Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-05-18
A Touching Scene.

l was conversing not long since with a returned
volunteer.
81 was in the hospital a nurse for a long time"
said he, "andassisted IN taking off limbs, and dress
ing all sorts of wounds but the hardest thing | ever
lid was to take my thumb off a mans leg"
@Ah!" said /, how was that % Then he told me.
1t was a young man who had a severe wound in the
thigh. The ball passed completely through, and am
putation was necessary. The limb was cut off close
to be doing Well. Subsequently one Of the small ar
teries sloughed off. An incision was made, and it was
again taken up. 1t is well it was not the main ar
terry" said the surgeon, as he performed the opera
ton "he might have bled to death before we could
have taken it up" But, Charley got on finely, and
was a favorite with us all.
l was passing through the ward one night, about
midnight, when suddenly, as [ was passing Charley's
bed, he spoke to me. "H-, my leg is bleeding
again." | threw back the bed clothes, and the blood
spirited in the air. The main artery had sloughed off.
Fortunately | knew just what to dc, and in an in
slant | had pressed my thumb on the place and stop
ped the bleeding. 1t was SO close to the body that
there was barely room for my thumb, bat | succeeded
in keeping it there, and arousing one of the GONZALES
ents, sent him for the surgeon, who came in on the
run. 81 am so thankful, H" said he, as he saw
me, Z" that you were up and knew what TO do, for he
must have bled to- death before I could have gothere.'
But on examination into the case he looked exceed
ingly serious, and sent out for othef surgeons. All
came who were within reach, and a consultation was
held over the poor fellow. One conclusion was reach
Gu Dy dlL. lHeTe was no place TO WOrk save the spot
where my thumb was placed they could not work
under my thumb, and if | moved il. he would bleed
to death before the artery could be taken up. There
was no way to save his life.
Poor Charley He was very calm when they told
him, and requested that his brother, who was in the
same hospital, might be called up. He came and sat
down by the bedside, and for three hours I stood and
by the pressure of my thumb kept up the life of
Charley, while the brothers had their last converse
ton on earth. 1t was a strange place for me to be in,
to feel that | had the life of a fellow mortal in my
= hands, as It were, and stranger yet to feel that an act
of mine must cause that life to depart. Loving the
poor fellow as / did, it was q hard thought; but there
was no alternative.
The last words were spoken. Charley had arrang-
ed his business affairs, and sent tender messages to
absent ones, who little dreamed how near their loved
one stood to the grave. The tears filled my eyes
more than once as | listened to those parting words
All were said and he turned to me Nov, H.
guess you had better take off your thumb" "Oh
Charley how can [ p | said. But it must be done
you know" he replied ch~eerfully. 81 thank yoJ
very much for your kindness, and now good bye"
He turned away his head, | raised my thumb, once
mere the life current gasaed forth, and in three min
utes poor Charley was dead.
RIcHEs.-Ihere is, too often, a burden Of care IL
getting them, = burden of anxiety in keeping them
a burden OF temptation in using them, q burden Q
guilt In abusing them, a burden of sorrow il losin
them, a burden of account at last to be given up 10
possessing, and either improving or ~mis-improvin