The National tribune., 1890-06-26
PROMISED MOTHER.
Why the Lieutenant Would Not Gamble.

hh} tht LseutthaHt nOuia MOI banbie.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The three
days Of terrible battle at Cold Harbor had
closed, and the grand old Army of the PotO-
mae with Gen Badly" Smiths boys, of the
Tenth and Eighteenth Corps, lay painting for
breath calmly awaiting the next move Of the
master hand that had hurled them with such
relentless fury through the Wilderness. was
the ith day Of June, IS6I-the day, or, should
say, the evening after the close of the battle,
that the following incident occurred. Five
officers had assembled in Col. Forests tent.
| They were evidently all welcome visitors to
the griZzlcd old veteran, who was much older
than his assembled friends, and as he Teclined
on Z camp-chest the light revealed an angular
scar across his face, made by q Mexican bullet
at Palo Alto.
His four yisitors-Capts. Wills and LAWN,
Lieuts. Worth aud CrowI-sat around table
made from a cracker-bOx. Let us have a game
Of poker" exclaimed Capt. Wills. Agreed"
responded two OF the officers. Lieut.. CrOwl
! produced cards, and. proceeding 10 shuttle them,
| asked What shall the stakes be?" Before
anyone could reply, Lieut.. Worth arose and
! said, Gentlemen, you will please excuse me (;
1 cannot play for anything"
His companions looked somewhat astonishcd,
and Capt. LAWN said, " Not afraid to lose your
money, eh?"
| "No, ] am not afraid to lose money"
"Then," with half sheer, perhaps you
/ promised your mother not 20 play.
The Licuteuant's face was pale; he was evil
| IDENTIFY moved by deep emotion. His voice
| trembed as he replied Yes, Captain, / did
| promise nay mother that | would never gam
/ BILE, and the memory of the scene, the circum-
/ stance calling forth that promise, is stamped
/ upon my brain rs with living fire. l shudder
at its recollection. You. gentlemen, may think
| it a traiug matter to play game of cards, but
with me lis different. Ask me TO charge the
/ enemys guns, and | will rush 10 the flaming
muzzles with a cheer, but never will / touch a
card"
Fora moment the cards rested quietly in the
| hands Of the dealer. The silence following
| Lieut.. Worths earnest words was broken by
| the old Colonel:
some painful memory. viii you tell Us the
story?"
A far-away look came into the Lieutenanfs
| eyes, as if he were gazing into the past
Yes; will tell the story" he replied. "Our
/ home was happy one. My mother, widow,
! lavished all the love of noble heart upon an
elder brother and myself. She seemed 10 live
| only for us. Her love was her all-absorbing
passion. My brother Charles had Just gradu-
ated with high honors at the University of
/ PenRsy lyania, and was spending . short time
ut homo prior TO going into business with an
| old-establshed company. Life seemed one
! bright promise for him. l looked upon my
| brother as all that was good and noble One
| evening that loving mother called us into the
parlor aud kissing us both, said: Charles,
desire to place in your hands $4,000 that your
| father left to be given to you when you entered
| into business" Tears stood in her eyes and
with q voice tremulous with emotion she said :
My dear boy, be true to yourself; DO honora-
bio and you will be prosperous"
| The conference was happy one and my
brother was in splendid spirits as he put on his
! hat preparatory to going down town to meet an
engagement. He babe us n CHEEKY good by.
! Mother followed him 10 the door aud again
warmly kissed him."
The voice of the speaker was ehOked; tears
| came into his eyes.
THAT was the last time she looked upon him
alive. Two hours afterward his lifeless body
was laid at her feet. Oh, the shock the az
ony And that agony was increased when they
! told her that his own hand had sent the fatal
| bullet through his brain, after losing the money
she gave him Mt the gambling-table. l sec her
now in her fearless grief. She sank upon her
knees beside her lleless boy, moaning in agony
| / will never, never forget that scene. i went
to her aud putting my arms about her said:
| Mother, don't grieve SO; don't die in your dis
| tress and leave me- This seemed TO open the
| noodgates of her heart, and tho blessed tears
| came TO her relief. She drew me down beside
| the dead and asked me never 10 touch a card
! Up to this time | never have and, with Gods
| l.
the shock of battle 1 may DO hurled into eter-
nifty. If that should happen, intend to meet
that loved one with that promise unbrOken."
| With half-smothered sob the speaker
ceased and sank upon camp-stool, with his
head bowed upon his trembling hands. The
! silence that followed was almost painful broken
at last by the Colonel, who walked over to
Lieut.. Worth, whose hands he grasped, saying:
"You are brave man. The General requests
me to name an officer of courage to serve upon
| his staff. From so many it was hard to select
/ shall send him your name tomorrow for 3
man that houors his mother as you do, Will
serve his country faithfully"
The others arose and congratulated their COM
rade on his promotion, and shortly after. when
they rushed up Petersburg nights, through y
storm of shot and shell, they fought the better
for having promised him never again to gam
| ble.-THEo. A.WoRRALL, II. D. Northeast, Md.