The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-08-07
A Picture from the Hospital.
HOW OUR SOLDIERS LIVE AND DIE.

monwcalth we find the following sketch of a
scene in one of the army hospitals at Wash.
incton, from the pen Of Louise Nj. Alcott OF
Boston, who performs tho duties Of nurse
DAVID AND JONATHAN.
One evening found q lately empticd bed
occupied by largo, fair man, with line
face and the screnest eyes ever met. One
of the earlier comcrs had often spoken Of a
friend who had remained behind, that those
apparently worse wounded than himself
might reach shelter first. Ii seemed q
David.and. Jonathan sort OF friendship. The
man fretted for his matc, and was never tired
of praising John, his courage, sobricty, sell.
denial and unlailing kindliness Of heart. al.
ways winding up with: "llc's an out and
out fine iellcr, ma'am, you see il hc aint." "
| had some curiosity to behold this piece oil
excellence, and when he came, watched him
n night or two before made friends with
him for, to tell tho truth, | was little
afraid of the statcly.looking man whose bed
had to be lcngthcned to accommodate his
commanding stature, who seldom spoke, ut
tered no complaint, asked no sympathy, but
TRANQUILITY observed what went on about him,
and, us he lay high upon his pillow, no pic
turc of dying statesman or warrior was ever
fuller of real dignity than this Virginia
blacksmith.
NO HOPE.
A most attractive face hc had; framed in
brown hair and beard, comely featured and
full OF vigor as yet unsubGucd by pain,
thoughtful and often beautifully mild while
watching the aillictions OF others, as it en-
tircly lorgctful of his own. His mouth was
grave and firm, with plenty OF will and cour-
agc in its lines, but smile could mako 1t
sweet Us any woman's; and his eyes, look
ing one fairly in the face, with clear,
stright, forward glance, promised well for
such Us placed their faith in him. llc seemed
to cling to lifc rs il it were rich in duties
and delights, and hc had learned tho secret
of content. Tho only time saw his compo.
sure disturbed was when my surgeon brought
another to examine John; he scrutnizcd
their faces with an anxious glance.look, ask
ing of the elder.
ADO you think l shall put it through,
sir?"
al hope so, my man."
And rs tho two passed on, Johns eye still
followed them with an intcntness which
would have won clearer answer from them
had they seen it. A momentary shadow Hit
ted over his face, then came tho usual scrcn'
ity, rs if, in that brief eclipse he had ac-
knowlcdgcd the existence of some hard pos
sibility, and, asking nothing, yet hoping all
things, left tho issue in Gods hand, with
that submission which is true pety.
The next night, rs went my rounds with
Dr.. flmfpcned' ~ ask which nla's IN
the iooih probably suffered most, and to my
great surprise he GLANCED at John.
"Eycry breath hc draws is like ~ stab; ior
tho ball pierced tho left lung, broke rib,
and did no end Of damage here and there /; &c
the poor lad can find neither iorgetiulnese
nor ease, because he must lie ON his wounded
back or sullocate. IL will be hard strug'
glc and IL long one, for he possesses great vi
tality, but even his temperate life can't save
him. wish it could"
"You don't mean he must die, doctor?"
"Blcss YOU, there's not the slightest hope
for him, and you'd better tell him so before
long-women have n way Of doing such
things comfortably, 80 leave it to you. lie
won't last moro than day or two at iar.
thcst."
| could have sat down on the spot and
cried heartily, il had not learned tho wis.,
dom of bOttling up ones tears for leisure
moments. Such an end seemed very hard
for such man, when half dozcn worn out,
worthless bodies round him wcrc gathering
up the remnants Of wasted lives to lingcr on
for years, perhaps burdens to Others, daily
rcproachcs to themselves. Tho army needed
men like John. earnest, brave and faithful,
fighting for liberty and justice with both
heart and hand. truo soldier OF the Lord.
could not givc him up SO soon, or think
with any patience of SO excellent nature
robbed of its fuliillment, and blundcrcd into
eternity by tho rasllness or stupidity OF those
ut whose hands 50 many lives may bo rc'
quircd. 1t was an easy thing for DR.. p
to say, "Tcll him he must dic," but q cruel.
ly hard thing to do, and by no means as
"comfortabc" as he politely suggested. l
had not the heart to do it then, and private
ly INDUCED tho hope that some change for
tho better might take place, in spite of gloomy
prophcSies, so rendering my task unneces-
sary.
SHORT AND SIMPLE STORY.
After that night. an hour Of each evening