Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-12-19

the sight Of her tears burst out
quickly:
Howard isn't worse, is he?" for q
moment forgetful Of all else.
The woman shook her head.
81 am afraid he Is. I'he sound o,
that passing battery seemed to excite
him so. He thought he was at the
front again and wanted to get up"
Poor old Howard"
Hes quieter now, perhaps"
Mother, Is there anything I can do
for him."
"No, my son." answered the woman
with sigh, II don't think there is
anything that anybody can do. w.
can only wait-and hope. He is in
Gods hands, not ours"
She lifted her face for a moment
and saw beyond the room, through the
night, and beyond the stars a Pres
ence Divine. TO whom thousands OF
other women in that dying Confeder
acy made daily, hourly, and momen
tary prayers. Less exalted. more hu
man. less touched, the boy bowed his
head, not without his own prayer, too
But you wanted to see me, VIII
fred. Martha said" the woman pres
emily began.
"Yes, mother. I"
The boy stopped and the woman
was in no hurry to press him. She
OWNED what was coming and would
fain have avoided it all.
II am thankful there is a lull in the
cannonading." she said, listening. 81
wonder why it has stopped"
at has not stopped said Wilfred
at least it has gone on all evening"
81 don't hear 1t now"
mo, but you will-there!"
Yes, but compared to what 1t was
yesterday-you know how it shook the
house--and Howard suffered SO
through it,"
so did l." said the boy in q low
voice fraught with passion.
you, my SOM"
Eyes, mother. when hear those
guns and know that the fighting is 60
ing on. it fairly maddens me"
But Mrs. Varney hastily interrupted
her boy. Woman-like she would thrust
from her the decision which she knew
would be imposed upon her.
Yes. yes" she said; II know how
YOU suffered-we all suffered. we
She turned away, sat down in a chail
beside the table, leaned her head ir
her hands, and gave way to her emo
tons. There has been nothing bu
suffering. suffering since this awful
war began" she murmured
Mother" said Wilfred abruptly, :"
want to speak to you. You don't lik.
it, Of course, but you have just go
to listen this time"
Mrs. Varney lifted her head from
her hands. Wilfred came nearer t
her and dropped on his knees by he
side. One hand she laid upon hi
shoulder, the other on his head. Sh'
stared down into his upturned face
Il know know, my boy-what 20,
want"
II can't stay here any longer" sal,
the youth; ut is worse than bein,
shot to pieces. just have to chair
myself to the floor whenever l hea
a cannon-shot or see a soldier. Whel
can l go?"
The woman stared at him. In hin
she saw family the face of the DO.
dying upstairs. In him she saw tn
white face OF the boy who lay unde
the dew. dead at Seven Pines. In hir
she saw all her kith and kin. who, tru
30 ne th,t H.
given up their lives for a cause no,
practically lost. She could not Civ
up her last one. She drew him gentl
to her, but, boy-like. he disengage
himself and drew away with a shak
of his head. not that he loved hi
mother the less. but honor-as he SAY
1.-THE more.
"Why don't you speak," he viii,
pered at last.
81 don't know what to say to 20,
Wilfred," faltered his mother, a
though there was but one thing to sa!
and she knew that she must say i
yet she was fighting, woman-like, fo
time.
81 will tell you what to say" sal
the boy
"What?"
Say that you won't mind II ! 6
down to Petersburg and enlist"
But that would not be true, WI
fred" said his mother, smiling faintl.
True or not, mother, can't sta
here"
, "Oh, Wilfred. Russell has gone, an
Howard is going. and now you want
go and get killed"
, II don't want to be killed at al
mother"
: But you are 30 young. my boy"
mot younger than Tom Kittredge
, answered the boy; mot younger tina
Ell Stuart or Cousin Steven or hui
dreds Of other boys down there. Sc
mother-they have called for all ov'
D.. eighteen. weeks ago; the seventee
? call may be out any moment: the ne!
) me to stay here until am ordere
out! should think not. Where
: your pride?"
my pride? An my son. 1t is c
3 the battlefield, over at Seven Pine
: and upstairs with Howard"
;, well, J don't care, mother" he pc
sisted obstinately. II love you ar
all that, you know it-but can't star
a this. I've got to go. must 60"
r Mrs. Varney recognised from Il
Q ring Of determination in the boy
voice that his mind was made u
3, She could no longer hold him. WI