The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-11-10
SOLDIERS WIDOWS.
A Plea that Their Last Days HAY be Ere.
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As I sat and watched that Grand Army OF
representative men passing in review before G
multitude proud to do them honor, and heard
the strains of martial music, lone patriotic air
followed another until the whole air seemed
throbbing with exultation,) my heart renewed
its youth and | was living over again the days
when the dread alternative of war was forced
upon the Nation by the treacherous hand which,
at Fort Sumter, sought to level to the dust our
glorious flag.
Again was listening to the story Of my boy
lover "a story OF courage and of hope, as he
whispered words..of eternal love, and strove to
drive from my heart the awful fear of everlast.
ing parting!
Again babe him an agonizing farewell, and
through dim eyes watched him gail away to
join his regiment at Hilton Head.
U! how the moaning of the sea re-echoed
my prayer for his safety and return. Only q
boy With boyish form and dauntless mien.
Slender, but strong in his love for country and
for me; and although the parting was costing
me so dear, i would not have called him back.
Nay L could not have loved him had he
wavered in the hour of his country's need.
Long and weary were the months of his service.
Hardship, sickness, and imprisonment fol-
lowed, during which time no word came back
to me. How / watched the daily news, though
one as dead, wounded, OR missing should meet
my EYE.
Again / lived over the day when q letter
came, and knew that he still lived-was safe,
even though suffering illness from exposure,
and sent home on furlough.
Again waited at the gate of the old home
stead, with beating heart and bated breath, q
sound of footsteps, and all the past was blotted
out in the certainty of the present
ah aRet L.
good-by is over! Can anyone fail to under
stand such parting1 Away he marched; away
into uncertainty again-may be to death. But
God was merciful, and when after the long
struggle was ended my soldier came back TO
me, proud TO wear the scars of battle, i was
proud to wear his name; for the experiences of
those days had made the boy man.
What wonder that ] forgot the place, the
time, the crowd, and was living over the ex-
periences recalled by sights and sounds 80
like those that had given them birth in the
grand past / had so far forgotten the lapse
OF time that not until realized that thousands
upon thousands ofjust such boys-now grizzled.
tlre-worn men-were passing could / believe
that long years lay between my youth and me
long years since ! sent my best beloved out
with the grand army. and waited, as did others,
from that hour TO the hour of his death, years
later, seemed like tale that Is told.
From the faces of the marching host looked
to the face of my young daughter, and it all
came back to me. The weary way since the
father left US! For the cruel disease which
fastened itself upon his young life during the
campaigns asserted itself, and he was stricken
down, while was left to care for our children
alone.
What wonder that look with tenderest pity
upon the women who have lived to suffer 90
long from the effects of that cruel war!
What wonder that when i meet these faith
full wives and mothers of our fallen heroes
see them grown gary and weary with the
struggle, robbed of the strong arms that other
wise might be around them protecting and
csring for them-what wonder that i ask nv
self what is TO become Of so many when old
age and possibly restitution overtakes them?
Oh. think of the widow of the soldier.
and pray that for such as are in need q place
may be made when strength and courage fail.
Hense, as i watched the Last Review of
the Grand Army / breathed my hearts dearest
wish and @ prayer that the time NAV come
when through the bounty of kind hearts and
willing hands the needy one may be cared
for, sheltered and protected, and her last DAYS
be her best.-Mrs AMELIA II. LOVE, Wash.
ington, d. c.