The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1864-03-10
The Soldiers Friend.

Z
pie story, taken from the Sanitary Com
: mission Bulletin, will speak more clearly
and better to the heart, than pages of dr.
records.
"Away up in the fourth story of Hos
: pital No. 3, at Washington, and in a fa
corner of the ward, was seen one day, ar
, old lady sitting by the side of mere lad
who was reduced to the verge of death by
chronic diarrhoea. She was plain, hon
est hearted farmers wife, her face all a
glow with motherly love, and who, tt
judge from appearances, had likely never
before travelled beyond the limits of hel
neighborhood, but now had come many a
long mile to do what might be done for
her boy. In the course of conversation
she informed her questioner, that if she
could only get something that tasted like
home, some good tea for instance, which
she could make herself, and which would
be better than that of the hospital, she
thought it might save her sons life
OF course it was sent to her, and on sub
sequent visit she expressed her thanks in
a simple, hearty way, quite in keeping
with her appearance. Still she seemed
sad; something was on her mind that evi-
IDENTITY troubled her, and, like Banquo's
ghost, would not down. At length it
came out in a confding, innocent way
more evidently, because it was uppermost
in her thoughts than for the purpose Of
receiving sympathy,-that her means were
about exhausted. Il didn't think that it
would take so much money; it is so much
farther away from home than had thought
and board is so very high, that [ have
hardly enough left to take me back and
by another week | will have to leave him.
[ have been around to the stores to buy
some little things that he would eat
for be can't eat this strong food but the
prices are so high that | am afraid, that
if | go away, and if he doesn't get some
thing different to eat, that maybe, and
the tears trickled down her cheeks,
he won't-be so we'll
"IIer listener thought that difficulty
might be overcome, and if she would put
on her bonnet, they would go to a store
where articles were cheap Accordingly
they arrived in front Of the large three
story building which Government has as
signed to the Commission, and the old la
dy was soon running her eyes over the
long rows of boxes, bales, and barrels that
stretched for hundred feet down the
room, but was most fascinated by the bot
ties and cans on the shelves He order
ed supply of sugar, tea, soft crackers,
and canned fruit, then chicken and oys-
ters then jelly and wine, brandy, milk,
and under clothing, till the basket was
full. AS the earlier articles nestled un-
der its lide, her face was glowing with
but as the later lots arrived,
she would draw him aside to whisper it
was too much h,-"really she had mt enough
money; and when the more expensive l. |
.ems came from the shelves, the shadow
of earnestness which gloomed her counte-
nance grew into one of perplexity, her
soul vibrating between motherly yearning
FOR the lad on his bed and the scant purse
IN her pocket, till, slowly, and with great
she began to return the cost
lest.
"Hadn't you better ask the price?" said
her guide.
Chow much is it ?"
Nothing" replied the store-keeper.
"Sir!" queried she, in the utmost
nothiny for all this p
"My good woman asked the guide,
shave you Soldiers Aid Society in
your neighborhood ?"
Yes, they had she belonged to it her
self"
"'Well, what do you suppose becomes
Of the garments you make, and the fruit
you put upP
:'She hadn't thought, she supposed
they went to the army,-but was evil
IDENTIFY bothered to know what connec-
ton there could be between their Aid
Society and that basket.
"These garments that you see came
from your society, or other societies just
like your; so did these boxes and barrels;
that milk came from New York those
fruits from Boston that wine was likely
purchased with gold from California; and
it is all for sick soldiers, your son as much
as any one else. This is the United
States Sanitary Commission storehouse
you must come here whenever you wish,
and call for everything you want; and
you must stay with your son until he is
able to go home never mind the moneys
giving out; you shall have more, which,
when you get back, you can refund for
the use of other mothers and sons when
you are ready to go will put him in a
berth where he can lie down, and you
shall save his life yet
''She did,-God bless her innocent,
heart when nothing but
motherly care could have achieved it;
and when last seen, on dismal, drizzly
was, with her face beaming out
the radiance of hope, making cup of tea
on the stove of a caboose car for the con-
who was snugly tucked away
in the caboose berth, waiting the final
whistle of the locomotive that would