The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-05-31
MODEL OF MEMORIAL TO ERECTED AT GETTYSBURG
BY THE STATE PENNSYLVANIA

ECTED AT GETTYSBURG In 1910
PENNSYLVANIA.
country? The courier hesitated, but
answered, LAS for thy country. it is
we'll, but as for thy sons. they are all
dead" The mother said, Thou
wretch, l did not ask thee about my
sons, let others go weep, as for my
self, 1 shall rejoice, for my country
prospers."
Our own country can boast of moth
ers that stood by their sons like unto
those of Greece. In the old war days
1 remember as lad going one morn
ing in 80 out across the woodland to
Grand Mother Huffman's. AS we
climbed the rail fence in front Of her
cabin, we saw a beautiful dappled
gray horse tied to a flower stalk. Just
then Mother Huffman came to the
door and seeing the horse, said, why
John, you've tied your horse to my
flower" 1t was one of those old
fashioned garden flowers called lady
fingers of love lies bleeding.
Her son said. Mother. he will not
hurt it, and when I am gone, you will
only prize 1t the more" When Grand
Mother saw us, she called to US and
as we entered. saw that her son was
making ready to go to the front, his
last furlough was spent. He was try
ing to keep his courage up. We watch
ed him put on his blouse of blue.
uybor oyorxytbir~ hod bo>r dana h,,t
putting on his sword, that good old
mother said John, let me buckle on
your sword She took the belt and
encircled his body. and as it clicked,
she caught him by the lapels of the
blouse and looking up into his face,
said, "My son, would rather that
you should fall upon the field of bat
tie. than that you should dishonor this
Cabin Home" We watched him ride
away, and as he reached the end of
the lane, he drew his sword and waiv-
ed it above his head.
There was Mother H. B. Merchant.
of Rockford, Illinois. She sent eleven
sons into the Union army. One was
killed at Island No 10: one fell with
Mcpherson at Atlanta: one died on a
sick furlough in his mothers arms;
seven were mustered out. one a Grip
pie and another a helpless invalid.
One of the saddest letters ever writ
ten by Abraham Lincoln was to Mrs.
Bixby of Boston. It is short but it
tells touching story.
Dear Madam:
have been shown in the files of
the War Department of the adjutant
general of Massachusetts,, that you are
the mother of five sons who have died
gloriously upon the field of battle.
feel how weak and fruitIess must be
any words of mine which should at.
tempt to beguile you from a loss so
overwhelming, but l cannot refrain
from rendering to You the consolation
that may be found in the thanks of
the republic they died to save. l pray
that our Heavenly Father may as
suage the anguish of your bereave-
ment and leave you only the cherished
memory of the loved and lost, the sol.
emn pride that must be yours to have
laid so costly a sacrifice upon the al
tar of freedom.
Yours very sincerely and respect
fully, ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Soldiers, you have mothers,
Whose brave sweet lips
That sang so long
Through bitter days or bright,
|, Have reached the source
OF endless song
Beyond the night.
Whose loyal hearts
That beat SO true
Unchanged by earthly ills
Have reached
The everlasting blue
OF Gods own hills
Gettysburg.
The spell Of the past is over us all.
We are in the midst of a great battle.
Far heard above the angry guns
A cry across the tumult runs
A voice that rang thru Shiloah's wood
At Chickamauga's solitude
The fierce South cheering on her
sons
Yet far above the fierce South CRY
A voice IS heard at Gettysburg.
So loud. 20 clear. it filled the sky
1t said to every boy in blue
You hold the hill or die.
They held the hin. In vain the foe.
men pressed against the bayonet, in
vain they charged. Twas Saxon grit
against Saxon valor-the pride and
chivalry OF the South against the