Year: 1863




hope?"


The feeble hand grasped the arm Of the phys
clan as he was going bis rounds among the sick
and wounded in that hospital tent, and the youth
full voice which asked the question trembled with
emotion. 1t was a boysh face iato which the
physician turned and gazCd-the face Of yonng
lieutenant from the lake shore of Michigan, over
whose head but uineteen years bad passed bold,
noble and beautiful it looked but The death
angel had set bis impress there, and the kind.
hearted surgeon could only shake his head.


- wanted SO to 90 home once more before |
died O. mother! mother - These words were
full of agony. and for few moments the poor
boy lay with closed eyes ard tears trembled upon
the long lashes. But they did not fall he
crushed them back, and lifted his almost signtless
eyes upward.


MY dear mother taught me how to de-bless
God for that! Ny home in heaven is always
near" The struggle with feeble human nature
was over. Angels were present to comfort the
dying soldier ard quietly and peacefully he
crossed the dark river up the long last march
which ended his earthly campaign.


There was soldiers burial kind hands hal
lowed the humble grave, and laid him down
prayerfulIy and tearfully 40 his rest and when
the brave men turned back to the lonely tent,
the sword and vase Of their youthful officer met
their eyes.


"Wlat shall be done with thcm?' was the
sorrowful question.


Send them home to his mother"


And they came 1t the early morning Of
bright October day The broad sungh lay
all about the home, over whose threshold the
boy lieutenant had gone forth one twelve month
before 80 full Of life and activity. The fields
were waving with the early ripening grain the
fruit hung in festoons OF green along the bong
which were beginning to bend beneath the daily
increasing burden


The door of the neat white cottage stood open,
and all along the floor of the wide, pleasant
kitchen lay ray OF yellow sun shine, broken
here and there by restles moving shadow,
where the waving trees came in between the sun
light. The mother was alone, and She moved
about her morning work, she sang in low sweet
voice, snatchcs Of hymns which she had often
sung when the dear boy, now grown to manhood,
had nestled in her lap, and she was hushing him
to sleep; and where, years later, on Sabbath
evenings, he sat with her before cheerful fire,
her comforter, her only earthly stay and support :;
and she looked as if expecting TO see his bright
face coming in at the door, or to hear his CHEEKY
voice calling from the garden, mother!"


Did she hear no whisper from the Garden OF
Paradise at that moment, calling, Mother
Mother ?" Was there not a guardian angel how
ering about her-a youthful face, now glowing
with spiritual beauty, bending over her? Alas
she saw it not!


The stage came rattling slowly along the high
way, and her heart beat quicker at the sound, for
mayhap there might be something from the darl-
ing boy. 1t stopped before the little picket gate,
and the driver came with slow steps up the walk.
There something in each hand which he
brought seulIy in, laid almost reverrnuy upon
the table. Not a word broke the ellHess. The
poor mother looked upon them moment and
then with sharp cry OF agony sank down beside
ITEM.


MY boy my boy O, God, help me, This
is not all that is left OF my darling?'


She drew lhn Vnli>p n her almost fronticAllv
aud lifted her white, imporing face to the driver


"Allw 1t needed not that solemn answer :;
one glance into the plying face revealed the
dreadful truth. Wondering at her own strength
she eagerly opened the yalise. There was the
coat, wiki its bright buttons and epaulets, which
his companions had folded carefully away and
she held it up, she seemed to see the noble hoy
he had stood before her in that Dress and asked
so eagerly, Nov, mother, are you not proud Of
your boy? You won't cry any more, will you {?
Pm going 10 fight for the dear old lag-my
fathers Hag-and mine, and want TO go with
your approval aud blessing ;" and then she hud
placed her trembling hands upon his head and
whispered through her tears, " Go, my son, and
God be with you" And God had been with him
TO the end. Then came his bible-his little
pocket bible, which she had given him on his
birthday, years before He had read it faithful
ly. There was here aud there mark at his lav.
orite chapters, and there were pencil lines drawn
dIouHu many comforting texts, winch lie nad
repeated upon many tedious marches, going
right into the face Of The enemy, and they had
been his guide und support to the last. A little
packet OF letters, SO lull OF hope, and trust and
counsel 10 The absent son, and a. she opened them
one 10y one, she saw how some tender passages
breathing her full hearts love, or telling Of The
dear old home that stood with open dooIs waiting
TO reGthc him, were blOtted with tears whicl
the brave heart could not hold back Her pic
ture, with its worn case, into which his eyes had
Euz 80 maay times; aud as she opened it Il
mule slip Of paper dattercd out, with the words
IN his O"n band Sweet mother, what bless
lns God has given me in you.'


She had been blessing to him she had
taught him the way to eternal life. God be
praised for that but it was broken hearted
mother the kind ueighbors raised from that
place, whore, overcome with grief she had pill
lowed her head among the treasures Of her son


Only for II little while, poor mother Our
heart aches for you as We write, aud for the
thousands OF beurts made desolute, for whom we
can only pray as we pray for our own loved ones
iii the hour OF danger.


Only for little while the peaIly gates are
not closed. They were left "jar as that dear Que
entered in, uncosed and waiting for you.


This incident is strictly trne.