Free Uncertain Glory by Lea Wait Page B

Charlie was angry. I was just glad they’d both been there working.
    â€œI’ve started printing a one-pager with today’s news. Major Anderson surrendered, as expected. And there was one death at the fort. Ihad to rewrite the story twice as details changed, and then set the type by myself.”
    â€œI thought no one had died in the fighting,” I said.
    â€œNo one did. But one of our gunners decided to give a last salute to the flag before the surrender. He was loading his gun when it exploded, and blew off his arm. He bled to death.”
    â€œHow awful.” I shook my head. “He died for no reason.” I started re-filing pieces of type that Charlie had discarded and left on the table.
    â€œWhat do you mean, ‘no reason’? He died for his country,” snapped Charlie. “What better death can there be?”
    â€œA death that accomplishes something. That makes a difference to those still living,” I said. “Not bleeding to death because your gun blows up.”
    â€œHe died a hero,” said Charlie, turning to me and standing a little too close for comfort.
    Owen managed to squeeze between us. “Joe, while Charlie does the printing, would you help me hang the pages so they’ll dry fast?” He was holding the rope we usually strung across the room.
    â€œOf course I’ll help, Owen.” I stepped backward, avoiding a confrontation. “We all want to get that page finished as soon as we can. You’ve both done a great job this morning. I can’t believe you worked so quickly.”
    â€œPresident Lincoln should make an announcement soon,” said Charlie. “He’ll tell us what he’s going to do, and what he wants the country to do. After all, we’re at war. Everything’s going to be different from now on.” Charlie started to print copies. “This is probably the most important time of our lives.”
    â€œThat will mean a lot of special issues of the
Herald,
right?” said Owen. “We’ll make a lot more money.”
    â€œWe may,” I said.
    I hadn’t yet told Owen about possibly losing the press; I’d hoped I would never have to.
    â€œSpecial issues are just the beginning, Owen!” said Charlie. “There’s no telling how different our lives are going to be from now on.” He was grinning, working the press faster than I’d ever seen before. “Changes are coming, Owen. Just you wait and see! Nothing’s going to be the way it was before Fort Sumter fell.”
    He made it sound as though war was the best thing that could have ever happened to us.

Chapter 16
    Sunday, April 14, late afternoon
    One of the first changes because of the war was that schools were to be closed on Monday. No one questioned the decision. This week families felt a need to stay close. Talk of the war was on everyone’s lips as Owen and Charlie and I walked from home to home late Sunday afternoon, selling our one-page bulletin announcing the fall of Fort Sumter and Major Anderson’s surrender.
    Most people in town bought a copy.
    â€œI’ll be saving this,” said old Mrs. Dunham. “I’ll put it with my Bible. I suspect I’ll be doing a lot of praying from now on—praying for all of us, and for our nation. For what’ll be coming next.” She reached out and hugged both Charlie and me, to our surprise and embarrassment.
    â€œShe didn’t hug me,” said Owen as we left her house.
    â€œYou’re lucky. She smelled of salt pork and rancid whale oil,” I told him as we headed for the next house.
    â€œYou’re too young to be a soldier,” said Charlie. “She hugged Joe and me because she thinks we might die in the war.”
    â€œCharlie! How can you think such things?” I said, glancing at Owen. He looked as though he was about to burst into tears.
    â€œIt’s true,” said Charlie. “We’re not