The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1863-07-03
FROM THE HOSPITAL.

In the last number Of the Boston Com.
noprealA we find the following sketch
of see ne in one of the Urmy hospitals
at Washington, from the pen Of Louisa
NJ. Alco,t, Of Boston, who performs the
duties Of nurse
THE LAST LETTER.
"Shall / write to your mother now !"
| asked, thinking that these sudden It'd
ings might change all plans and purpos.
cs but they d not for the man re-
ceivcd the order of the Divine c ,mmaud.
CT to march, with the same unquestion-
ing obedience with which the soldier had
received that of IN human one, doubtless
remembering that the first led him to life,
the last 10 death.
"No, ma'am TO Laurie Just the same
he'll break IL 20 her best, and III add u
line TO it myself when you get done"
So wrote the letter which he dicta.
ted, finding il better than any had sent
for although here and there little un.
grammoticsl or inelegsn,, each sentence
came TO me briefly wordcd, but most cx-
pressive, full Of excellent counsel TO the
boy, icnderly bequeathing " mother and
Lizzie" 10 his care. in words the saddcr
Tor their simplicity. He added a few
lines with patient sort of a sigh,
hope the answer will come in time for
me to see II :" then turning away his
face, laid the flowers against his lips, as
IL 10 hide some quiver Of emotion as the
thought Of such sudden sundcring OF all
the dear home ties.
These things had happened two days
before. Now, John was dying aud the
letter had not come. had been sum
moned to many death beds in my life but
to none that made my heart ache as it
did then, since my mother called me to
watch the departure of spirit akin TO
this,in its gcntleness aud patient strength.
As ] went in John stretched out both
hands.
al knew you'd come I! / guess I'm
moving on, ma'am."
He was, and 40 rapidly that even while
he spoke over his face saw the gray
veil falling that no human hand can lit,
| sat down by him, wiped the drops from
forehead, stirred the air about him with
the slow wave Of fan, nnd waited TO
help him die. He stood in sore need OF
help, and could do so little for, rs the
doctor had forctold, the strong body re.
belled against death, aud fought every
inch Of the way, forcing him to draw
each breath with spdsm, and clcnch his
hands with an imploring look, as if he
asked, How long must | endure this
and 10 stlli" For hours he suffered
humbly, aud without moments mur.
muring. His limbs grew cold, his face
damp, his lips white, and again and
again he tore the covering off his breast
as il the lightest weight added to his
agony yet, through it all, his eyes new
or lost their perfect serenity, and the
mans soul seemed to sit therein, undaun-
ted by the ills that vcxed his flesh.
soLpIERLy SYMPATHY.
One by one the men woke, and round
the room appeared a circle ofpale faces
and watchful eyes, full Of awe and pity ;
for, though stranger, John was beloved
by oil. Each man there had wondered
at his patience, respected his picty, od.
mircd his fortune, and now lamented his
hard death for the influence of an up.
right nature had made itself deeply felt
zen in one little week. Presently the
Jonathan who so loved his comely David
came creeping from his bed for last
look and word. The kind soul was full
Of trouble, us the choke in his voice, the
grasp of his hand betrayed but there
were no tears, and the farewell of the
friends was the more touching for its
brevity.
"Old boy, how are you !" faltered
the one.
"Most through, thank heaven - whis-
pcred the other.
{" Can say or do anything for you any.
where's 7"
"Take my things home, and tell them
that did my best"
al will | will !"
"Good bye, Ned"
"Good bye, John, good bye !"
They kissed each other tenderly as
women, and so parted 1; for poor Ned
could not stay to see his comrade die
For little while there was no sound in
the from but the drip of water from a
stump or two, and Johns distressful
gasps as he slowly breuthed his life
away. ] thought him nearly gone, and
had Just laid down the fan, believing its
help to be no longer needed, when sud
denly he rose up in his bed, and cried out
with bitter cry that brohe the silence,
sharply startling every one with ito ugon-
ICED appeal.
"For Gods sake, give me air /"