Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-04-02
ONIONS FOR THE SOLDIERS.
A COUNTRY GIRL TO COUNTRY GIRLS AND BOYS.


A COUNTRY GIRL TO COUNTRY GIRLS AND BOYS.
Not long since heard soldier say that
soldiers like onions; that he had, ct one
time, paid twenty-five cents for an onion.
Onions are good for soldiers, and many Of
them crave them. You and 1 don't, may
be; we like them only long way off but
| the soldiers do. Down in a corner Of our
garden, behind the currant-b bushes, in what
1 recognize from surroundings as 8 long
| neglected narns--n spot sOOsPiea sa-e
py cur dogs, who have considered it their
own peculiar playground, and from which
our boy has taken many load of bones of
their strewIng-I see, in vision, the morn
ing sun cleaning brightly on rows Of tiny
green blades; and, as look, the rows seem
to form themselves into great characters,
which presently see are, FoR THE Sol
DHRs. Henceforth, for this season at
least, that bone.strewed plot has nobler
destiny. The vision shall be realized. The
dogs must seek another playground; this
plot is to bear onions for the soldiers.
Where now is stiff sod, shall indeed be
mellow soil, where onions may to take to
themselves size and sap and odor. In due
time, the green tops may flavor soup for
the Home Guard but every bulb lying
concealed in the dark mold shall be sacred
to such as have seen actual service. New
er, since exiled Isrseliies landed and sigh
ed for the leeks and onions Of Egypt has
there been so great glorifcstion Of the
odorous, tesr-prOvoking bulb as there shall
be in this gsrdsn-corner
This sounds well, say you; bul talking
breaks no bones, and that frozen sod is
not broken yet for those onion beds.
You're right. When the barrels Tor shall
it only be barely containing them shall
have been directed to the U S. Sanitary
Commission, will be better time for talk
ing Of these onions of mine. But just one
word to you, girls and boys. Have you
g neglected corner in your garden, in your
yard, or place hitherto given to the cul-
tiVation of flowers only2 That patch is
not yours, beg leave to inform you The
soldier has mortgage on it. Waste soil
is not to be tolerated about our homes in
these times, and the tulip, though lovely
ministrsnt, must give place to root which
may be put to nobler uses. Dear friends,
can't you, won't you work these spots for
the soldiers 7 Think for any slight
weariness we shall so suffer, they have
known the hard endurance, the wear of
long marches; for every drop of oozing
sweat while bending at our toll, the Grim
son life.eurrent streams from them for
country, for home, that zoe may have them.
Let us give freely what we can to those
who are giving life, some Of them, for US.
Glancing over newspaper, my eye
falls upon g statement that in the Army
Of the Cumberland there is much suffering
for want of vegetables. In several regi-
ments scurVy has broken out; and an
urgent appeal is made to the Sanitary
Commission for vegetables. Should each
of US country girls and boys furnish
bushel, even, Of vegetsbles-We won't
insist upon the onions for all,-and
put them sll together, those from
each village sending their barrels
how the barrels would roll in This
seems humble work for some of us, does it
No work for country is mean. No
work for its defenders is mean. Let us
pledge ourselves, girls and boys, that we
will do what we can, and that with the
enthusiasm with which we pieced together
s.nd flung out TO the breeze our first min.
isture Of the "Dear old Flag" in the be-
ginning Of these strange times, when 1t is
defended from those whom it has so long
sheltered.
The Convslescent soldiers are doing
their best, poor fellows, to supply them
selves with vegetables, and large gardens
sre now being laid out ct Chattanooga,
Knoxville, Murfreesboro, and wherever
the land has been wrenched away from
the possession Of the rebels. Sometimes
even the precious soil Of the battlefield is
devoted to this purpose, and in late let
ter from Chattanooga we learn that part
of Lookout Mountain is now being con.
verted into hospital garden.
Mr. Resd Writes-tfThe gsrdner's houss
is to be upon an Indian Mound, 20 feet
high, and the Slopes we mean to ornament
with Towering plants. These we hope to
get from the Aid Societies Of Northern
Ohio"
Shall we not send the flower seeds,
plants, and bulbs for this purpose? VIII
not every one who reads this article send
10 the Aid Society Rooms, No. 95 Bank
street, q package Of flower seeds, few
bulbs or towering plants We sent a
generous lot down last Summer and they
made glad the hearts Of many g sick SOL
der at the MurfreesbOrO field hospital.
Last Spring we saw on the tables of
many hospitals in Nashville and Murfrees-
bOro young rsdishes, crisp lettuce, and
green onions-the fruit of the labor which
convalescent soldiers had bestowed upon
the gardens planted early with seed from
Northern Ohio. Can we imagine greater
luxury than this change from the hospital
diet Of the long Winter months2 Will
not every friend Of the soldier help on this
good works Send seed Of early vegetables
for the tables Of the hospitals. and flower
ing plants to delight the eye and cheer the
hearts Of those who have so few comforts
on their far sway sick beds
Down in Tennessee, that garden-spot Of
our country, where mother earth I" if you
tickle her with hoe, will laugh with g