The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1897-09-23

ndu IOuF SOUS VINO WcIc ncI only com
fort and stay in life; the call to arms
came, it overwhelmed her with grie
and forebodings for the future, but like
a Spartan mother she made them
ready and through tears of anguish she
gave them freely to the country she
loved, and with her parting kiss she
babe them remember the deeds OF
their forefathers, and do their whole
duty. After these brave boys had
gone, she took the invalid wife and
little ones Of the married son TO her
home 10 care for them; night afte.
night around the family altar the
prayers Of mother and wife assembled
to throne of grace for the restoration
of peace and return OF her sons For
four long years this noble woman
plowed the ground making a meager
support Tor her sacred charge; she cut
and hauled all the necessary fire wood :,
once a week walked FIVE miles to a
post Office, where she sent and received
letters to and from them, and in every
instance urged them never to shirk a
duty. Thus through the whole stormy
period of the war she stood bravely at
her post, encouraging her noble sons
and never complained of the hardships
she endured. No monument Of stone
commentaries the virtue of this noble
woman, but the full record of her sac
ri6ces is written in undying letters
upon the scroll of Heaven.
Another incident crowds upon my
mind which in pathetic terms pictures
the deep seated anG undying devotion
of both Southern men and women.
When the first drum beat called patri-
OTIS to arms, a noble fellow whose life
had been one long day of sunshine,
needed his country's call and babe his
young wife be Of good courage. At the
last moment he folded her 10 his
manly breast and hastily recounted
the few happy years they had lived in
each others love, and with the ardor
of true and imprisoned devotion he
kissed her trembling lips; he then takes
his first born, lad of four summers,
upon his knee, twines his fingers in his
curly locks, calls him papa's little man
and bids him obey his mother and be
good boy until father returns. And
then little Jane is taken upon the
other knee; he first looks into her
bright blue eyes and then in the tear
bedimmed eyes Of his darling wife; he
would speak other words of comfort,
but the heart of the brave fellow
swelled within him, the culver of the
chin showed that nature was scarce
equal to the sacrifice about TO be made;
dumb with emotion he hastily en-
braces them, one more long and last
kiss and he is gone. For a season
gloom hovers over the young house
hold but in due time the brave young
wife cheerfully began the battle of
life; she worked day and night for the
support of her two children; letter after
letter she sent to her brave young hus-
band, telling him of her great sacrifice
in giving him up, but expressing will.
ingness to give him in her country's
cause. So time vent on, the soldier
did soldiers duty; finally letter
came, sadder than any before; i, told
of sickness, how she had broken down
in her efforts to provide tor the little
ones, and of her fears for their welfare,
and how she wished he were home
again to provide for them, but at the
same time babe him trust in God for
their wellbeing, and do his duty, for
she was proud of the record he had
made. The soldiers heart was heavy
as he lay by the camp fire and listens
to the distant picket firing, vision is
before him; he sees the old Preside, his
lovely wife is now emaciated and bag
gard; upon her motherly lap sits ll,,le
Johnnie and Jane, both in rags, no
longer with round, plump and rosy
cheeks, but cadaverous and showing
that hunger had done its direful work;
he leaps to his feet, he presses his brow
in deep anguish, and the strong man
of arms breaks down in tears; crisis
is reached, the patriot must choose be-
tween his dearest objects and his coun-
try's needs; human nature ,riumphs,
he starts unwittingly to leave and fly
TO the rescue Of those he loved better
than life, but no! he had come 10 die
on his country's altar, and though his
heart break within him, he would stand
to duty. A glorious triumph! one re-
corded by angel hands. He goes upon
the field and fights as if armed with
superhuman strength, and hopes that
the next tidings from home will relieve
his aching heart; but the patriot must
be tempted further; he gets another
letter which tells him unless he comes
they must starve, the letter showed i,
was reluctantly written, but SAID "li,ile
John and little Jane were crying for
bread" as she penned the lines; with
tear marks it was blurred all over.
The noble woman closed by saying
"but John, We had rather starve than
have you untrue to your county,
Nature could stand no more, the fren
lied man rushed from the camp, and
! like the wild creature he was, flew to
the arms Of his starving wife, and in a
short time provision was made for
their comfort; soon the God Of mercy
restored strength and health TO his
dear ones and he returned to his COM
mand, TO be arrested as deserter. At
the trial, the Court Martial found him
guilty; in excavation he laid the let
tiers Of his wife before the court;
clemency was recommended; the great
and magnanimous Lee approved the
judgment Of the court, but pardoned
the offender, who returned to his com
pany and fought bravely to the end
This noble fellow goes down the age:
I justified. and his patriotic endurance