Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-10-20
Far from the Front.
By Samuel Minturn Peek.
| NNE LATHAM had not heard froI

N
IA her husband, Benjamin Latham
in three months. In time of wal
women grow accustomed to long epis
-tolary silences, but never before had
Anne been so long without tidings
She was a hopeful woman, and had
schooled herself to look on the bright
side; nor had she been unrewarded
for Latham had served in Lees army
four long years unframed by disease
or bullet. During the past year, how
ever, anxiety for the absent soldiers
was not the only trial that came to
rack the hearts of the women of the
-confederscy. The wolf, hunger, long
kept at bay by good crop years
scratched al the door.
1t was not so hard to want them
selves, but it was sickening to see their
children lack. AnE it came &c pass
that many of the wives of the poor
nonslave-owHing whites who dwelt in
the hills sometimes asked themselves
if they were Eot paying too dearly for
the possibility of some day owning a
negro, and other benefits promised by
secession
Anne Latham, in the hills of West
Alabama, had managed fairly we'll for
three years. She had a horse with
which to do blowing, and she had
raised corn, peas and potatoes, which,
with the milk of her cow, fed her little
family of three; and with her spinning
wheel and loom she spun and wove
clothing for herself and children.
For three years she had kept brave
heart, and it was not till the confed-
serate government pressed her horse
into service that she began to despond.
She wrote the loss TO Ben, but added
that she had enough to last her
through the coming winter, and babe
him not 20 fret. That was in the au-
tumu. Spring came and found her
with little to subsist upon but the
milk of her cow, and the cow was going
dry.
1t was on a stormy night in April
that Anne's future seemed to her we'll
nigh as dark as the skies. Everything
that she knew was discouraging, and
the unknown might be even worse.
For if he were not dead, why had her
husband not written?
1t was full night when Anne came
from milking Bette, the cow, and built
the fire to bake a pone of cornbread
for the children.
When all was ready--the little all
she divided the small pitcher of milk
between the children, and broke the
pone of bread into three pieces, TAX
ing the smallest herself.
"Mammie, where's your cup" asked
the six-year-old Ben.
81 DON'T care for milk nowadays, SON.
ME" replied Anne.
"You used to drink it, mammie."
"Yes: when we had a lot o milk,
esome body had to drink it to keep it
from spelling. But come. eat your
supper" said the mother, willing to
change the subject, and forcing
smile to her thin, hunger-s:ricken
zface: sits time little folks went to
bed"
81 want some more milk. mammie,"
said four-year-old Lucy. beating her
rempty tin cup on the table.
There isn't any more. Take some
of my bread"
"No, mammie," said the boy; give
her nv cup. I've had enough"
A lump came in the little fellows
throat. for he knew more of his moth
-er's trouble than she supposed, and.
throwing his arm about her neck. he
kissed her tenderly.
"Mammie, when is pap coming home
from the WARP?
Anne replied to the child's query
with forced cheerfulness, and when the
children were tucked away in bed. plac-
ing a Iight-wood knot upon the fading
fire. she brought out her knitting The
wind sobbed down the chimney, and
the rain ratified upon the cabin roof.
for the storm was growing fiercer.
Everything was gloomy but the blazing
knot and the old gray cat which sat
purrinC by the fire. Thank God. the
Government did not press cats-cats
and women were left at home to catch
mice. and bake, and pillow.
The fire sent lights and shadows
dancing about the room. now leaping
across the rafters, now lingering on
the bed where the children lay peace
fully sleeping. Anne stopped knitting
and leaned her head upon her tim,
worn hand. She was hungry, but her
heart was hungriest of all. What was
bsyoud the storm and darkness. far
away? Where was her husband to-
light? If she could only know he was
= alive and well she could battle with
-v-ant awhile longer. Perhaps with the