Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1872-02-22

OF the country formed themselves INTO
societies and labored unremttingly to af-
ford relief to our suffering and self-sac
rificing defenders. There were church
societies and general aid societies, etc,
ETC., and even in some cases young ladies
dropped the school books and their
amusements. and devoted their time and
money to those laudable projects. How
many eyes have moistened and hearts
softened when their owners, lying sick or
wounded at hospitals or nearly overcome
by ''forced marches" or continued eX-
posure, have received some little delicacy
from the fair hands of their
sympathizing sisters at home! How many
fervent God bless thems," have been
uttered, and how many grateful prayers
have been offered by the "boys in blue "
for the noble women who remembered
them SO kindly.
In Fort Wayne, during this period, four
young ladies associated themselves into a
relief society, and met two or three times
a week to prepare acceptable articles OF
clothing, or choice edibles to tempt the
appetite, for the brave soldiers at the
front. These girls, not knowing but that
some of their offerings might reach
Fort Wayne boy, to whom they would be
dOubly precious as coming from home, at
tached a card containing their comph-
ments and names to few OF the offerings
which they sent. These gifts reached
their destination, and served to cheer the
heart and alleviate the suffering Of many
who were racked with disease or
afflicted with wounds. One young
man who enlisted in an Eastern regi-
ment was taken seriously ill, and put in
! the hospital at Bowling Green, KY, where
1 he lay for weeks, lowering between life
/ and death, with no mother or sister near
! by to administer to his wants, to smooth
| his fevered brow or whisper words of
| comfort or love. Thanks to vigorous
and robust constitution, however, he at
length began to recover, and when con
valescent, and hopefully looking forward
to speedy release from the hospital ward,
he received pair OF slippers, accom-
panied with a card inscribed, "To brave
soldier Compliments of - -, OF
| Fort Wavne, Ind" Nothing could have
been received with more gratitude in
these days of gradual but steady recovery,
and the card was carefully preserved
among his choicest treasures. lie, no
doubt, cherished a secret hope that he
might some day meet the fair girl whose
offering had been to him so invaluable,
and such a perfect assurance that the
boys were still remembered III the
North.
After his complete restoration to health
he served CALAMITY until the close of the
war, behaving with so much bravery that
when he returned home he had been pro
NOTED to the rank of Major, distinction
richly earned Returning to his native
place, he engaged i'm active business life
for several years, and had long since
ceased to think of this little episode OF
hospital life, although he still kept the
card. Last summer, however, he con
cluded to take a much needed respite
from the cares of trade, and started West
for a tour of observation and rcIaXa-
ton.
While on his travels he had an opportu-
nity of assisting beautiful young lady
who had become bewldered at the Union
Depot, in indianapolis, and as he was
going some distance in the same direction
as the lady, he acted as her escort In the
course of an animated conversation, he
Wat iffitfteti-tU Ytare his experiences
during the rebellion, which greatly inter
ested his fair listener, who was charmed
with his fine command of language, tho
modesty with which he referred to hi
own services and the -hean1+- ~ A444s-e++e
scriptiOns of places and events Whei
he arrived at his destination, it was with
reluctance that he parted from his com
panion, whose name and address he oh
tained previous to their separation. foi
! DAYS afterward as he was roaming through
] the country, did his thoughts linger upon
his new acquaintance. Every word she
: said seemed to be deeply craven upon his
: memory, while her beautiful and lntelll
! gent face, her dark expressive eyes, and
artless, fascinating expression were ever
/ before him. Again and again did he re-
Z peat her name, until the idea gained con
troll of his mind that he had heard the
name before. But he was unable to say
when. and he at last attempted to dismiss
the thought as an idle vagary. But his
mind CONTINUALLY reverted to the matter,
although nothing occurred to him TO solve
the mystery. One night, while
dreamily glancing at a parcel OF
old letters and papers, card dropped out,
which he instantly recognized as the
one which he first received in the deary
bospital, and which, on examination,
proyed TO be inscribed with the name OF
the lady whose graces had but few days
before fascinated him so deeply. lie IN
.tantly decided to address note to her,
informing her of the pleasure he had en-,
loved in making her Acquaintance, ana
also executing a long cherished design IN
thanking the lady whose kindly gift had
frightened his dreary hospital life. 10
his great Joy he soon received an answer,
which expressed similar pleasure at thus
forming lis acquaintance, and told OF hcr
surprise at hearing so Tonga time alter
wards, from her war gifts Our hero, on re-
turning to his Eastern home, passed day
in this city, when he visited his charmer,
and left more deeply in love than ever.
Frequent letters have passed between
them since that time, and the soldier BOY
has been attracted to Fort Wayne Tor
second time OF course we are NOT IN the
secrets of the couple, but think IRON
everything that we can hear, we can safe
" predict that before the year 1917 Is
COMPLETED. Fort Wayne will lose one OF
its l6yeliest damsels, who will, no doubt,
90 East to become the wife OF the Dfase
soldier boy. now a prosperous SicTcha ,,
Tbe above incidents will be readily
recognized as actual occurrences by lew
Young people in our city, who are &c.
Guainted with the circumstances; ana We
can only hope that the result may be sncn
II IN order that this