The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1863-07-10

4 PICTURE F8ON THE HOSPITAL L
| How oos Sold1ers tive ana Die
| In the last number of the Boston Con,
mon reaiM We dad the following sketch of a
scene in one Of The army hospitals at Wash
lngton, from the pen of Louisa NJ. Aleot.
OF Boston. who performs the duties of a
nurse
DAVID AND JONATHAN.
One evening found la'ely emptied bed
occupied by large. fair man. with 5ne
, face and the sereneee eyes | ever met. One
of tie earlier corners had often spoken Of a
friead who had remained behind that those
apparently worse wounded than himself
might reach a shelter frs. 1t seemed 3
David and Jonathan sort OF friends hip
The man fret ell for his mate, and was new
er tired OF praisins John, his courage. So
briefly. self denial and untsiling klndIness
of heart. always winding up with: Hes
an out and out fine feler, ms'am, you see if
he amt" 1 had some curiosity to behold
this piece Of excellence. and when he came,
watched him tor ght or two before |
made friends with him : for, to tell the truth
l was a little afraid Of the stately looking
man whose bed had to be lrngthened to &C
comm odate his commanding stature. who
seldom spoke, uttered no complaint. asked
no sympathy, bu, TRANQUILITY observed what
went on about him and. as he Law high up.
on his pillows. no picture of dying states
man or warrior was ever fuller of real dig
nifty than this Virginia blacksmith.
NO HOPE
A most attractive face he had fromed in
brown hair and beard. come ly-teatured and
full OF vigor as yet unsubdued bv pain,
thoughtful and often beautifully mild while
y itching the affections of others, as il en-
tirely forgetful of his own HIS mouth was
grave and firm, with plenty of will aud
courage in It's lines. but smile could make
II as sweet as any womans; ; and his eyes
we're child's ewes, looking one fairly in the
face. with clear, straightforward glance,
which promised Well tor such as placed their
sith in him. He seemed to cling to life as
II 1t were rich in duties and delights, and
he had learned the secret of content. The |
'niy time saw his composure disturbed
was when my surgeon brought another to
examine John. who scrutinized their faces I
with anxious look. asking of the elder
= Do you think l shall pull through, SIR?
. hope SO. nv man. And as the two
passed on. Johns eyes sull followed him
with an intentness which wou d have won
\ clearer answer from them, had they seen i
i. A nomentary shadow fitted over bis
lace. then came the usual serenity, as if in |
hat brief eclipse he lad acknowledged the /
existence of soma hard possibility. aud. |
lsking nothing yet hoping all things. lett !
he issue 10 Gods hand, with that submis !
ZION which is true piety.
,,1.l.A L L
DR.. P, happened to ask which man /
ny great surprise he glanced at John
:" Every breath he draws is like a stab !;
or the ball pierced the lett lung, broke
.ib. and did no end of damage here and
here so the poor lad Gao fiud neither for !!
,ettulness nor ease. because he must lie on
lis wounded back or suffocate. Ii will be
hard struggle, aud long one. for he pos
esses great vitality. but even his temperate
lie can't save him. ! wish it could =
" Y ~ don't mean he must die, doctor T.
Bless yet. there's not the slightest hope
or him, and you'd better tell him so before
ong-women have q way Of doing such
hings comfortably. so leave it To you
5e won't last more than day or two, at
arthest"
could have sat down On the spot and
ried heartily. if had. not learned the wis.
om of bottiing up ones tears for leisure
moments. Such an end seemed very hard
or such q man, when half dozen worn
VI, worthless bodies round him were gath
ring up the remnants of wasted lives 10
niger on for years. perhaps burdens TO 9th
rs, daily reproaches 10 themselves. The
rmy needed men like John. earnest. brave
nd faithful. lighting for liberty aud justice
nth both heart and hand, true soldier OF
be Lord. l could not give him up SO soon,
r think with any patience of SO excellent a
ature robbed Of its fufiilment. and blum
cred into eternity by the rashness or sta.
idity of those at whose hands so many
yes may be required. 1t was an easy
ling for DR.. P to say. ..Tell him he
lust die" but q cruell, hard thing TO do.
nd by no means as com fortable - as he
olitely suggested. l had not the heart to , ,,
o II then, and privately INDUCED the hope
,at some change for the better might take
lace, in spite of gloomy proI hesies, SO rem :
ering my task unnecessary.
SHORT AND SIMPLE STORY. /,
Alter that night. an hour OF each evening {
lat r-mained to him was devoted to his ease
/ pleasure. He could NJ, talk much. for !
reath was precious and he spoke in whts
ers, but from occasional conversations +
leaned scraps Of private history which, on 4
allied to the sffrc,ion aud respect | felt 1
II him. Oace be asked me to write a let
#, and as | settled pen and paper, said G
18th an irrepress,ble glimmer OF female Gu
osity, Shs II it be addressed to wife or I
lother. John ?"
" Neither, ma'am; I've got no wife. and '
ill write to mother myself when | ge, bet
r. Did You think was married because {
I thisf'' he asked. touching pain ring he
ore. and often turned thoughsfuily on his
nser when he lay aione.
Partly thai, but more from a settled
,rt OF look you have. look which young n
ZEN seldom get until they marry n
81 didn't know that, but I m not 50 very :
oang, ma'am-thirty in May, and have Z
cen ~ha. you might call settled this Ten
ears, for mothers widow I'm the old e
]. child she has. and il wouldn't do for me .
marry till L.ssy has home of her own, i,