The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-11-26

TX CDaS IN NN-1 SO4A- ~ LII q
The village paper printed Z long list
one week and. as il was read with tear
GimDed eyes the people said: III
seems a though all Eden : going.
Then. Il bright June morning. the
sun sho2e upon a company Of eager
young soldiers. IL new blue suits with
shining brass buttons Il fell upon the
fathers. and mothers. and friends, who
STOOD grouped near The long wagons
which were ready 10 take company !
10 The nearest railroad station The
white-haireG old pastor offered the last
prayer. ana. with 1ut;eri2E flags beat
Ing drums. huzzas and waving caps. the
brave soldier boys were borne away
4 strange hush fell upon the small
town Il had always been : sTaid and
sober place. but row i almost seemed
as though life had gone out oil Hard
work became a blessed necessity TO old
and young.
Tie girls learned 10 drive horses that
were not STEADY" 10 ride moving
machines. 10 help plan the farm work.
20 90 everything but sing bass which
they could not learn 10 90. But the
real life Of the place depended upon
news from the boys. after all: and the
coming OF the old yellow stage. twice
each DAY. o~uickened hearT-Throbs as did
nothing else
Two years passed. and the suspense
was not yet over. Some OF the Eden
boys had gone beyond the sound Of
bugle-caL. : few We're in hospitals. buT
most Of them were in action that dread
full spring Of q. when news Of battle
after battle flashed over The land.
Eden was al lis height Of anxiety q
The people gathered Tor worship in The
white church one Sunday morning. the
last Of Nay. Hymns, Scripture :
ing and PRAYER were over and the old
pastor arose. Du1, instead Of beginning
his sermon. he said:
"L4te last night word came thai
there i great need OF everything for use
on the bat1lefelds and in hospitals. The
sanitary commission begs Us 10 send
cotton and flannel garments. socks
sheets. quilts. OLD cotton and linen
everything we can gather, a. once II
would be cruel 10 keep Won women. who
can use needles. here with hands fold
ed over your Bibles. when The need j.
so great. You are invited 10 gather,
Immediately. al The home Of Mrs. Grow
for work, and may Gods blessing so
with Won.
There were children in that congre-
49, ---- z--g7 -a--a--h.- loyE zH5-n
che impulse. all the on arose ana
reyerentIy left the church
The law OF Sabbath observance in
Eden was Puritanic. but those who
would not sew on a missing button IN
der ordinary circumstances were soon
seated. needle il hand. wearing the ~
al1ed look which meets q great emeT-
gency.
Mrs. Grow was president OF the Sol
diers' Aid. and her husband kept the
village store. This was opened. and
necessary materials were taken from
i. The only TWO seviug-machines il
the village were already there. and
were soon clicking an accompaniment
70 the subaued voices OF the busy
workers.
\ delegation. one Of whom was Aunt
Bina, was sem ont 10 gather whatever
could be found. ready for use
I'm glad 70 get out II the open air.
said she. ii stiles me TO sit there Ike
. funeral in Mrs. Grows Parlor. Seems
- Il il would XIII lie 70 see The look
in dis Hastings eyes since Harry was
shot.
They knew You could tell us1where
10 go for supplies. remarked Mrs Kent
We must get sheets and quilts and old
linen. Have you any quilts 10 spare al
your house. Aunt Bina2"
I'm sure SISTER has some. and-yes-
I've got all extra blanket OF TWO. Come
in"
While Mrs. Billings was collecting her
contribution Aunt Bina was in her
room upon her knees. When she en-
tered the parlor again a few minutes
later. She bore IL her aTns q pair OF
soft. white blankels-anG her love
Quilt
"Bina Emerson" exclaimed her sis
ter. You don't mean that you're going
to send that quilt?"
Yes. I am cried Aunt Bina. her
face guivering. "Nothings 0 good
for our boys, ! won't send EN- old
things l don't want: they shall have
this.
Il was useless TO argue. nor in that
hou7 OF supreme devotion did anyone
ca7c TO Go 50: but when il was known
that Aunt Bina had sacrificed her treas
u7e il aroused a splendid rivalry which
brought together just such stores as
were needed
All day the good work went on. and
al night. the men. weary Of their n
forced idleness. packed barrels and
boxes ready TO ship in the early morn
ing.
Aunt Bina reached her Don again
at twilight. taxing with her Het1y
Barton. You know I've mi my quill:
10 the soldiers. she said. hesitatingly.
Yes. they told me so. I think it
was so generous of you" HeIty re-
piled. in an absent-minded way. as she
twisted the plain gold ring on her