The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1863-08-15
:. HOSPITAL INCIDENT.

| Hospital No. II, Nashville, Tenn. form
erly Ladies' Seminary is warmed by q
steam apparatus requiring coal for fuel.
In consequence of the recent interrup-
ton of railway communication with the
North, the supply of coal here became
exhausted, unfortunately, just as the
rainy days and frosty nights of the win
ter of this latitude had begun to render
artificial heat a necessity to the comfort
of the thin-blooded patients.
= 1t was the second night of dearth of
coal, the weather cold, evening far ad-
vanced. l was Fastening through the
duties of nurse of one of the wards, and
Sister R. lately come TO rescue me) was
lying in her room, sick with echills and
fever, ...>..-..: :5.l'.
The feeblest patients had been pro-
vided with bricks to their feet-on the
sly-it being expressly forbiddeniby the
Ward Master, because the bricks used
the night previous, despite the precaution
of wrapping in papers, had slightly
busted the sheets. Many God bless
you" and word Of comfort, were uttered
by the shivering sufferers as the bricks
came around, closely concealed in the
folds of an overcoat, lest the sleeping
Ward Master should awake and rise in
wrath and mighty power
had not seen Sister r. since morning,
and then only for moment, leaving
her quite feeble. and now was working
with movements instinctively quickened
bp thoughts of an anticipated visit to her
room, though only for few minutes, be-
fore Lights" out was sounded. "
"Oh dear?' heard feeble voice
exclaim, "Mr. L., won't you please come
here 2" went to the side of poor Highly
and he continued, "See I've split the
cold tea you gave me to drink in the
night, ali over the bed. My hands are
so weak can t manage the cpp.o New
cr mind Charlie no harm done and /
carefully absorbed the moisture with .
cloth at hand. 's
"There, let me put the blankets close
about your shoulders; for you look 50
cold"
He turned an appealing look upon me,
and said, "Oh, I'm 50 sorry you hadn,t
bricks enough for all tonight, I'm %
eoId!"
| looked at my watch. In fifteen
minutes lights would be extinguished /;
night dark bricks In a wall twenty reds
distant: no fire approaehable except the
guards outside the gate only by particu-
lar favor was | allowed out with bricks
before land what if a stranger guard was
On post Z? 1t would take spne time, and
visiting sister would then be impossible
for that night. felt his hands, then his
feet, and was decided instantly. They
were like bits of ice.
How pleased the poor fellow looked
when he saw the decision, II make you
q greet deal of trouble" said he, ''for
which I thank you 50 much; ; and when
get better I'll wait on you, or do any
thing in my power to repay Your kind
ness" Those were his last words
On my return I quickly threw back the
blankets and arran ged nice hot brick
so it would not burn his feet, wondering
the while that he should have dropped
asleep so soon: then approached his breast
with another tor his hands, when, o hor-
rers the eyes were glased--the lips par
ted-the cheek cold-the' heart stilled.
Life was extinct.
The spirit of poor. patient Charley Hig,
by had wingedits fight to that better land
where wars and fghtings arc unknown,
and the weary are at rest