Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-05-18
q a.9C0EUMBUS. OHIO. SUNDAY MORNING. MAY IS. 1862

: "nis DAtnlng bis lace l asked him what In
auced hlm TO leave his home and friends In Ne.
oraska' 70 come away and peril bis life at such
an early age. His reply is worthy to be written
oy tnas OF the noble Nathan Hale. who regret-
ted bavipg but Zone life to offer to bis counsrv
Hesaid: Coined the army because ,oas yoinp
and strong. have but one life, and that wonld
De worth nothing to me, If not offered to NV
country" I" ~
ToDle Doy! How many more like him have
fallen willing sacrifices!
Inc next day l carried basket of apples.
oranges, pies, tea, etc., to the hospital. A 4
went In, several of the men lifted their heads.
and nodded pleasantly.
I'm glad you have come bach, )" said one and
another thought "lt looked 60 home like TO zee a
woman amongst them +"
MY "scmirer" With the black eyes, clssped
my nsnd when | offered him an orange, and
kissed it gratefully -
III hVe," ne said "I'll always pray God to
bless you. II die, I'll watch over YOU IFom
heaven"
foor FELLOW! wonder If from that heaven
70 which bis spirlt has flown, he is watching over
me tonight as pen these lines!
r,anKie's blue eyes greeted me With Glad
smile oeiore was near enough to speak to him,
"hen lbent over and asked him how he fell,
ne nneWered mo cheerfully, saying he hoped to
% eoie soon TO return 10 his regiment
Dathed bis face, gave him cup of ho. tea,
WiLn some toast, and left bmi sleeping sweetly.
Inose who have never visited the hospitals,
oauuoS conceive OF the wretched condition in
which the men are brought into them. That
day tWenty-eight we're brought from Donelson
ana Savannah, and such objects mover paw,
their faces and hands were eff with coal duet,
anc burning with fever. Their hair long and
N maNeG-oeard uncut and iull Of dirt
IL Wns serious task TO attempt rendering
them comfortable, but did not shrink from it.
oa the Contrary, fels gtisved at my inability
70 serve more than one at time On, how /
longed then for the power to stir up come of
my own sex, who 10 that town passed their
days iu Shoughtless idleness, to action, If only
for an hour, to assist in bringing these poor
suterera 10 comfortable condition.
From morning till noon, toiled faithfully,
giad from my heart, and thankful for the i'm
pulse that had sent me there went home
and dined, and feeling tired, wanted TO lie down
and rest But then RENE mbered had urom.
ised to bring some fruit to the boys in the after
noon and could not feel satiefed til! had
done 60, knowing that | could rest any time,
while they lay tossing and restless with fever
ana pain, perhaps longing for cool draugbt
they could not get.
IL Was four O'Clock before got away again.
and then | was really tired So days merged
into weeks, and is became regular routine.
From eight till ten or eleveD, and from half
past one till four, | took pleasure amongst
them, even while pain stirred my heart to see
ther auherings. OOe BY one | could see them
fading No care or tkill could save them
They had Cfsred heir lives to our oountry.
and she had accepted their sacrifice
Poor little FraUk B. datIy grew weaker
Nothing could tempt hin to eat, and his cough
grew worse, while bis face became thin aGd
paler. He never lost his joyous spirit, but 81.
WAYS seemed hopeful, even when TOO i'll TO rise
from his berth. -
| Ole afternoon was startled on entering, BY
the most pteous cries, and found that thsy
oame from my little fsvori.e, generally 90
brave and patient. '-- "a u n.
"why, Fraukie. what Ia the natter2" asked,
bending over bin. ...
"Ob, You have comet did Wish for you so
much. Oh, ehall die, and wanted some one
sy oy woo seemed to care for me q little. You do
like me, don't you, dear Mrs. So You've
ssisd sss6d Il ldag ag9 to n'' OBJ this paint cent
His hald gsasped nina nervously, and every
hofe OF his frame quivered With pain. / saw
ina; ihe dews Of death were standing tricky
| already, On the broad beautiful forehead over
which the fair hair clustered so pretlily, ard
my eyes fllsd With tears Of sorrow deeper than
Tords could express. / stopped to kiss him,
and glad ory escaped the poor blue lips Of the
dying boy.
"Oh, kiss me again, won'Gyou7 ThssIs like
my sister Do kiss me once more; feel better
Oh, wouldn't MIND 60 die If my eissera we're
here to tell me they loved me. You do love
me alittleI don't you7' ss
eyes, great deal, frankie; as much Gs IL
were your tisIer. Don't you think 500 I'l4
you suffer sos -a c" f-
He drew ne down toward him, and pressed
hls face close TO my arms. could endure no
more. The poor buys mute appeal for tender
ness and sym pathy in his dying hour, far. from
nome, breathing oot his young life among
strangers, unnerVed me. drew that young,
bright head 80 my bosom, and my teais fell
tsst upon its sunny curIs.
Did tho gentle sisters he loved have one
thought OF the scene that was trauspiring on
that night, While perchance they sat and talked
OF hin, their only and petted brother, in their
far off home in Nebraska2
"You will stay with me tonight, WON'T you7"
he Piled again. "Ob, you won't leave me to die
aloDen'
"No, Frankie, rIlstay with you"
He Was ccmforted, and became more quiet as
l clasped hls hands aud tried to soothe him.
Gradually purple hue ovsrspread his face
Now his lips became whittier, and thelarge clear
eyes grew restless. When be could no longer
speak, these eyes plead fer some tokens of
endearGent, and each time that pressed kiss
upon his forehead slook of deep and earnest
gratitude sOttened the suffering expression of
bis face.
About nine O'Clock he brea.hed his last, and
now every time l look down at my hand and
see the little ring of mine be wore before be
died, seem to see the parting locks Of bis
great cad eyes ere they fixed in death. How
sad the tack to brush back the damp locks from
the cold brow, aud compose the blue limos IN
Their last Eepose! That night wept and
prayed for toe sisters as never had wept and
prayed for myself, for he WIS all they had.
A few days after this, another OF my patients,
one who was fast recovering, as thought, had
relapse and was again confined 90 bic berth.
There had been q storm which dashed ia the
windows, and he got wet through
On Friday be asked me to wright some let.
tors to his brother, sister, and hs betrotted. /
did so while he dictated. He appeared 10 be
well educated and bad O rich vein Of mirth
and sentiment pervsding bis nature. This I
soon discovered in bis dIctstions, and was much
inter esIed. He showed me the miniatures of