Year: 1862

age, endurance and self-dgniall She felt that
he was true soldier, and therefore she was
very, very proud Of him


The news came that the regiment in which
her son was serving had made an advance up
on the enemy's lines, that some severe skirm-
ishing had taken place, and that an engage
ment was imminent. A sudden fear shook
the nerves Of Mrs. irwin. Even as she read
of the advance, bloody battle might be going
on, and her son be among the dead or dying.
The hours of sleepless suspense that went by
until the news of victory was flashed over
the country we will not venture to describe
Many were killed and many wounded. With
Z breathless eagerness she Geyoured their names,
as with wLite lips and starting eyes. she bent
over the brief dispatches. WHAT'S this Her
sons namel The paper shivers in her hands
She cannot read the paragraph. Desperately
she thrusts the sheet down upon table that
she may hold it firmly; but mist comes over
her eyes; she does not make out the words.
Killed or wounded?


"Oh Godl Give me strength I"


Among the brave men WHO distinguished
themselves, private John Irwin deserves hon
orable mention. In a desperate assault of the
rebels the captain of his company received a
severe wound, and fell upon the ground. He
was a few PAGES in advance of his men, and
as he fell, two Of the enemy sprang forward
to bayonet him. Irwin, seeing this, flung
himself before his PROSTATE captain, shot one
of the men, and in a hand-to-hand encounter,
disabled the other. He then bore the wound
ed officer from the field During the whole
fight this young man, who is not twenty-one
years of age, conducted himself fwith the cool
est courage, and il more than one instance
rallied his failing comrades. He has the stuff
of which officers are made, and the Depart
men should send him a commission"


Mrs Irwin bowed down, with her face up
on the table, trembling in every nerve, weak
in glad bewilderment-tearf Then drop
ping upon her knees, with clasped hands and
eyes uplirted, she said, family


40, Lord, is he not Thine ?"


A deep peace fell upon her spirit, and she
remained kneeling. But prayer formed itself
in no other words


Il could not stay away from you after read
ing the news this morning" A friend said
this as she came in, a little while afterwards.
" Are you not a proud woman to-day, Mrs.
Irwin ?"


"I fell glad and humble, was the sublued
answer.


j." But did he not act nobly? Who would
have thought that in your quiet, retiring boy,
there was such daring spirit ?"


at does not seem as if were my son who
has been so brave" said the mother. The
act has apparently removed him to a distance
and set itself up a question of right against
me. He is not mire in the sense Ihave hith-
erto regarded him. Higher duties than those
of a son are laid upon him; and l must give
him to his country in a degree not understood
when he went forth at his country's call I
pray, now, that God viii make him equal to
his duty under all circumstances. To lose him
would be a fearful thing; but to find him
weak coward in the day Of battle, would be
more fearful still"


"To hear such words from your lips i
From whence has come this new. spirit2 this
new courage"


;" As our day is, so shall our strength be-
replied Mrs. Irwin. '' God gives the spirit of
endurance and selfsacriGce when we have
need oft; and this is our time ofneed I do
not fatter myself with the hope that my heart
and home will be spared-that my boy will
pass unscathed in the ordeal Of battle. But.
come what will, trust in God and He will
lay no sorrow upon my heart too heavy to
bear. fl had ten sons, feeling as I now do
would give them all for this contest and
send them forth in Gods name"


And to thousands ofmother's hearts, strength
and a spirit of self-sacrifce have come in this
time of trial. as it came to the heart of Mrs.
Irwin; and ike her, their souls are in the
cause, and their brave hearts giving courage
and endurance to tens of thousands of brave
sons now battling Tor right and their country.
It is the old spirit of the Revolution, and by
virtue Of its sacred fires our armies must pre-
vail