The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1899-09-14


books that told the story of their lives
and aroused within me the desire to
study and prepare myself for posts of
command. Then there came a war, and
my wife said to me: GO and win your
fame. / will keep the home sweet till
you return | went, and when | was
amid the smoke and flame of battle,
l realized that i had left the greater
hero at home to fight silent battle
against her anxiety and dread At last
l was wounded and sent to naval hos
pital. My courage was gone, and |
was quite ready to give up the strug
gle and die. But she came to me, and,
though she was overwhelmed with
grief, she thought only of my honor,
and she sustained me through all that
trial and brought me out of it, praise
God, better man. Boy, tell you now,
from the experience of 80 years. that
men are weak. impatient. cross, un-
heroic, and that nearly every one of
them owes his so-called greatness to
the far higher nobility of some dear
made him all that be is"
Stephana turned away and walked
thoughtfuliy down toward the beach.
When she reached it the waves were
still singing on the sand, the barge lay
at the landing place, and the great
battleship's brasswork glittered like
polished gold in the sunlight. But
Stephana thought only of the noble
woman whose face she had never seen,
but whose life had glorifed her home
and her husband and laid up for her
treasures in heaven.
Somehow" she reflected, these men
all seem to think they owe great deal
to us women. Oh, forgot! I'm boy
aow"
She smiled as she climbed up the
cliff again and set out along the high
way once more. In good time she came
to another fine mansion, and saw the
porter sitting at the gates.
"And who lives in this fine place."
she asked.
''The famous Gen. Power" answered
the porter, as if proud to serve SO not
able master.
Stephana entered the gate and passed
up the handsome drive that led toward
the house. On the veranda she saw
noble-looking man, who, she had no
doubt, was the general SO she welf~
up and saluted him with much respect.
so that he smiled and asked her to enter
the house.
what do you seek?" he asked.
knowledge of your great deeds"
she said.
oh said he, II never did any. Ny
men did them all. But will show you
my house"
So saying, he led Stephana into a
great hall, where there were many
chairs and large table, and fine pic
lures upon the wall
This is the banqueting hail." he
said
And yonder beautiful chair with the
silken cushions is your chair?" she
said.
NO." he answered briefly, that is
my mothers chair sit on this"
And he pointed to a plain wooden
seat. Next he led her into a magniti-
cent drawing room, where refined taste
contributed wholly to comfort.
This is my mothers parlor," he said,
briefly.
They passed now into beautiful
apartment of glass, filled with the
rarest plants and most exquisite flow
ers.
This is my mothers conservatory"
he said.
The general mounted a marble stair
way, followed by the wondering Steph-
ana, and threw open the door of a room
which was the embodiment of comfort
and peace.
This is my mothers sitting room,"
said the general.
But" said Stephana, timidly, II
should like 10 see your own rooms"
The general led her up another fight
of stairs and showed her a severely
plain little room, in which an iron bed
stead and many books We're the chief
objects that met the eye.
That is my room,' said the general,
briefly, turning away and leading
Stephana down the stairs again. AT
their foot he paused and said:
Il shall now take you 20 my mothers
boudoir, where you will see her."
He pronounced the last word with "A
solemn tone. Then he opened door,
and at the further end of beautiful
chamber Stephana saw, seated in a
large chair, wonderful old lady, whose
hair looked like spun silver, and whose
cheeks looked like wax.
Mother said the general, here is
a boy. who has set out on his travels,
and who has come to learn about my
great deeds. | have shown him my
best"
Stephana looked up in wonder and
said:
You have shown me only splendid
home. which you seem TO have made all
for your mother"
And that is the best deed | ever
did," replied the general, warmly; "for
I can never do enough for the mother
who gave up all her young life to teach |