The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1899-01-21
Selett Sturp.
THE VOLUNTEER.
Frn,n Ererv Month

From Every Month
The mother would not be pacihed.
Not You, she said. mot YOU The
only ~on Of his mother, and she was a
widow remember that War Is not for
you.
The country calls, argued the young
man Must consider myself at such
time
The girl who wa, to be his wife spoke
ny.
Yourself She said 4, It only
yourself ?
You, too, he answered Il fight
fer those love when fight for my
country
What do YOU know Of the he'll and
horror IF war; demanded hi, mother
War made your father an invalid for
hic Is not that enough for me 70 give
NV country There are othcrs who should
go-rich men >ous bred in luxury. who
should meet hardship for once IN their
bve--bui YOU wiih Your meacsr pay.
which barely provide, for u,
Ny work j. more than that. he
trnwned
Yes, she said. You should make Il,
more there Will b. yoar wife 60 provide
for
II you love NE --he-aa the eiH
phea she hrakc down. hurying her f'se IN
her hand,
If you would only understand. he
pleaded You know how IL j>-"ur
couufrymeu murdered. the aag insuItc,l.
mes uoiu. % the front Must >tay
hero grinding ou, a daily existence 10 work
thar gives me mere f.-,i aud shelter while
ihsse brave fcllov, stake their lives for
me
Aud wha, viii bcoouc of you. cried
hi, moihcg ii you should return after
the 6shiin- i, aver2 The Position YOU
have j. mean, hui IL Is something VIII
il be h,lI far yoa till the var = ended .
haee .eca war, and kn0w shat oanr-
aiterwsrd-.-struEEle poverty inability o.
earn daily bread
4 love you said the girl has how
can san tell 'haf | NAV Dot forget yoa for
-one aue el>c when ven can >o easily leave
me
II I thought, returned he. siht
,ra could bc false To the
No, that, she interrupted Bat 4
woman gives trust for irus; she canuo,
aholly obliteTafe herself ahrn .hr 6nl,
that she Is held unworthy For am not
held uuworthy when y"u vau leave mc
against ms wishes
III, mother caught up the aori \
aurtht ~an ice- nat forge, hi- mother IN
her houT Il ue,-i Yoa arr al have
tie looked about him lie .aw the
peace az hotn.. she sun shining ID a, the
. ain,los, the peace outside ii field br,ok
and uuai he heard the distant low pf eat
ii, 'bc peaceful ,uos 81 mated birds
Then, be ,izhei son Nulld rather |
should be a coward
The brave man laid the sih, dryius
her cye,, ~. be who stands behind The
woman who lay,s him She smiled
az at h,m STAY with "a You
are uo lc,, soldier IN being our commaui
er She placed her aIHs about him
drawing him ,o her
{ Ills mother came and >tool beside him
Stay With Us. ,he echoed
Listen
Il Wa new voice that -poke The
wvrd- came from small rramped form
yrpurhiug beside the stowe in the corner
Il wa, the old grandmother Mere than
iuurscure wears had bowed her head They
had rot though, that she understood Her
blind eyes wer hlmy There was snile
upon her ,hryeled GI~ and one shaking
hand va. raised above her head
Listen
From afar of came sound that was
other than that Of luwiog kline aud >on. Of
Of bird,
Drum drum ~ der-u drum.
drum
The Young man straigh,ened
The old grandmother ro,c to her feet
She >wayed little aud caught At the wall
She CROPPED about the room 70 a tall
chest Of drawers From i, she toak long
narrow package.
Ny son. she said with feeble voice.
was shot in war and died from the effects
of hiS wounds years after 1t was an
honorable death While he was fighting
| picked lint tore up all my linen to
make it: then | went To the front and
nur>ed the wounded My husband was a
midshipmate in 1872 \ cutass severed
the sinews Of his arm. was 4 sirl when
met him, and his helpless arm made me
love him. Listen
Drum - drum - der um. drum.
drum The sound was a little nearer
My grandfather quayered the old
grandmother, was at Valley Forge He
was made prisoner, 1t was winter His
mother went to see him, carrying basket
Of food The journey was many miles
Sometimes q farmer let her ride a way in
his cart The rest Of the way she walked
through the snow When She reached the
prison the guards took her basket from
+ her and divided the contents They would
T not let her see her son She ran past the
/ the soldier, up to the prison door
Child She called, kiss the keyhole on
Your side. will kiss 1t on mine Bear
/ up Be brave God bless YOU Your
mother prays for YOU and thinks Of you
with smile on her lips and not tear in
her eye rs she spoke the old woman
tore the wrappngs from the package she
held and disclosed dim blade 1t was
my grandfather she thrilled
Drum - drum - der-um, drum,
drum came the sound and nearer yet.
-drum-der-um um. drum, drum e.
Mother : gasped the young man.
The old grandmother stood in the mid
die of the room almost erect \ tinge Of
color was in her cheek and made her seem
almost young She held out the sword.
your country, she said, and your
! God r.