Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 November 1886 — THE PATRIOTIC BOY. [ARTICLE]

THE PATRIOTIC BOY.

A TRUE STORY OF 1861. One morning in May, 1861, a knot of young mon were standing at the corner of the principal street in a little town not far from Boston, excitedly discussing the latest news, for the torch of war had been lighted at Fort Sumter, and the red glow tilled the land, putting a stop for a time to all business whatever; till the first volunteer armies had been enlisted and sent out to crush the rebellion. Among the- rest, not talking, but with eager eyes and ears drinking in all that was said, stood Albert 0., a boy of sixteen years, son of the wealthiest man in the place. “I would enlist this minute.” said Charley 8., “if there was any one to look after my dear old mother. She is so feeble now, and her little property is not quite enough to keep her, so how cuu I go?” “I don’t see how you can, Charley,” spoke another young man; “but I wish you could, lor you aud I have been chums so long that 1 would bo glad if we could be ! comrades still.” “I want to go,” said an older man in the group—a grave, sad-looking man; “I know if my Mary was living she’d tell mo to go at once and serve my country; but how can I leave my motherless children?” “I thought their aunt Emily took care of them,” remarked another. “So she does, but she could not afford to do so for nothing. I pay her S2OO a year for their board aud what teaching she can give them till they can go to the public school. If they were old enough Jcunv could teach and Willie could work in a machine shop, aud so take care of themselves; but now they are too young for me to leave." “And I,” said another. And they talked about the new company, and who of their town’s people were to be officers aud so on till one of them turned to the boy, asking: “Is it true. Albert, that your father's book-keeper is going as ensign?” “I don't know," replied AlLert, “he has said nothing to me about it.” “Yes, he is going,” suid one of the men. “I went to the store not au hour since and he told me so.” So the talk went on. and Albert listened awhile, but presently left them, and going to his father’s house went to his own room, ■where he locked himself in; and sitting down by the window, gazed out upon the sky, apparently lost in anxious thought. At last his face brightened; an earnest, ardent look came into his dark blue eyos; ho staited up aud walked mound the room excitedly. Then leaving bis room he went to his father’s office. Mr. O. was very much occupied, and Albert waited as patiently as he could till the visitor was gone, then went in. “Father,” Raid he, “can you spare five minutes to talk with me?” “Yes, my son, ton if you like.” “Is it tiue, father, that Mr. J., your bookkeeper, has enlisted?” “Yes, Albert, he is going as ensign; he told me so this morning, and I have sent money up to your mother not an hour ago, thnt she may buy the material for the regimental colors. Y’our sisters will help her make the flag,and all must bo ready in four days to present to the regiment before they leave.” This news was very interesting to Albert, but ho did not comment on it; his mind was full of another subject. “Father,” he asked; “have you engaged another book-keeper?” “No, I have not. I think I must send to Boston and advertise for one.” “Oh, don’t, father! Oh, how I wish—oh, if I dare to say it!” His father looked at him in surprise, and said kindly: “You surely know, my son, that you may dare say anything to me.” “0, father,” the boy exclaimed impetuously, “you know how much I wish to serve my county? And 3’ou said I was not old enough to go to war, but might prove myself a better patriot by staying at home—and now here is a chance to do something; and, father, do not refuse to let me, for if you do I shall break my heart.” “My dear Albert, you know I never refuse you anything reasonable.” “I know it, father, but this—O, I know just what you will say! But I can’t help it! Father, this morning I heard some of the men talking, and there were two who wanted to enlist and would, but one had an iutirm old mother to look after, and the other had two little children—motherless children—and so they could not either of them go, though they wanted to so much/’ “And so you want me to provide for the old mother and two little children? Well, I’ll try to do it—but——” “No, no, father, not that; I l now you have quite enough on your hands as it is—so many to help—but, father, I want to take care of them myself.” “Y’ou take care of them!” said the father, in astonishment. “Yes, father, if you’ll only let me be bookkeeper in Mr. J.’s place. You know he has been teaching me lately, and before he toes he can show me just how the books sland—and if. I should require any looking over, why, father, I’ll work for half price. You pay him one hundred dollars a month, and if you’ll pay me fifty, it will be quite enough for all I want, then ” “But, Albert,’’ interrupted his father, “wait a moment —don’t get excited over it, but give me a little time to consider! You wish to be my bookkeeper?®' \ 1

“Y’es, father/'. “But in that case you need to be here in the office all day, every day—from eight in the morning till six in the evening.” “Yes, father, 1 know it.” “Have you thought how arduous and se vere a life that will be for you?” “Yes, father, I have thought it all ovei and am not afraid. Jnst try me and you’l. see how I’ll stick to business.” “But then your studies, my son. Have you given up your plan of going to college? And must I relinquish my hope of seeing my son one of our ablest lawyers and politicians before I die? Must this be given up?” “No, father, not yet. I have thought it all over in my own room this morning; and though a week since it would have almost broken my heart to have met with any delay in my studies, yet now I think I can wait a year longer before going to college; and by studying evenings I will not lose anything I now know.” “But it the war should not be ended in a year—if it should last till yon are too old to go. to college—or if these men should never come back—should be killed —then you would have their families to provide for all their lives. Would you not then regret what you had done?” The boy’s face grew very pale. He sat silent awhile; the large tears came in his eyes and splashed down, but he soon brushed them away and looked up with an untroubled face, saying: “You know, father, that many of our most eminent men never went through college; so if I live I promise you that your heart shall yet grow warm with love and pride for me.” He did not know, as his father rose and turned to his desk, that his heart was already throbbing with love and pride for his son; but he heard the quiver in his voice as Mr. 0. replied: “I honor your sentiment, my son, but can not give you my answer till to-morrow morning. In the meantime do not mention the subject to any one. And now 1 must excuse you, Albert, lor I have something else to to do.” So Albert hastened home to liis own room, where he was soon immersed in bookkeeping, that he might be sure of his proficiency in case his father might accept his offer. That night Mr. 0. consulted his wife, and in the morning told Albert he might do as he wished. Charley B. and William H. were very much surprised to hear Albert’s proposition; but when they found he was in earnest, and his father approved his plan, they enlisted and went, leaving their dear ones in his care. And well did he redeem his promises. Good old widow B. grew to love him as her sou; and many a prayer went up from her heait for Albert. He watched over the little children, too, in a loving, brotherly way, going to see them often, and fr ‘quently sending them little gilts “from brother Albert” when he could not go. Then they and their maiden aunt Emily were invited to his father’s house every Sunday to dinner and tea. The four dollars a week which he gave aunt Emily, and the three dollars which he gave Mrs. 8., still left him money enough to help many other soldiers’ families, and Albert fully realized the truth. “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” The year was not quite gone when Charley B. came home with one leg, and soon the news came of William H., “killed on the field of battle.” Then Mr. O. provided for the two children, leaving them still in the care of their dear aunt Emily; and when Albert had instructed Charley B. in the mysteries of book-keeping Mr. O. took him into his employ and sent Albert to college.