Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-09-23

cruel taunt. Then the tremulOus
hands were slowly lifted and folded
tightly across her breast, as if to
still some sudden heart-ache the
unkind words called up. Very
low and sweet, and earnest was her
reply.
"What do we do with our beg
gings? All! that is a hard question
to ask of one whose way of life
leads ever among the poor, the
sorrowing, the unfortunate, the
most wretched of mankind. Not
on me is it wasted. l stand here
in my earthly all. What do we
do with it? All some day you may
know"
She turned away and left him
sad of face, heavy of heart, and her
dark eyes misty with unshed tears.
"Stayl"
The Generals request was like a
command. He could be stern, nay,
almost rude, but he knew truth
and worth when he saw it, and
could be just.
The Sister paused on the thresh-
old, and for a minute nothing was
heard but the rapid scratching Of
the Generals pen.
"There, madam, is your order on
the commissary for ice and beef at
army terms, good for three months.
| do it for the sake of the Union
soldiers who are or may be in your
care. Don't come bothering me
again. Good morning"
In less than three weeks from
that date the slaughter Of the Red
river campaign had been perfected,
and there neared the city Of New
Orleans a steamer flying the omi
nous yellow flag, which even the
rebel sharpshooters respected and
allowed to pass down uumolested
Another, and still another followed
closely in the wake, and all Tho
decks were covered with The
wounded and dying, whose bloody
bandages, and, in many instances
undressed wounds, gave woeful evi
dence Of the lack of surgeons, a
well as the completeness of th,
rout. Among the desperatel,
wounded was General S. He wa
borne from the steamer to the wait
ing ambulance, writhing in anguish
from the pain Of his bleeding ant
shell-torn limb, and when the,
asked where he wished to be taken
he feebly moaned:
"Anywhere, Fit matters not
where l can die in peace"
So they took him to the Hote
Dieu, a noble and beautiful institu
ton in charge of the Sisters Q
} Charity. The limb was amputate'
and there he was nursed for week
through the agony of the surgico
, operation, the fever, the wild delii
ium, and for many weary days n
one could tell whether life or deaf
would be the victor. But who wa
( the quiet, faithful nurse, ever 9
, his bedside, ever ministering to hi
wants, ever watchful of his small
r est needs? Why, only cone of tn
{. Sisters"
: At last life triumphed, reaso
+ returned, and with it much of I'll
+ old, abrupt manner. The Generi
= awoke to consciousness to a fax
4 not altogether unknown bendin
i over him, and to feel a pair
c small, deft hands skillully arrani
n ing a bandage, wet in ice-co
d water, around his throbbing ten
Y pies, where the mad pain and acl
d ing had for SO long a time he
1t sway. He was better now, thoug
8. still very weak, but his mind W
s. clear, and he could think calm
); and connectedly of all that hi
r taken place since the fatal battle
e battle which had so nearly co
e him his life, and left him at be
but manned and mutilated rel
k nant of his former self. Yet
re was thankful it was no worse-th
TX he had not been killed outrigf
| In like degree he was grateful
~ those who nursed him so tender
at and tirelessly, especially the gr
robed woman, who had becoI