Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-09-25

| women who begged me TO return, as my
errand would prove fruitless but perse-
vered, and at last, on reaching the office Of
Mr.. Burke, looked appealingly at him and
asked for coal. ~ .s-.~
'Hav'n't any; have refused five hundred
people, -
l sat down, forlorn. Upon raising my
eyes, found that lie was looking at me,
upon which l took heart 10 say: "Do you
not think that little fine coal might pos
sibly be scraped up, just to keep me from
freezing only that ?"
His reply was: 81 had saved half load
you can have it"
felt like crying but didn't. paid
him ninety dollars, and in an hours time
was crying in my faithful Judy's arms, in
gratitude to a cheerful blaze; but tears
soon turned to smiles at her queer mode OF
comforting. GOOD Lord, missis, while
You was freezing you didn't cry; now you
is warm, you let your tears run. For de
Lords sake, hold up your head; three
somebodies is at the door, begging to get
dere hands warm" So / admitted the
tenants-only too glad to extend the hos
pitality-besides lending them a half
hushel of coal apiece.
frequently went to the legislative halls;
and was sometimes pleased, sometimes dis
gusteo.
] heard Ex-Governor Wise lecture one
night--just month, / think, before the
capitulation. The crowd was dense TO
sufocation. His eloquence chained my
mind, riveted my ears, and eheered my
heart, with all his native power, inornate
and copious language, pronounced en-
phatically that our day of delivery was at
hand.
Starvation seemed likely to ensue as the
winter waned into spring. Meat was so
scarce as to be rarity to epicureans
Flour brought from two to three thousand
dollars.
One morning in March l went to market,
and as l was slowly sauntering toward the
oyster stalls espied chicken, which al
lmost deafened me with its lusty growing.
I asked Of the black man who was stand
ing by;
chicken ?' .@
" Ah, missus, that rooster ak one hum
dred and fifty dollars for"
How old is he, uncle ?"
=" / carnt say, 'zactly, but it pears to me
that during this summer he will be in his
six year"
"And you still ask SO large sum for
him2 Why, he will be as tough as
leather" o.
"Yah yah Desc Confedrit times
people don't stand on tongh," said he.
AFTER THE CAPTURE. ~, - Il
X By the third day things began to
assume something like law and order, but
starvation was staring the whole popula~
ton in the face; it is true that suffers had
opened stores of tempting comestibles; bat
who had money to buy? No one, except
some of the Jews. / myself had not one
mouthfll, except quart of meal the
marketing furnished on Saturday was ex-
hausted, and my neighbOrs could not give
me- as they had Lothing to bestow.
One by one the men who had left the city
strayed back again, and some soldiers on
parole came to their wives, but, except the
comfort that sympathy gives, they were of
no more real service than fifth wheels to
wagons. Husbands had no money, but
were human nevertheless. Ny six thou-
sand dollars in Confederate money, which
had in hand for pocket money, couldnot
bring me one ginger cake. Officers, meuof
rank, social distinction and wealth. we're
now forlornly sitting down to meals for
which they could not hope TO pay. The
landlady's stock on the fifth day consisted
of half ham and half barrel of Irish
potatoes. She posted a notice over the door
for "sodgers !" and several Federal officers
came to the house, and she got in hand
her first greenback.
was very nearly desperate, when Judy
came in painting with delight. ooh now
never say again that you 'spects to starve,
for God hears the young ravens when they
cry; here is some money" and she put in
my hand two dollar greenback-the first
l ever saw. /, trained by the lessons taught
during the four past years, made little to-
bacco pouches and filled them with tobacco,
and got them sold, which brought me a
little. Soup houses were opened, and |
have seen crowds at them dense to sufioca-
ton, with timid and refined ladies, hold
ing little pitcher-sinking with shame
to be filled, only to keep from starving
anything but that. never went, but
Judy did, though | could not drink the
soup. The Sanitary Commission hoisted
its flag, and had distributed many COM
forts before | heard of it. And even after
was aware of the establishment | hesi-
tated, from sheer independence and pride,
till weakness and famine clamored for help.
found my way there at dusk, and tim
idly entering ventured to inquire for Mr..
Williams, the superintendent. He appeared,
and by his kind and easy manner l was
made to feel less like a criminal. can
never forget his kindness, or that of DR..
Mcdonald, of Boston, to whom be intro
duced me. Never can l forget it Just at
that moment respectful language and de-
pertinent accompanying a favor granted,
was more welcome than can express Mr..
Williams sent home with me servant,
laden with box of good, substantial food,
besides such delicacies as had craved for
months. Judy stood at her post as fnancier,
general messenger, supervisor, comforter,
servant and friend. In all this time / had
not heard from my husband, till one day,
three weeks after, the door opened; he burst
in the room and exploded into tears $50
you are alive-alive still, and see you
again" Rumors of the most startling de-
scription had reached him of the treatment
of women when Richmond was occupied,
and the three weeks Of frantic suspense had
weakened his mindto exhaustion. Judy, of
course, had her share in congratulation, and
after having recounted our several expert
I II