Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-09-19

for long time she employed herself in
nursing the sick and wounded. On one
occasion a young soldier from North
Carolina, badly wounded, was placed
under her care. She nursed him care
fully, but in spite of all that could be
done for him II became evident that he
must die. He was the only son of
wealthy parents who dotted on him.
When he was told that he could not live
long, he called the beautiful nurse to his
bedside and told her he had one request
to make, and that was that she would
not let him be placed in an unmarked
grave. She promised, and he died
happy. She Kept her promise. He was
buried with pomp. A long line of car
riages followed him to his grave. She
bore all the expenses. In few days
thereafter the father and mother APP
peared, having heard that their only
son had been wounded. The father
went TO the hospital, where he learned
his son had died, and there he was re-
ferred to Miss st. Clair, who gave him
all the particulars of his death and fu-
neral. He and his wife were deeply
grieved at the loss of their son, but
their grief was greatly softened by the
contemplation of the generous, unselfish
conduct of his kind nurse, and they eX-
pressed to her their appreciation of her
kindness in no measured terms.
They did more. After making in
quiries about her, and learning her past
history and true status, when they re-
turned to Richmond again, after carry
ing the remains of their son home to be
buried, they sought her out and said to
her: 1--WE have come to make propo-
sition tc you, which we sincerely wish
you to accept. We want you to go
home with us and be our daughter We
| will adopt you as such. We are wealthy,
we have no children, and nobody will
have any right'to complain of our con-
duct. We make this proposal after
careful thought and consideration. We
are acquainted with your past history,
and know what is the opinion of the
world in respect to one in your situa-
ton, but we believe that any woman
who has acted so nobly and generously
| as you have done can be reclaimed, and,
forgetting your past life, we earnestly
desire to take you to our hearts
and our home and adopt you as
our daughter. viii you Gomez" The
beautiful nurse evinced great agitation.
Her bosom heaved, and tears flowed
from her eyes, and then, amid her sobs
she declined the offer, saying to accept
it "would, while beneficial to me, be
doing an injury to you. l do not de-
serve such generosity, and my services
to your poor boy were not given with
expectation of reward, but to crafty
my own feelings. | know that you are
sincere in your belief that you would
| ignore and forget my past life, and that
you would treat me as if | were, in
fact, your daughter, but the world, and
your friends and acquaintance, would
not let you do it. A ban is upon me;
! society calls me an outcast, no matter
what trials, temptations and solicita-
! tion / may have encountered. | have
! fallen, and there is an unabridged gulf
between me and society forever. You
would rescue me, and your offer will be
a source of happiness to me during all
the few remaining years have to live,
but as much as l would like to 90 with
you, can not wrong you by accepting
your offer. My doom is fixed, regret
alas, too late, to say, and knowing that
l shall never be forgiven by man,
| muSt look alone 10 Hill WHO is lueTCy
self to pardon me hereafter
The old Confederate Major, as he
reached this part of his reminiscence,
drew his big bandana and wiped his
eyes, saying to the correspondent:
" You see, witnessed that scene, and
l tell you it was the saddest l ever
knew. The old gentleman and his
wife could not alter the determination
of the beautiful girl. Finally they said:
Is there nothing we can do for you to
show our appreciation of your kindness
to our sonP' She said: Yes; ask that
you will bestow some of your means in
purchasing delicacies for the wounded
soldiers and prisoners OF both armies.
They did so, and hundreds of Confed-
crate and Union soldiers, tossing upon
their sick beds, blessed the outcast wom-
an who gave them rare wines and cor
dials and delicacies out of the liberal
means at her disposal, and so she be-
came known as the Angel of Castle
Thunder and at early morn and amid
the night shadows she was to be seen
fitting between Castle Thunder and
Libby Prison. At the evacuation of
the armies she disappeared and has
never been heard of since"