whitehaired mother sat in the open porch,
looking proudly on her only son.
Cap in hand, he dropped CALAMITY on one
knee, and lifting her hand to his lips, said
softly;
MOTHER, DEAR MOTHER, CAN I Coz"
A panied expression settled on the mothers
face, and laying her other hand on the one she
held, she answered with quivering lips:
Ny son, cannot give you up, cannot J"
With another swift kiss on the hands he held
Fred Austin sprang TO his feet, and guiping
down his disappointment as best he might,
turned and walked slowly back to his boy CON-
mand and the young ladies at the gate. All
were talking animatedly as he drew near, and
Harrie's clear voice was saying:
Yes, I would; and do my best to ill his
place at homer"
Would what, Harriet queried Fred as be
neared the group
Tell my brother, if I had one. to go and
fight for his country, and trust me to guard the
home" she answered earnestly.
She looked capable Of heroic deeds as she
stood there, end Fred's eyes rested lovingly on
the small, well-built figure, with not hint of
fTagility in the 1.-THE form, nor of fear in the
clear brown eyes.
Yes, you think So /" said Annie Austin, but
yen are not likely TO be put TO the test. II you
had brother you would find it much easier to
think patriotism than TO act it."
couldn't; no, / could not" said Stella
Grey, and her blue eyes filed with tears as
they rested on her twin brother, from whom
she had never been separated.
Miss Harrie bit her red lips and wondered if
they all thought her heartless; but as she raised
her eyes TO Fred Austin's face she saw there
look that brought the warm blood to her cheek,
and which seemed by its magnetic eloquence
10 claim her thr0bbing heart as his very own.
With bravery born Of the moments enthu-
siasm and the yelling tumult Of her love she
walked straight to the side OF the young Cap
tain, and laying her hand on his arm, while
the dark eyes met the gray ones which had
compelled her to his side she said
love him better than my own life; but I
say Go my loyal soldier, and ], small as ! am,
incompetent SIS I am, viii care fer and watch
over your loved ones and mine"
lie turned, regardless of tie many surprised
his bosom, whispering:
GOD BLESS YOU, ny DARL1EG!7
Mrs. Austin had seen the strange occurrence.
but could not hear the words, and half rising
she called: Harrie Fred -
With quick step Fred, still holding Har-
Tie's hand walked rapidly back to the pOrch
and together they kneeled before his mother
Mother she loves me, aud bids me go; she
Will take my place to care for you, aud be your
daughter
Your place, my son? No one can do that:
but she shall be my daughter, and we viii to-
rether make home SO pleasant that You viii
not care 10 leave it."
Pleasant. Oh, mother, do not make il too
hard for me TO do my duty. Ny country calls
for all her sons IN this hour For your sake
have fingered too long already. Let me 20.
and when my country Is at peace I viii come
home TO Harrie and you"
" II some rebel bullet has not cut short the
life which is SO dear to rs all" she replied
You are my only son, dear Fred it is very
hard. and the hot tears dropped fast on the
careworn checks.
] know that, mother, but for that very rea-
son i am the very one t. sustain the honor of
CUR house, and not to bring repToach on nv
honored fathers name by Sinking nv duty
Mother said low, sweet voice, - will
he daughter and son to you. love him dear
IT, and she caught her breath quickly, but
] would rather he died on the field of battle a
hero than have him stay at home safe-a COW
ard
Every vestige Of color seemed to forsake the
mothers face, but STOPPING to gives kiss TO his
upturned face, she said:
90, my son. God bless you and, Harrie,
come with me-" Together they went H. and
together, these two who loved him. mingled
their tears; for, however patriotic one may be,
there are times when every heart cries out for
lis own
Fred walked down to the gate, and simply
said, Girls, j am going; mother has at last
consented Then, as they crowded around
hiLn, he added, Annie Ethel, don't cry: 20
and take care OF mother; come, boys"
As they reformed and marched down the
street, and through the village Fred's voice
had Q truer ring and his foot irmer tread
many Of the villagers remarking " What fine
soldier be would make"
Yes, that is true" said an old citizen: Fbut
con see now his mother kin spare him he.
the very light Of her life and since his father.
death he has looked after the farm and done
all the work on il, too except what old Billy
does, an he's gettin' kinder decrepit."
I've heard there was a mortgage on thu
place; is that So said the first speaker.
guess that's true, too but they don't say
much about 1t; they're kind O. independent
folks; bat Miss Ethel size teaches in the publi
school, and Annie she stays TO home to help he.
mother
Who's this Miss Emmons that's been Their
the last two or three months2 She's making
pretty long visit, seems TO ne; and what In tn
world do they call her q boys name for?n
(" Wal, its good deal Of a long story but tn
short Of il is that her mother and Mrs. Austin
was bosom friends in their young DAYS. an,
when harrie's father and mother got killed Il
railroad smash-up, there was Just enougl
money left 20 keep the poor young girl in som
cheap place and she wrote on to her mother
friend to know If she'd let her come to her. an
pay what she could afford to.
" OF course Mrs. Austin sent right on for he
to come, and here she is. She's got good ed !
cation. for she's more'n common bright. an
oldern she looks. She come from that univel
sity town IN Michigan, where they do say ths
children arc born knowing as much as grow
folks
What is her name, anyway"
y, that; why it's Harriet and stead
calm her Hattie, as most folks would. the
just make it Harrie,' which is q good de;
pre- to my thinking"