The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1869-03-09


l am not . revengable fellow naturally,
but never gave up the hope of seeing
that man again, and somehow paying
him back for his brutal insolence.
There wasn't a camp or review I was in
for the next two years but looked for
| him, right and left. never went over
| a field after battle, but that searched
for him among the dying-God forgive
me! my opportunity came.
Il had been wounded, and was in one
of the Washington hospitals-almost
well, yet still not quite fit for duty in
the saddle. hate, above all things, to
be idle; SO l begged for light employ
ment as hospital nurse; and they gave
it to me, and said I did my duty we'll
4 never felt for our poor, brave fell
lows as did there. had been very
fortunate, and until that summer had
never been in hospital. Now I saw
such suffering and such heroism as
had never seen on the battlefield. Com
panionship helped to keep up the spirits
of those we could not save to the last
Then it seemed hard that each brave
boy must make his march down the dark
valley alone. But they all went off gal
lantly. I would have rather galloped
| forward on a forlorn charge any day,
than have followed any one of them
over to the Soldiers Rest though it
is a pretty place to camp in. In fact,
my heart grew so soft there, so Chris
tianized, as it were, that forgot to
look for my old enemy; for so, you see,
I still regarded the surly straggler who
| refused me water at the roadside
spring
after the battle of the Wilderness q
great multitude of the wounded we're
poured in upon us; all our wards were
filed to overfowing. It was hot, close
weather; most of the patients were fe
vered by their wounds and exposure to
the sun, and up and down the long
ghastly lines of white beds the great
cry was water. I took large pitcher Of
ice water and tumb bier, and started on
the round of my ward, as eager to
give as the poor fellows were to receive.
The ice ratified and rung in the pitcher
in the most inviting way, and many a
hot hand was stretched out, when, all
at once, on one of the farthest beds in
the ward. I saw a man start up, with
his face flaming with fever, and his eyes
cleaning, as he almost screamed out:
Water! give me water, for Gods sake;
Then, madam, could see no other
face in the world, for it was he!
L made few steps toward him and
saw he knew me as well as knew him,
for he fell back on his pillow and just
turned his lace toward the wall. Then
the devil frightened his grip on me till it
seemed he had me fast and sure, and he
seemed to whisper in my ear: Rattle the
ice in the pitcher, and aggravate him!
Go up and down, giving water to all the
others, and not drop to him!
Then something else whispered, little
nearer, though not in such sharp, hiss
ing way-conscience. suppose it was;
good Methodists might call it the Holy
Spirit; other religious people might say
it was the spirit of my mother; ami per-
haps we would all mean about the same !
.thing--anyhow, it seemed to say: Now
my boy, is your chance to return good |
for evil Go to him and give him q /
drink first of ALL
'And that something walked me right up
. l.: IL III H.
under his shoulder and raise him up,
and put the tumbler to his lips. How he
drank I never can forget-in long, deep
draughts, almost tumblerfull at swal
low, looking at me wistfully all the
time. When be was satisfied, he fell
back, and again turned his head to the
wall, without word. But somehow
knew that fellows heart was touched, as
no chaplain's sermon or tract had ever
touched it.
II asked the surgeon to let me have the
sole care OF his patient, and he consen
ted, though he said the man had gun
shot wound in the knee, and would have
to submit to an amputation if he could
stand il; and if not, would probably
make me a great deal of trouble while
he lasted"
s'Well, took charge of him mad
to do it somehow-but he kept up the
same silence with me for several days.
then, one morning. just as wa, leaving
his bedside, he caught hold of my coat,
and called me back bent down to
ask him what he wanted, and he said in
canteen business in the Shenandoah val
le,?'
Yes, but it don't m after now, old fell [