Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-06-09

Thank you, aunty; I'll try your recipe"
1t was more than finger wound that l bound
up in its own fresh blood that morning.
Where's your mother ?"
Gin the garden, think"
"Well, Eve brought her over bundle O
Talerain She was tellin' On me that she was
troubled to sleep nights. Hain't We minded,
Loizy. how pale your mothers ben a getrin'
lately?"
"No; hadn't noticed" And 1 cursed my
blindness when saw upon her face that night
the same look which, years before, my father
had worn.
That winter she died. 1t was New Years
morning when, ali along the country side,
women stood upon their door-steps, silent,
listening, counting, while the bell tolled the
years of my mothers life. During the storm
and the darkness of that winter night her
spirit had gone out and up, and the heavens
had received her out of my sight l was
along. A few weeks, and my solitary, aim
less life became intolerable. Small as | am,
| am strong of body and iron of nerve. You
know there are places where such women are
needed to-day, and in month was a hospi-
tai nurse ar e-@ ss $50
Not one of your city hospitals was it but
large building, with windows looking every
way; with plenty of Gods blue heaven above,
and plenty of his fresh air waited through it
"a place to rest, to grow strong, and, if God
so willing, to die in.
September day was nearing its close
Golden lights and violet shadows hecked
the Virginia hills How calm and still it was
over there toward the sunset, and yet, just
beyond those hills, yesterday, fierce battle
had ragged. All day long those weary hospi-
tai trains had brought US loads of wounded
hI1t fba irbt
peaceful hush through all the wards.
stood still moment by the open window
Those moments Of rest were rare enough
now. 1t was just a year that night since
Philip went away. Did he remember? l
wondered. I couldn't help this wonder some
times, though had tried to put it all by.
''This way moment, Miss Sinclair, if you
are not busy" 1t was DR.. Mills who spoke
81 want steady hand" he continued, as I
followed him down the room. ga bad case,
very bad case. A young Captain, wounded
yesterday, busy all day giving orders about
his men, and now there must be an amputa-
tion," and we went on.
"What is it, Freddie ?" A little brown
haired drummer-boy put out his hand as
passed his cot.
care you too tired to write to my mother
tonight, please ?"
"No, my boy, I'll come back in half an
| hour" and the next instant stood by the
side of the new patient. The assistant sur.
geon was there. "Chloroform ?" he asked
"No," said DR.. Mills; and then to me, Are
you strong enough to hold this arm? The
other is to be taken off"
| took my place, bracing against the wall
1t was a slender hand, with fingers straight
and round. 1 glanced toward the face; a
handkerchief was thrown over it, the impulse
OF brave man, in his agony, to conceal the
writings of pain.
"Take charge of this for a few days, will
you ?" and l started slightly as DR.. Mills
handedme apocket-photograph case. 1t was
like the one Philip used to carry, and, as
took it, one red-leaf futtered to the floor
Are we all ready?" asked DR.. Mills, and
that instant little red CLEAN from the open
| sleeve of the wounded man sent a sudden
sickness all over me.
"Wait moment please" begged.
Ny own coral bracelet! There was no
installing it, for the trinket was of curious
carving, and quaint design; "a heathenish-
| looking thing mother always said-brought
from abroad by sea-faring relative. [ had
| lost it more than a year before in one of my
boat-rides with Philip Farley l supposed it
was at the bottom Of the river; had never
| thought to find it here. knew then whose
hand was holding through the fearful strug-
gle; knew more, that, through those weary
months, while had been trying to forget,
| he, during all the turmoil and tumult of a
soldiers life, had never forgotten.
Half an hour afterward went back to my
little drummer-boy. "Why, Miss Sinclair, -
he said, chow handsome you've grown
What makes you look so happy?"
Give found my best friend, Freddie!" l
said. The letter to his mother was a cheer
full one that night.
You know the rest how, as soon as Phil
ip was strong enough, we came home
"a pleasant home to come to, wasn't it ?
But there's the tea-bell, and there's Philip
coming up the walk. Oh, one thing more
Do you know Aunt Hepzie is coming to pay
US a visit next month-coming to see the re-
suits of her " warning" | suppose