St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1863-09-17
d. STEARNS CO., MINNESOTA THURSDAY SEPTEMBER u 1858

that the man who held the stump held Il
badly and sessssg down pitcher and glass
went and p'.eiing my hands on each
side Of his beId it up aud asked him to
remove his ha4t3. He did SO and the az
eai4ing groah Of the patient stopped in
stantly. l asked hirn' IS ! held it easier,
and he replied 50 earnestly s''..'. IL"
"0h yes, oh yes!' :". .~' :
'4cThen; I shall always hold it up for you
while they dress it~ :. II:
'"You could not. It would be too much
trouble" was the sad, despairing answer
"BuS 7 eon great deal easier than not,
for l l,ere ROT anything in the world to
dr.; ...:3 .- -.
'Uh Il yos coasd, bat yos won't be
here ~ -.. ,.:.
~ e.I'N eome." ~. Z. ....:.
1 held up the other stomp while it was
dressed and the nurse, who was very su-
pcrior one, said chow easily aud tcnderly
you hold it!"' I'll, =, ..-.,
TO me this was voice from God.
had never, during the whole course Of
my Me, helped dress dangerous wound !;
and if 1 could SO lessen the pain it was a
ddaatsrise commission. I told the lrse /
should b. there eazly in the morning to
help d:css those wounds; and at six
o'clock 1 started, but the street ears had
mot yet began running and l had to walk
the entire distance fuff mile and half:
When'I rent to his bedside I thought him
deads His wounds were dressed, his
clothes and bed changed aud he lay al
most as white and still as The sheet
thrown over him. 4; went to the nurse
and asked why he had not waited until I
tame to help him. He appeared confused
stammercd, and looked away then said =:
| ."You see, sister, BE- has another woand
in a situation that would be unpleasant
fot tou to see.''
"Do you tneat' to say that he is wound
ed in the groin :" He appeared relieved
and answered: s.,.:.
eyes, that's it, I did not like tc tell
you last evening and knew you would not
want to be there"
''But,' persisted 'that man has scarce
one chance in a hundred Of living. THE
surgeons must have thought he had some
chance, else they would not have amputn-
ted that second leg Now, it is yowr bus
mess to give him the bene6f of every hope
and every chance. tie has not strength
to bear much more pain and you saw how
much saved him last evening. Do you
think | should permit any false delicacy
to stand in the way Of saving mao's life
You could have dressed that wourd and
covered him. Then could have come
and helped dress the stumps.''
! ~ am glad you feel so, sister, and l
know you are right, but 1 was in hospi.
tai with the sisters once and they ncve,
came when We were dressing wounds; but
if you will help me l will be very slad::''
He had mistaken the for sister of charity
but that man died before noon, when hi<
wounds would have required the nex'
dressing. was with him at the last, but
while he slept, left a young man to fan
him and taking bowl Of wine panada
went to give it to patients who might need
it, as it would spoil there. Going to the
door Of a ward, I had not yet been, en-.
countercd a tall, commanding looking gen.
tlemau whom I supposed to be an Officer
visiting the hospital 1 had thought So
little on >hc subject as not to rcmcwbe,
that surgeons wore shouldcr-straps; and
simply because he looked kind, inquired
if there was any one In Chat ward who
rceded wine ,panada. g..
j ~. think it very probable, madam ,
Was the codtttods reply, Gas it, is vcr,
bad ward" ,,.
i Invent in and had given out most Of the
panada and familiar greeting to each oc
cupant Of bed, when I came near TIT
middle Of II the y ward, where group Of fou'
or five men, men, we're standing f! dine around bright
black.cxcd, fbboPyislh fbboPyish fellow, Who eat in ,
chair and vas ss.l having his: shoulder dressed
a As. shell r.. had carried the arm clean of with
on. the sid ,s]1 of knife: tl| barely glanced
at the group, as close beside them on .
cot lay = young msa with great shell
wound broader than the entire face of, my
} hand, % the outside Of the leg just above
the knee. It was uncovered and i nurse
was washing il. with a sponge while his