-
Articles/Ads
Article THE FREEMASON'S WIDOW.* ← Page 6 of 6
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemason's Widow.*
saw the lady gallop on her white pony , avoiding the platoons of retreating men , by a semi-circle round their flank . The next moment she was coursing over the ground in their rear , the battery in full play . Half our men , seeing her , stopped , forgetful of the storm of iron , to follow with their eyes what seemed to them an apparition . I kept my eyes
on her , and so did the officers , expecting each minute to see her struck down . But on she went galloping at the top of her speed , her air fearless . "' The woman ' s love for her son has made her Avild , ' said the dragoon captain . ' She will perish . ' "' A mother ' s love is stronger than death , ' I replied . ' I
believe she will reach Santa Anna in safety , and get to see her boy . ' " ' She deserves it , ' he ansAvered . The same moment a reinforcement came up , and we Avere ordered to take the fort , and we did take it . " After Ave had taken the city I ascertained the fate of the American lady . "' She was killed , of course , ' said emphatically the man in a broad hat .
"' I'll bet ten to one on her , ' said a Tennesseean , strongly . " The last gentleman is right . She AA ent over the field through the hottest fire of that day , and reached old Santa Anna as sound as a roach . He Avas not a little astonished to see her , you may be assured ; but he received her politely , and Avhen she told him her story in French , he
told her he Avould not oblige her merely because she was a Mason ' s widoAv . ' For , ' said he , ' I am a Mason myself ; and knoAv the obligations of the Order in war as well as in peace . Your son shall be liberated , though he wounded my maternal nephew so that he has since died , — when he was captured . But by the tenor of the letter
you bear , I have no power to refuse your demand . ' " He then gave her an escort to the city , with an order for her son to be given to her arms . The order was obeyed , and that very day , as she had promised , she embraced her long lost boy again . So much for a Avoman ' s standing fire , gentlemen , and so much for being a Mason's widow . "
At this crisis of the story Ave reached Smithland , and our group ivas at once broken up and dispersed ; each man , no doubt , going aAvay Avith greater reverence for woman ' s courage , and greater reverence for maternal iovc .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemason's Widow.*
saw the lady gallop on her white pony , avoiding the platoons of retreating men , by a semi-circle round their flank . The next moment she was coursing over the ground in their rear , the battery in full play . Half our men , seeing her , stopped , forgetful of the storm of iron , to follow with their eyes what seemed to them an apparition . I kept my eyes
on her , and so did the officers , expecting each minute to see her struck down . But on she went galloping at the top of her speed , her air fearless . "' The woman ' s love for her son has made her Avild , ' said the dragoon captain . ' She will perish . ' "' A mother ' s love is stronger than death , ' I replied . ' I
believe she will reach Santa Anna in safety , and get to see her boy . ' " ' She deserves it , ' he ansAvered . The same moment a reinforcement came up , and we Avere ordered to take the fort , and we did take it . " After Ave had taken the city I ascertained the fate of the American lady . "' She was killed , of course , ' said emphatically the man in a broad hat .
"' I'll bet ten to one on her , ' said a Tennesseean , strongly . " The last gentleman is right . She AA ent over the field through the hottest fire of that day , and reached old Santa Anna as sound as a roach . He Avas not a little astonished to see her , you may be assured ; but he received her politely , and Avhen she told him her story in French , he
told her he Avould not oblige her merely because she was a Mason ' s widoAv . ' For , ' said he , ' I am a Mason myself ; and knoAv the obligations of the Order in war as well as in peace . Your son shall be liberated , though he wounded my maternal nephew so that he has since died , — when he was captured . But by the tenor of the letter
you bear , I have no power to refuse your demand . ' " He then gave her an escort to the city , with an order for her son to be given to her arms . The order was obeyed , and that very day , as she had promised , she embraced her long lost boy again . So much for a Avoman ' s standing fire , gentlemen , and so much for being a Mason's widow . "
At this crisis of the story Ave reached Smithland , and our group ivas at once broken up and dispersed ; each man , no doubt , going aAvay Avith greater reverence for woman ' s courage , and greater reverence for maternal iovc .