Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-12-09


"and you may keep 'em here till they
hatch, if you've mind to-" Aud she
strobe out again. The doctor chose not
to hear, and the poor boys eggs were
not medded with.
A few days after, on her return from
her regular visit to the" Smallpox Hos
pital," she found that the blow that she
had been expecting had fallen. The
Medical Director had left a written order
for all the contrabands, detailed to her
service, to be sent to the contraband
camp, stating that he should inspect the
hospital at nine the next morning, when
he should expect to find them all remov-
ed. 1t was night when she returned and
received this order, and raining hard.
Going to the door, she called back the
departing ambulance. Here, Andy"
she SAID to the driver. "you and | must
have some supper, these mules must be
fed, and then we must 60 10 General
Hurlbut's headquarters. I'll see wheth-
er these darkies are going to the contra
band camp or not. If Dr. is GO
ing to be ugly, he'll find two can play at
that game, and that woman is better
at it than man." The negroes stood
round with comically dolcful places, like
SO many ebony statues. They liked
Mother Bickerdy Ike and hated the camp.
" When's we gwine from dis yer hospit.
tie" they inquired. When I tell you
to go, aud not before" was her laconic
reply.
Through the pouring rain, over brok-
en- and excavated streets, not a glimmer
of light anywhere save from the one Ian
tern of the ambulance, halted at every
few PAGES BY the challenge of the closely
set guards-for Memphis, though con-
quered, was still rebelious city-Moth-
er Bckerdyke toiled on to the headquar-
tiers of the post commander. 1t was
hard work to get access to him, for he
was in bed, but at last her importantly
Prevailed, and she was conducted to bis
presence. She told her story honestly
and with straightfcrwardness, and asked
for written authority to keep her detailed
cont rabands, until he, Gen. Hurlbut,
should revoke it. 1t was granted, and
back through the rain rode Mother Bick
erdyke, triumphant. The next morning
the Medical Director made his appear
ance at the Gayoso Hospital" accord
ing to appointment. The negroes were
all at their work, in the kitchen, in the
laun Try, in the ward, everywhere, rs if
he had left 10 order for their dismissal.
He came TO the kitchen where Mother
Bickerdyke was making soup.
"Mrs. Bickerdyke, did you receive
an order left for you, yesterday morn
ing?"
Il did, SIR" continuing to season,
stir, and taste her soup.
"An order for the dismissal Of these
black people to their camp?"
&" Yes, sir, exaotly?'
Sc expected it would be obeyed."
Z" suppose so, sir" very nonchalant
in manner.
"And why has it not been?" with
louder tone ard rising anger.
Because sir" turning and facing him.
Gen. Hurlbut has given me an order
to keep 'em here till he dismisses them;
and Gene.al Hurl5ut happens to out
rank you, and must be beycd before
you," and produced him Gen. HurIbut's
order.
There was storm. The doctor was
vulgarly angry, and raved in a manner
that was very d maging to his dignity.
He threatened all sorts of things, and
wound up by telling Mother Bickerdyke
that he wouldn't have her in Memphis =
that he would send her home before he
was q week older.
g. But 1 shan't go, DOCTOR" she answer
ed. "Tve come down here to stay, and
l mean to stay till this thing is played
out. I've enlisted for the war, as the
boys have, and they want me. and need
me, and can't get along without me.
And so l shall stay, and you'll have to
get along with me the best you can /.
It's no use for you to try TO tie me up
with your red tape; there's too much to
be done down here to stop for that; and
there's no sense in your getting mad be-
cause l don't play second fiddle to you,
but Tell you / haint tims. And, doctor,
l don't believe you had better get into a
row with me, for whenever anybody gets
into a row with me, one of us two al
ways goes to the wall, and faint nerer
meT
The doctor had lively sense of the Ia.
dicrous, and Mother Bickerdyke's novel
method of pacification was too much for
his gravity. He was really a very SUI
perior officer-like many another clever
man, possessed with the Unborn belief
that all women were to play "second fid-
die" to him-but he had the GOOD sense
to appreciate blunt Mrs. Bickcrdyke's ex-
cellencies, and to accept the situation.-
From being at loggerheads, they came to
perfect understanding, and soon became
the best of friends.
1t was more difficult to supply the hos
pitfalls with milk and eggs, than with any
other necessaries. With the supplies
furnished by the government the tea,
sugar, coffee, -four, meat, and other like
articles, which were usually of a good
quality, Mother Bickerdyke could work
miracles in the culinary line, even when
there was lack of sanitary stores, if she
could only have abundant supplies of