The Portland daily press., 1862-08-18

our resources will allow. The "how'' do it
You may infer, when tell you left Harper's
Ferry at 3 o'clock A. NJ, yesterday reached
Baltimore at A. NJ, went to the various mar
kets, purchased a barrel of onions, do. pota-
toes, do. ginger cakes, do. Boston crackers, do.
soda crackers, do. corn-meal, and box of
lemons, and hundred pounds of Goldfish, re-
turned at six T. NJ, brou sht up my stores on
car, and served up some of these same arti-
cles at the meals this day. A journey of two
hundred miles, at personal expense of seven
ty-five cents.
The above articles were all paid for out of
the proceeds of the contributions at my vari-
Gus lectures in your vicinity, and the reason
for this journey may be found the fact that
onions are cent apiece here, while the other
articles cannot be procured for any amount,
short of Baltimore. / often think of old
Weathersfield, and count the fortunes that
might be made out of her onion crop, could
the real estate be removed 10 Harper's Ferry
VIII some enterprising Yankee venture the
crop?
This journey is to be made weekly, and
forms no small item in my labor, and-may l
say it-seriously affects my purse. Pretty
soon we shall accumulate fund; but Just
now everything is to be supplied at such dis
advantage that savings are impossible.
If the tcdr lasts ten years longer, and "ev-
erything remains quiet on the Potomac mean
while, will make another trip to Portland
and lecture again in behalfof our hospital and
so secure another contribution of the zone
thing needful," for begin to see the end of
milk and blackberries, about in the proportion
OF three to one. That is, / see where we need
three quarts of milk where we have but one
penny to purchase 1t with. However, God is
good! and Maine people are generous, and
when the last dime is gone somebody will send
us another.
Don't grumble, Bro. Gilman, over this long
letter; am greatly afraid shall have to write
another soon; but will promise to send it to
our good friend, the editor of the Courier and
so render burdens easy-if you will give this
an inside passage.
BY the way, let me add, / am gathering rel
les. l have an eagle carved from piece of
fence rail taken from the Winchester battle
field by one of our patients, who passed thro'
the fight, but who was indebted to Virginia
fence for shelter and support after the fight was
over, and so outof pure gratitude conflscated a
rail, and whitfield out a fine specimen of our
national bird, together with sundry other arti-
cles. The said eagle, when gilded, l intend to
present to the Rev. Mr.. Nichols, of Saco. as a
choice relic, as well as memorial of his many
kind efforts in behalf of our sick-so nobody
need ask me for it. / have a ring cut from a
laurel root, carved with an open Bible, de-
signed for that good friend of the soldiers
Mrs. Frost; sketch of the headquarters of
the Maine 10th at Cedar Creek. showing the
graves Of Sergeant Pratt, and young Cushman,
which G. r. Davis will please appropriate =
and last, but not least, lot OF penholders
made from piece Of wood which personally
confiscated at Charleston, from the prisoners
box in which John Brown received his sem
tence-together with some pebbles dug from
the post-holes where his gallows stood; to one
of which each ofour Portland editors may lay
claim, II they are not afraid of that same John
Browns SOUL said to be ''marching on and
which may grasp the pen holder at some in
convenient period, or may sling pebble. Da-
vid like, at some political Goliath, unaware
Should this letter be born into print, will
somebody furnish me copy, as am sorry to
say, somebody makes love to the one furnished
by yourself more than half the time, SO that
my chances are small for seeing myself in the
paper.
With cordial "thank you,. to the many
kind friends so frequently remembering us,
remain gratefully and Loyalty,
The NATION of Harper's Ferry Hospital
PSI have just read this letter to one of
our nurses, and the question has come up as
to 'the endless" character of my faith. Well.
my conclusion is, it will take three down east
winters to cool me clear through.