The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1873-10-22
A NOBLE SACRIFICE.

When the cry of distress went up from
Msmphis-when i. was flashed over the
land that men, women and children in
that pestilence stricken city were suffer
ing and dying for want Of nurses, Martha
of Towards, Illinois, a girl
not twenty years Of age, in the bloom of
youth and health, was visiting friends in
bloomington. Her heart answered the
appeal for help, and unknown to friends
or family who might have wished to pre-
vent the step, sac won't to Memphis
and offered herself as nurse for yellow
fever patients. Within two hours after
her arrival in tina. city, she had entered
on her duties and found herself, beside
DR.. Blackburn, the only other attendant
Of yellow fever patient, n woman also in
the pangs Of maternity. Whom spoken to
youth and ineIperience, she made the
noble response that she wished to nurse
the sick and the dying, and desired to lay
aside any natural feeling of modesty,
which would interfere TO prevent her
to discharge OF the duties of her Of
fee. She performed the unaccustomed
services required Of her with the modesty
ofa young girl, and womsnly patience
and tenderness. Her patient died and the
willing feet of Martha Stephenson carried
her TO other scenes Of distress where with
ready hands she performed the welcome
Offices Of nurse for the prostate victims Of
thsplsgue. After two weeks of tireless ser.
vice, she was herself taken sick with yell
low fever; abe was carefully tended by
DR.. Blackburn, but his skill as physi-
clan and nurse was Of no avail and she
succumbed TO the disease after en-
illness of only few days.
And thus went out the light Of q noble
life, veritably laid down for others sakes.
The history of Martha Stephenson, young
in years but strong in courage, poor in
worldly possessions but rich in character
in which sympathy for suffering fellow
creatures overcsme even the fear Of dis
ease and death, deserves to be told in the
category with that Of Florence Nighten-
gale and other noble women whose deeds
have made their names immortal, and in
comparison with whose record hers
will not pale. She WAS buried
In Elmwood cemetery. and her
remains were followed to the grave by
the members Of the Howard association
of Memphis, by citizens, members of the
press and others, all of whom, in the
name of the afflicted people Of Memphis
honored themselves in thus honoring tho
memory Of one who had been truly /,
minis,ering angel in their midst In til,
beautiful and touching tribute to her mem
DRY by the Rev, Mr.. Boggs, pastor 0
the second Presbyterian church in Mem
phis who led the funeral services, he said
Lips like mine cannot fttinsly spesl
the praises Of such lif0-such glorou
death. May Divine Power use thls ex
ample of unseltlsh philanthropy to en-
grave upon our hearts the sublime mora
which the blessed Son OF God draws from
his own wondross parable of the A" Goo
Sam aritan -" Go, thou, and do likewise
, And hereafter, when our duties to tn
living sufferers shall allow Of it, lot he
simple story be told to our boys and girl
: when we shall be cold, and it may
9 forgotten beneath tho green sod. Let III
breathing marble and the sculptor's art d
, some justice, not TO her merit, which ma,
can never reward, but to ourselves and III
gratitude Of our city.
The Memphis Avalanche adds its CT
dorsement TO the suggestion Of DR.. Bogg
and all who read the history Of Marth
| Stephensor will cav amen