The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-03-06

bospital, the widowed mother Of two little
r;rls, who, innocently, and in blissfal igno.
rance Of their sad situation, amused them.
selves with children's sports in the place
Of priyation, sorrow, and pain to which
their poor mother had retreated a. the
only refugesn her helplessness. She had
come from Georgia to attend her husband,
soldier, who was sick In the hospital, and
who was soon relieved from misery and
the dread scenes to come by death. His
poor wife soon took his place in the sick
list, and her only children, the two little
girls, remained as guests Of this place,
where infancy was so strangely associated
with disease with oil its horrors, and be-
came familiar with Death, who, attended by
famine, maintained his hideous vigils over
the sick, wounded, and dying inmates.
The thunders Of the approaching army,
the roar Of flames, the ringing Of bells, the
falling of houses, the bursting Of shells,
and the general clamor Of panic, distress,
and grief, so shocked the feeble sick wo-
man in the hospital that she died from
grief and fright, bestowinga last glance, in
utter despair, upon her two little children,
whose fate it was to be left at such time
amongst strangers, far from home and per-
fcctly helpless. Who can tell the anguish
Of that poor mother at passing away from
the world and leaving her tender offspring
10 the mercies and chances ofthat perilous
day 1t was indeed mercy that the pang
and the agony were brief.
The mother died, and was buried by or
der of General SHERMAN, who also ordered
that the two infants should be sent to the
asylum. A general famine followed in the
march Of that general officer, and there
beiugnothing wherewith to feed the inmates
ofthe asylum, there was no recourse but to
send them away. Here was another phase
ofthat extreme human misery which chills
the blood even to read of. The feeble, the
sick, the lame, and the halt, and the help
less who found refuge in that asylum, we're
TO go forth, as there was nothing there to
feed them. Where were they to go? and
what to do? What became of them ALL
none can tell. Death ended the sorrows OF
many.
In the midst Of this sad community
were the two motherless girls, mere in.
fants, unconscious Of their lot. People
came from all quarters to see what could
10 Gov ha n;erare,nn hnrsnhnll
Among those who came on this GRAND was
a lady Of great worth and refinement who
was once the mistress Of mansion where
all that wealth, and elegance, and taste
could contribute TO comfort and enjoy
ment was gathered together. She had
fed from the fine estates of her husband
in Beaufort, and the fair and rich domain
she once looked on as hers was now par
celled out amongst her late slaves. Living
in what may be called poverty in Colum-
bia, she yet needed some assistance in her
housekeeping for herself and family, and
repaired to the asylum 10 obtain, if posi-
bic, servant girl. There her eyes were
attracted by the two little girls, thinly
clad, sitting in corner on the sunny side
of the house on chilly April day, hug
ging each other to keep warm. They were
remarkable for their beauty, and very
symmetrical and delicate figures. The
lady made inquiry, and learned their his
tory. Her heart yearned towards them
but what could she do in her poverty
Contemplating them in their forlorn condi-
ton, vet so bright and so unconscious Of
their fate, cheerfully endeavoring to Dor
row from the sun that warmth which mans
inhumanity had deprived them of, she was
oppressed with the force of the tender
sympathy which she felt she was too poor
to crafty. She turned away abruptly and
hurried towards her home. But those two
tender and bright faces-those two babes
with neither home nor relative were be-
fore her. She could not shut them out.
Her pity and sympathy grew as she
widened the distance between her and
them, and at last, completely overcome by
her solicitude, she turned back, and in
the multitude of miSerables sought the
children, and taking one in each hand,
walked up with them in delight.
Since then, until few days ago, that
noble lady has maintained these children
under all the privations of her own situa-
ton. She had sought in vain for place
Of refuge for them. Some two weeks
ago she wrote to Miss EMILY MASON now
in Baltimore-that indefatigable lady
who had done so much to relieve the un-
fortunate and afflicted of these times
inquiring if some provision could not be
made for these children. Miss MASON had
filed all the places she succeeded in finding,
and had written letter saying that nothing
could then be done for them-when, as 1t
were by Proyidential design, letter came
from St. Louis offering places for twelve
southern children, the means for the sup
port and education Of whom had been pro-
vided by the liberal citizens Of that city.
Miss MASON, with delight all who know
her can well imagine, re0pened the letter
10 her Columbia friend and wrote post
script, in which she was requested to send
ON BEuLAH" and "LULA for these
were the names of the motherless little
fawps-at once, that they might 60 Oh to
the homes just found for them. Poor chill
dren who will not offer up a prayer that
they may now be happy for life'
This is, indeed, a picture OF thousand /,
and no one can read the facts, we are sure,