Middletown transcript., 1899-05-27
eiren the charge Of her son a sacred

given the charge Of her son as sacred
trust
Promise. Cynthy, she had said
"Pronlise that you'll never leave him,
and that you'll take good care Of him. /"
And Cynthy had solelnnly said, II
will Faithfully did she fulfil that
promise She simply gave her life up
to her brother Sam. but that young
man somehow did not seem to appre-
ciate the sacrifice. neither did he care
to spend all his evenings at home with
his sister. nor If he went to a 'shusk-
ing or ..sociable' did he care to be al
ways "tied to her apron strings. Z as he
expressed it.
Later on. when she learned that Sam
was paying attention to that "shilly-
shally Lily Walker. great was her in
dignation. and many were the lectures
given to the younger brother, who felt
himself too near to manhood to be treat
ed like child. especially when Cynthy
was but two years older than he Sharp
and bitter words passed between them
at times, although often Sam tried to
make it up with his sister and tried also
to convince her that Lizy was absolutely
needed at the farmhouse. but it was of
no use So one day Sam and pretty lit
tie Lily took matters into their own
hands drove ten miles to R, across
the state line. and were married.
Sam Immediately made the news
known to Cynthy. who was at first in
consolable. She wept over Sam as if he
had been badly used At first she for
babe tholn both the house; but. remem-
bering her promise to her mother. she
at last made him fetch Mrs. White"
home. and she'd do as well by her as
could BE- expected under the circum-
stances
So they came to the farmhouse to
live. and Cynthy. true to her promise,
did well BY them as far as food and
kindred comforts go. but never by any
possible chance was there any relaxa-
tion of the stern lines about her mouth,
and Lily often cried up stairs in the
spare room from sheer loneliness.
About two years later the war fever
Of 1851 broke out at the Corners. and
Sam White was one of the first TO catch
the infection Sam had ''settled down
during the past two years. SO all the
Corners folks said, and was a strong
sturdy specimen Of young manhood
When he came home and broke the
news of his enlistment to Lizy and
Cynthy, the little wife's face grew pale
as death. and she clasped her laughing
baby more closely to her. but said never
a word
But Cynthy-her voice rose to per-
feet shrek ds she cried. "You shan't
go, Sam; you mustn't. you can't. Eli
never give my consent. Don't you new
er mention it again.
But as Sam resolution did not
waver she lnft OF commanding and be-
gan entreatlng instead: "Ch, Sam, you
won't go please don't. | couldn't bear
it; don't got,
And when to this pitiful pleading
Sam only answered, II must. Cynthy:
I've promised. Cynthy arose and.
standing befure Lily. who was strug-
Cling with her tears said. beg him not
to go. Lily: he'll hear to you. Tell him
you cant get ON without him.
81 can t. Cynthy. was the fearful
reply 'If he's promised to go. any
thing could say wonIdn' stop him.
And. besides Sam knows best. IF it's
his duty won't stand in the way. iii
say. Go. and God bless you'll /"
Grave little womanl' cried Sam
But Cyntby. facing her with blazing
eyes said fiercely: IF You let him go,
TIL never speak to you again Beg him
not to Quick. say mean itr'
"Cynthy!" cried Sam.
II mean itl'' she went on. IF he
goes, it's your fault. and I'll never for
give you.
Sam, as well as Cynthy, was not pre-
pared for the resolute look on the little
wife's face, as. rising. her baby in her
arms, she faced the angry woman, say
ing: 81 shall not bid him stay If he's
given his word. I'll not bid him be a
coward for my sake He must do what
he thinks is right. =
Cynthy turned and left the room,
while Lizy burst into tears hiding them
on Sans broad shoulders
So it was settled
But Cynthy moved about like wom-
an Of stone. never apparently seeing
Lily. but doing all in her power for
Sam Lily decided to go home to her
parents during his absence. to which
decision Cynthy agreed. with satisfied
nod Of her erect head.
So Sam went to the Yar Lily went
to her old home. and Cynthy was left
desolate.
Before many months had passed news
came to the Corners that great battle
had been fought and won for the Union,
but that among the wounded were many
Of their relations and Lends. while on
the list of the dead was the nan4e Of
Sam White. and a few days after his
body was brought home to the Corners
and given soldiers burial. and well
he deserved his honors. for he had been
q brave soldier and true
So he had lain all these years on the
hillside. and all these years Cynthy had
dwelt in her lonely cottage. nursing
her grief for Sam and her anger toward
Lizy, who had lived on in the little
house left her by her father.
Her one child had grown up and mar
ried, unhappily it proved. and had re-
turned to her mother with two little
ones OF her own.
The years had proved cruel to Lily.
She had worked hard to keep the wolf
from the door. but it had sometimes
been q hard struggle, and since her
daughter and little grandchildren had
returned to her she had been obliged
TO mortgage her little home to procure
ready money. as Susy was an invalid
and must have medicine and nourish-
ing food. Lack of work and sickness
had prevented the earning Of money to
pay the interest. and the mortgage was
to be foreclosed the S0th of May. and
there was no place left for them but
the town farm. she thought bitterly.
Thus at the Corners there were some
hearts to whom fhe coming Memorial
day seemed anything but q gala day.
Lizy had often thought Of going to
Dismal Dawson-ssSnv rnum cnnId yer