The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-03-04

self. and which would be better than that of
the hospital, she thought it might save her
sons life Of course it was sent her, and
on subsequent visit she expressed her
thanks in simple. hearty way, quite in keep
ing with her appearance. Still she seemed
sad something was on her mild that eri-
IDENTIFY troubled aer, and, like Banquo's ghost
would not down. At length it came out in
confding, innocent way, more, evidently,
because it was uppermost in her thoughts
than for the purpose Of receiving sympathy,
that ner means were about exhausted. Il
didn't think it would take so much money !;
it is so much further 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 l will have TO leave
him. | have been around to the stores to
buy some little things that he would eat, for
he can't eat this strong food, but the prices
are so high that can't buy them, and | am
afraid, that, if go away, and if he doesn't
get something different to eat, that maybr
and the tears trckled down her cheeks, he
won't-be SO well.'
Her listener thought that difficulty might
be overcome, and, if she would put On her
bonnet, they wocld go to store where arti-
cles were cheap. Accordingly they arrived
in front of the large t.ree-story building
which Government has assigned to the Com
mission, and the old lady 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 bottles and cans on the shelves lie or
dered supply OF sugar, tea, soft crackers.
and candied fruit, then chicken ard oysters,
then jelly and wine, brandy, milk, and under
clothing, till the basket WIS full. rs the
earlier articles nestled under its Ids, her fac
was glowing with satisfaction; bat as the
later lots arrived, she wonld draw him asi !e
to whisper tha, : it was too much, - re,.i,
she hadn't enough money; and when the
more expensive items came fr0al the shelyes,
the shadow Of earnestness which glo, med in
her countenance grew lnto one of peEp,tXi'y.
her soul vibrating between motherly yearn-
ing for the lai on his bed and the scant
purse in her pocket, till, slowly, and with
great reluctance, she began 10 return the
costliest.
! 'Hadn'tyou better ask the price . said
her guide.
How much is 1t p
Nothing, replied the store-keeper.
Sir" "queried she, in the utmost amaze
ment, nothing for ali this =
7 My good woman,' asked the guide, have
you Soldiers Aid Society in your ne;sn-
borhood?'
! Yes, they hal, she belonged to It herself.
I Well, what do you suppose becomes Of
the garments you make, and the fruit you
put up?'
She hadn't thougtt,-she supposed thy
went to the army,-but was evidently both
cred to know what connection there could
be between their Aid Society and that bas-
ket.
These garments YOU see came from your
society, or other societies Just like Yours 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; AID it is all for sick soldiers.
your son as much as Tor any one e'>, This
is the United States Sanitary Commission
s;oreAouse; YOU must come here whenever
you wish, and call for everything you want :;
and J on must stay with Your son until he is
J able to go home: never mind the morey's
giving out; you shall have more, which.
when YOU get back, you can refund for the
use cfAther mothers and SOILS; when You
are ready to 60, will put him in a ler,h
where he can lie down, and You shall save
lis life yet
/ She did,-God bless her innocent. moth
erly heart when nothing but 1,o,hsr.y care
could have achieved it; and when las, seen.
on dismal, drizzly morning, was, with her
face beaming out the radiance OF hope, max
ing cup of tea on the stove of cabose-car
for the convalescent, who was snusly tucked
away in the caho.e berth, waiting the tiuai
whistle Of the locomotive that would speed
them homeward."