Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1896-10-31
MOTHER, DON'T YOU KNOW ME?

pronounced as to make him almost an
idol in the eyes of those men, told the
story of Eric Paul.
Eric had one experience that in my
judgment was as sad as that any sol
dier boy ever passed through. After
having been u prisoner for nearly
year, part of the time at Andersonville
and part at Salisbury, during which
time he made three unsuccessful efforts
to escape, he reached our lines and
was sent home. lie had been through
long siege of sickness in prison.
That, with the poor fare and scant care
given, left him mere skeleton. His
mind was somewhat unbalanced, the
result of sickness and prison life. y
ticket to the station nearest to his
home was bought and he started on the
long journey. 1t is easy to imagine
how precious the sight of his dear old
home was to the emaciated, weak,
broken young fellow who had never left
it more than two days at time until
he became a volunteer soldier at II
years of age. Ills loving mother was in
that house. The thought of seeing her
in few minutes-of having her loving
arms about his neck, of feeling her
mother lips on his shrunken and al
most bloodless lips, nerved him 10
quicker steps. He would surprise
mother by knocking at the door. The
sweet, motherly face was before him,
but she stared at him and did not in
vite him into the house. He partially
walked and mainly fell across the
threshold and then pulled himself into
chair. 1t finally dawned upon the
boy patriot that his mother did not
know him. 1t nearly broke his heart.
Brushing away his tears he moaned
out:
Mother, don't you know me? Don't
you know your boy, Eric"
"Then that good Norwegian mother
gave the young man still more scru-
tinizing, more searching glance. She
could see nothing that reminded her of
the son she had given TO her adopted
country, and in commanding tone
said: You are not my boy Eric; you
are trying to fool me; 1 will give you
some dinner and you must then move
on
"While Mrs. Paul was getting din
ner she frequently looked at the
stranger. Several times Eric heard that
best friend on earth, his mother, say:
He is not my boy; he is not my boy
Eric made his case still worse by asking
about his father, who belonged to the
game company. Now [ know still bet
| ter that you are not Eric, for my hus-
band died four months ago. The flood
of tears from the half-crazed wreck
| from Andersonville at the news of bis
fathers death had no weight with the
widow and mother. She regarded him
as an impostor and told him to eat and
move on.
Eric took few mouthfuls Of food,
when his head fell to the table. Mrs.
Paul became alarmed and sent for the
doctor. The patient was pronounced Il
dangerously sick man. He was given a
room and Mrs. Paul cared for him. In
his delirum he repeated many times:
My mother don't know me. Why"
"The next day letter from the cap
tain of Eric's company told Mrs. Paul
that he had heard that her son had
reached the union lines and been sent
home. He wanted to know if he had
reached there and what condition he
was in. That afternoon Eric seemed
better. He looked brighter; medicine,
proper food and humane care were
having their effect. His mind was
clearer.
"'Can you tell me something about
yourselfT asked the mother, now
much troubled, though not convinced
by the captains letter that she was en-.
tertaining her soldier son.
"I'n try. Two years ago my father