Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1863-07-17
A Picture from the Hospital..- How Our
Soldiers Live an1 Die.


moncealh we find the followiSg sketch OF
the army hospitals at Washington. from thu
pen Of Louisa NJ. Alcott, of Boston, who per.
forms the duties Of nurse:
One evening found lately .emptied bed
occupied by large. fair man. with a fine face
and the screnest eyes ever met. One ol
the earlier comers had often spoken OF a
friend who had remained behind that those
apparently worse wounded than him might
reach shelter first. 1t seemed David and
Jonathan sort Of friendship. The man fret.
ted for his mate, and was never tired OF
pras'ng John, his courage, sobriety, self
denial, and unfailng kindness of heart
always winding up with: Hes an out.
and out fine teller ma'an,, you see if he
amt" l had some curiosity to behold this
piece of excellence, and, when he came,
watched him for anight or two before made
friends with him; for to tell the truth. | was
afraid of the stately-looking man, whose bad
had to be heightened to accommodate his
commanding stature--who seldom spoke,
uttered no complaint, asked no sympathy,
but TRANQUILITY observed all that went on
about him; and as he lay high upon his
pillows, no picture Of dying statesman or
warrior was ever fuller of real dignity than
tnlS virginia blacksmith.
A most attractive face he had, framed in
brown hair and beard, comely- featured and
full OF vigor, as yet unsubdued by pain,
thoughtful and often beautifully mild while
watching the Affections of Others, as if en-.
tirely forgetful of his own. His mouth was
firm and grave, with plenty Of will and cour
age in its lines, but smile could make it as
sweet as any -woman's; and his eyes were
child's eyes, looking one fairly in the face.
with clear, straightforward glance, which
promised well for such as placed their faith
in him. He seemed to cling to life as if il
were rich in duties and delights, and he had
learned the secret of content. The only time
| saw his composnre disturbed was when nv
surgeon brought another to examine John.
who scrutirized their faces with an anxious
look, asking Of the elder: "Do YOU think
I shall pass through, sir?' ~ hope so, INV
man. And as the two passed on. Johns
eyes followed him with an intentness which
would have won clearer answer from them
had they seen it. A momentary shadow
fitted over his face. then came the usual Sc.
renty, as if, in that brief eclipse, he had ac-
knowledged the existence of some hard
possibility, and, asking nothing, yet hop.
ing all things, left the issue in Gods
hand with that submission which is true
pieiy.
The next night, as I went my rounds
with DR.. P, happened to ask which
man in the room probably suffered the most
and to my great surprise he glanced a,
John. r..
Every breath he draws is like stab
for the ball pierced his left lung, broke a rib
and did no end of damage here and there
so the poor lad can find neither forgetrulness
no" ease, because he must lie on his wound
ed back or sulrocate, 1t will be a hard
struggle aud long one, for he possesses
great vitality, but even his temperate life
can't save him. wish it could"
"You don't mean to say he must die, Doc
tori
Bless you there is not the slightest hope
for him. and you'd better tell him so before
loug--womcn have a way of doing such
things comfortably, 20 leave it to you
He won't last mere than day or two, at
farthest."
could have set down on tho spot and
cried heartily, if | had not learned the pro
priety Of blotting up ones tears for leisure
moments. Such an end seemed very hard
for such a man, when half dozen worn ou,
worthless bodies round him were gath erine
up the remnants of wasted lives to linger on
for years, perhaps burdens to others daily
reproaches to themselves. The army needed
men like John, earnest. brave and faithful
fighting for liberty and justice with both
heart and hand, a true soldier OF the Lord
could not give him up so soon, or think
with any patience of so excellent nature
robbed Of its fulhllment, and blundered into
eternity by the rashncss or stupidity of those
at whose hands SD many lives may be re.
/ quired. 1t was an easy thing for Dr. P
to say, "Tell him he must die" but crue,l,
hard thing to do and by no means as "com
Portable" as he politely suggested. had moi
the heart to do it then, and privately indul
ged the hope that some change for thu
better might take place, in spite Of gloom,
prophecies, so rendering my task unneces
sary.
| After that night, an hour Of each evening
that remained to him was devoted to his east
or pleasure. He could not talk much. fo,
breath was precious and he spoke in whis
pers, but from occasional conversations
CLEANED scraps of private history which only
added to the affection and respect felt fol
him. Once he asked me to write letter ant
as settled with pen aud paper, said with
an irresistible glmmer of female curiosity
"Shall it be addressed to mother, or>wifc
John 7"
"Neither, ma'am. I've got no wife, ant
will write TO mother, myself. when get bet
ter. Did you think was married becaus,
of this p he asked. touching plain golt
ring he wore, and often turned thoughtful,
on his finger when he lay alone.
Partly that, but more from settled sor
Of look you have, look young men seldom
get until they marry. :
I" don't know that, but I'm not so yer,
young, ma'am-thirty in May. and have beer
what you might call, settled these ten years
for mothers widow. I'm the oldest chilt
she has, and it woulden't do for me to mar
ry till Lizzie has home Of her own, an,
Laurie has learned his trade; for we're no
rich, and I must be father to tbs child
Ien, and husband to the dear old woman j
I can."
/" No doubt you are both, John. but hoy
came you to get to the war, II you felt so
Wasn't enlisting as bad as marryingy'
" No .hna'am, not as see it; for ono
helping MY neighbor, the other pleasing my
seif Iwent because couldn't help it.
: didn't want the glory or the pay, wantc
the right thing done, and the people said tn
men who wero in earnest ought to fight
was in earnest. the Lord knows, but hel
. l. \