The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1898-03-31
THE DESERTER'S MOTHER.
Published by Req uest

Published by Req uest.
The following verses are commemo-
rative of one of those thrillin e facts
which few years back were so famll-
lar to all.
A deserter was captured and tried by
Court Martial. His aged mother &C
companled him to the trial and beg
ged the privilege of pleading her sons
cause, which was granted. The facts
of her statement are contained in the
verses. The case was so peculiar and
the mothers grief so poignant, that 1t
was decided to allow the deserter to re-
turn to his post which he did and after
wards proved himself gallant soldier.
The tide OF life is ebbing low,
The shadows of the tomb
Are gathering round my pathway
With a heavy, chilling gloom
[ am old and gray and wrinkled-
Yellowed like the Autumn leaf-
But the blasts which chilled and scared
my life
Were many years of grief.
My voice is weak and tremulous
But love is in it's tone,
I know naught OF law or logic
But my heart pleads for its own.
Will you listen while tell you,
OF the years of bitter pain?
Will my story be unheeded?
Shall my pleading be IN vain?
In the sixteenth gladstone summer
OF my young and happy lite.
In the flush and Joy of first love
1 became brave Willie's wife.
In those days they called me beautiful
And praised my lip and brow
And called me Willie's sunbeam
What is all that to me now?
A devoted, loving husband
Did my Willie ever prove
And all my heart went out to him
In woman's perfect love.
Oh the memories bright and golden
OF the sunny days of yore,
| Oh this weary, weary waiting
| With my loved ones gone before.
Many fieeting years together
| We IN peace and Joy did live,
And the circling years in passing
Naught but happiness did give.
Six sturdy sons God gave lis
| Then one daughter frail and fair.
| Where are now the souls I nourlshed
Echo in my heart cries-"where?
First my little Nellie faded,
And dim grew her bright blue eye
And my mother-heart grew bitter
When they told me she must die,
Oh missed her childish prattle
And my heart yearned more ant
more
To hear her gleeful laughter
Or her football on the floor.
Ere my heart had ceased Its bleeding
At this blow from Gods own hand
My husband joined the legions
In that unknown Spirit Land.
In my wild grief's first abandon
| Dark seemed the earth and sky,
And my surcharged heart
Knew but one thought, one onl.
wish-to die.
lived with all the bitterness
That filled each passing day
And still l knew that all loved
Had not yet passed away.
I lived and found life had for me,
Full many other joys;
: I watched and waited, prayed an
hoped,
u And lived to raise my boys.
But why now do I l1nger
Dreading, fearing yet to tell
The sad distressing sequel
!, Which my heart knows all too we'll
While those peaceful years were passln
Came the rumor from afar
That our happy, prosperous countryl
. Was engaged in Civil War.
ave must 60, dear mother, :" cried the.
"Go and battle for our land"
b And so they left our cottage home
: And joined Lees patriot band.
!, Then l crushed the tears that started
And with spirit mantling high
= 7 blessed and sent them from me
g Sent them forth, o God,-to die.
First a battle-then letter
Twas my first born fell that day.
e And the victory won was glorious,
l. So the Southern heart was gay.
n But lone, heart-strlcken woman
Wept and mourned beneath the bic
, And the aged eyes shed tears
Such as the youthful never know.
Another, then another, one by one
My braye boys fell,
Battling bravely for the land they low
"Not wisely but too we'll.
Sick and woCnded-and dying
Oft the sound fell on my ears.
Bear. oh bear a moment with me,
For my voice is choked with tears.
Last ofall was gone but Benny,
Once my youngest, ''ow my on;
= And the thought came oft and often
" That ere long he too must fall.
grew wild with grief and anguish,
olIorod with m y main