Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-11-16
MThese arc MY Sona.

There came daily to one of the Governme ment
hospitals in st. Louis, lady whose tender care
OF the sick and wounded soldiers attracted oh
servation. She was known as the wife of a
citizen, and as an educated woman, who moved
in refined society. Before the war commenced
she was among the most cheerful and compan.
ionable in large circle of friends. All the
elements OF life were in harmony. But yery
soon after the mad assault of corrupt men upon
their Government, Mrs. CPS whole demeanoI
changed. Friends wondered, and asked for ths
cause. But che was silent She went no more
into society, but held herself away from public
observation, shutting herself up, for the most Of
the time, in her own house.
Conjecture was, Of course busy: and many
theories to cover the case were advanced and
admitted-some near the truth, perhaps, but
nearly all remote theTefrom. The change in
her manner and state OF mind was complete:
tho warm, bright sunshine had passed, and she
was under the shadow Of heavy clouds. All
this was remarkable, in view of the fact that
Mrs. g was known as the woman of
cheerful reactive disposition; of clear common
sense thought, and Of large self.controllinp
power. Whatever trouble might come. her
friends had faith in her ability to meet II with
calmness and dignity Of superior mind. Was
1t possible that public calamity had been felt
In her individual life 80 keenly!
Whatever the cause, Mrs. G. did Hnot
rise above it. She was present no more in the
circle to which she had always lent charm -
Occasionally an old acquaintance would see her
on the street, but with manner 80 changed
aud subdued that she was scarcely recognized.
The Sabbath always found her In church, sit
ting with bowed head, an absorbed and ferven,
wOrssiper; and as she moved down the aisle.
after the service had closed, and out from the
porticO amid the crowd, instructive delicacy in
the minds of large number of old friends let
her pass without intrusion.
Thus 1t WAS with Mrs. G., when disease,
in league with bullet, cannon ball and bursting
shell, began to crowd the hospitals of St. Louis
with sick and wounded men, thus bringing into
the very heart of the city, peaceful and pros
porous few months before, the ghastly fruit OF
treason. Among the earliest to enroll herself
In the common aisterhood of charity, was Mrs.
c.. Almost on the very day that the
frat wounded man arrived, she presented her.
self at one OF the hospitals, and claimed wo.
mans privilege Of ministering to pain. Her
care was less for the sick than for the wounded
and less for strong men than for youth-tendei
boys, who had felt the kindling fires of patriot.
ism, and gone forth in arms to meet the foes O.
freedom and law. Toward these che DISPLAYED
all the interest and compassionate care of q
mother, ministering to the mind and heart. AZ
well as to the suffering body. 1t was remarks
BILE how completely he's life came down into thi!
work, and how soon duty vas absorbed by
love.
Among those who were brought in from ons
of the many battle-felds of Missouri, vers
three young men, the Oldest not over twenty
two. One of them had lost an arm; and th,
other had veceived three bullets In his BODY
They were laid on the three beds standing sid,
by side; and the first woman's face that locke.
down in pity upon their pale, suffering faces
was that of Mrs. g.. The Arst sonnd. az
fnll of home and loye---so soft and sWeet Il
their cars, and like the voice OF panther, wal
the voice of Mrs. c.. Do we wonde
that, as their eyes looked up TO hers, they grew
blinded by tears2
Mrs. c. did not leave them when th,
surgeon came. The sight of bis insirum emit
pressed the blood back upon her heart, and sh,
grew faint; but the eyes of fair-haired "Trip
ling, whose hurt gaze turned from the knit,
and probe, and reached upward toward her, lik,
clingipg hands, held her to the post of duty
and compassion gave new life to her heart, q,
that all his pulses were strong again. The sur
geon'a beet assistant, through ell the painfu
work that had iu mercy TO be done upon th
bodies Of theae young mon, was Mrs. c.
aud their beat strength came from her tende
and maternal voice. She was an angel to them
and thankful love filed their hearts and shon
from their faces, in the calm, and ease, an
rest that followed the torture, aud not onl
filled their hearts and shone from their faces
but awakened BY ito ardor the purest and trues
Of all loves In her heart--a mothers love,
She did not leave them through the teveris
night that followed, and only returned to be
home In the grey morning thatsbroke upo
her self imposed vigils. Nature demanded res
, Mre. c. was more exhausted than sho ha
ever been before. II was not 30 much th
watch that left her weak and with Jared nerves
: feeling had been awakened into too strong iii
. and burned with too consuming an integrity. |
!, ! was late In the afternoon when Mrs. c.
: returned TO the hospital. Her first visit vas
) the three young men with whom she had passe
: the night. They received her with gratef,
eyes and welcoming smiles. Something ahoy