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"only Mother;"

"only Mother;" image
Parent Issue
Day
15
Month
November
Year
1861
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

The July suri was almost overhead in the ho-ivens. drinking up the water froni the littlé brooks, and faivly wrobing the ; ghori graisea in the pastures. The cattie eft feeding in the meadow and stood ' snee decp in the pond, where the thick ; shodows of the wood feil over it. Itwas Far Um warm to wofk, or even to play, so the boys who had heon standing all the morning with their fiabtng Unes dangling over the raïling of the bridge, put up: their booka and threw themselve down in the cool shade uï the old elins on the bank. They made a v.'W pretty liicturo as tiicv lay there, with their shirt coliars unbuttoneo, and tbeir moist bair pnshed baeK fro:i their flushed faces,- Uueof them, Willie Downer, had a pie torial uewspupcr in hia pocket, wiih large engravings of the companies ol soldiers at Washington, their camp grouuds, fl igs, and caution, aml tho unifunns they wore. líe spread the paper on thé grass, and bégan eiplaining the pioturea to lus compAnion, Archie Morris. ' If I wan only old enouyh," Baid Willie eanio tly, " 1 should enligt for a soldier. It would be so grand to go and for the country, aud deFend our libDan't yöu wwh you were a man, Archie '.■" " Yes," said Archie, " I should hke to b a ii!-iu,but, mother says vyo need not wait tïll tliat time to bc bravo; we can show oar courage now." " I know," said Willie ; " cousiu i man joined tho compauy, and be is ouly three years oidr tfean I, but then he is aa tall as fether, every bit." i "That wasn'i what ïr.olher meant, said Archie; "sha íaid a good soldier must be resdy to undertake any duty, and it took m great deal more courage to do little disagreeable thinga than to marcfc up in the face of an cnemy ín battle. Then the first duty of ovory soldier ras to learo to olsj orders, and that n just what we boys are doing." illie looked a good deal diasatisfied, and did uot seem to like thïs view of the nuittcr; but just at tlris moment somoéame to the door of toe of tho srhite oott2Ew iustbelow the bridge, and ealled, ".WilUsl Wiliie!' öe did not stir but on exatniniug the paper. "douiebody ealled you, Willic," said Arcliio, lociklng towurd the housen. l'It'g onltj molher," replwd JVillie; " sho wants uu' lo go ot ' somo erraud, and I aüi put guilg out ui this hot sun." Arehie looked at him a moment iu astönishineni, and thea asked " But what will gh a i W bon you go hotneï" "O," said V: llie carileaily, "ihfl won t know I bcard her, foi I uidu't turu my h-ad a bit." " She ia going to thesprÍDg for water, said Archií stil! watohiug the house ; ' 1 w,u: i scoreh piy faoo toa blister bet' ro L wouid Ik : 'et my uiother do iln;!..' ' Pooh I" said Willie, "that'snol sho is so use i to heiug over the bot Btove that sho doa't iniud t much." Jast theu a womun with u baby in her uno to tho wiiidow of the other cottauc and üalle'd Archie. " Ay, } 1' said Arehie, springing up, aad ïwiuging his bat tuwards the house '■ Don't go yet, A.rohie," said Willie ; ■'just wait till we fiunh this paper; ït wcm't make any differenoe." " I'iu learning to oley orders" said Arohie; ' besides [ knmv mother wants me to take care of the baby while ihe gets dïnner." ■' I do hate biby-tend'mg ; U's cirlï work,'' svid Willie. is cookiug and waslving clotbes, but the soldiers have to do both. Right abuid J'ace.'"'' s:.id hc, sbouTderSSg hia lish pole, and storting for hoaie, " mj oomapn; ts recoived marching order:;." " Just lu tune Arohip," said bis mother, placing the b;;by in bia anus. UI sce my voínuteer ineans to be on hand whenever bis orders oome " Nöw, Arshie really üislihed tonditíg baby voi y mach, cspeciully on suoh a verj mrui day, wh.eu it tonk uil hia pati ;iiiil tneuuity te amus bis littlè brother, made a osuaily fretful by the heat. But oue glauco iuto the iieated kitchen, where bia inutber was busj over the glowing gtove, made hun tiiink himself verv forijnate t.) be able to reinalu .11 the Bltting room, v.ith tl sed bliiüis and opeii windows. But baby wr.s not at all pleased wiili the drkei)ed room. He would nut sit on the öoorand roll Arehiu's bal! ; he wuuld nut. lau-i ui all atArehie's uustic and gliinmaces; he wantedto be car ried, and oarriod he must be. ' Come on theu," said Arohie", tossing hini to his shoulflcru. " Now I'm 011 a fupoed maroh froffl Washington to Texas, and tiiis is ïny koapsack and blaoket. - Heavy load.Ii.it weatber - mercury up to &Ö0 degroes in th"é shade- whole aimy of sei;essio!ierïi running away froni us - bound to get tlu're beforeocnjnjt- band strike up "Yankee UooJle" - and he 3om Dienced rapidly paoing the room, ffhis tling Yankee Doodle, to baby's great st= aotion. Just as ho was beginning to flnd it pretty bard work, the door opened, and his gister Sarah catne in frotn school. - f Turn out and relieve guard," said Arohie, droppreg ttre buby into her lap, ai.d tlir .ivviug hiuisulf full lengtli ou the car put " Yon're full of your war nonsonso," said Sarah, lauhiug. "O well," feaid Arobie, " to amuse baby and keep a tVllow good-ua tured,"

Article

Subjects
Old News
Michigan Argus