Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-05-27
THE TORN LETTER.
By Leroy Armstrong.

Hundreds of people had come into
town that August day in 1861 to see
the soldiers drill.
Many a mother Wept silently, sitting
there in the farm wagon, as the column
of recruits marched past. Many a
father, making pretense of attending
his horses, as the sharp words of tn
drill sergeant cut the silence of tn
summer day, grieved for the boy who
was obstinately yet blamelessly minded
just now to go into great danger.
And the little children whose brother
were following the drummers up and
down the public square shuddered as
they thought of the battles coming, and
Wished-very ingIoriously-tha this
company might be sent to some place
where hostile bullets could not come.
At the end of the bridge, on /; little
elevation that commanded a distant
view of the public square, Judge Wade
and his wife sat in the back seat of
their open carriage, and looked at the
soldiers learning prOmptness and pre-
cision and concerted movement. On
the front seat sat young Wallace Wade
Drive on said the Judge. We have
seen enough of them
But young Wade gathered the reins
slowly, and looked again at the uni
formed men, at the handsome dress o
the officers, at the seductive CLINT of
the guns.
Come, come" said the Judge.
Drive on, Wallace" said Mrs. Wade
Rut yet the strapping fellow fingered.
He was in the untried ground where
two allegiancos met Presently
turned impulsively, yet resolutely, his
eyes full of a light his parents rec
ognized, though they never had seen.
you drive home, father" he said,
and passed the lines to the older man.
'I'll be home for supper" And he
leaped lightly to the ground.
For there at the corner of the public
square was Elenor Thompson, and she
had seen him. He did not go straight
to her, though his mother knew that
would be his destination.
That Tompson girl will persuad
him to enlist" she said. "She is half
the cause of all this enthusiasm"
eff she does persuade him." said tn
judge, bitterly, 81 will never forgive
either him or her"
Wallace greeted a few friends as he
joined the ranks of the spectators.
'fWhy aren't you with them?" asked
a young fellow to whom as properly
the question might have applied.
They need you," added an old man
who was thankful for his age.
"You know how to drill men," adde
boy. eff I was you"
Wallace will go when the tim
comes" rejoined a pleasant old lady
who had no sons to bereave her.
He let them banter. He had fought
it all out with himself and resolved his
duty was filial obedience. And he knew
his fathers wishes. But ne drifted
along the line Of watchers and joined
Elenor Thompson at the corner Of tn
field. The soldiers had completed a
evolution and the people were cheering.
She was waving her handkerch1e
wildly. Her eyes were flashing, he
bosom was heaving She was instinc
with martial enthusiasm. He touched
her hand.
You are in earnest" said he.
1T is splendid. How grand they
look! How noble they must be. If l
were a man"
She paused, .ut Wallace knew.
Let US take walk he said, pres
emily.
NO She was filled with the spirit
that inspires Spartans- were multi
tudes in that day. Her ideal, her hero.
must be soldier
I am going TO enlist" ne said. For
SO are our resolves consumed.
She turned to him instantly with
eyes that blazed in worship and devo-
ton. She pit out her hands. There
was caressing, there was ardor in them
There had been an hour of resting
The drums were beating again. The
flies we're piping up patriotism. The