Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-10-12
A Hospital Sketch.
To While. from his mother. '

"If should die in the hospital, or on the battle
field, for the sake OF God and humanity, VII you
communicate with my mother, Mrs Charles
Dodge, - town, - state
This, written upon the hy-leaf of little
black pocket Testament
am fast getting 10 be an old woman, but
| never shall forget those old hospital days,
Aud this little book has brought back the
old memories, just as the sight of old and
irons and spinning-wheel will carry one
back to grandmother's time. You see, !
haven't always had gray hair and crows
feet. There was time long ago when
thought that life meant happiness. But
when our neighbours boy, 10, whom | had
played with in my childhood, came to me
and asked me to make choice for life,
had to put it all away; for father and
mother died that year and left four little
brothers in an elder sisters care. did the
best could for them, but we were poor and
sometimes the weight was well-nigh too
heavy for young shoulders.
Well my boys grew up and went out
into the world; all but Jamie, poor little
cripple-boy. | loved him the more because
so dependent on me. But he took sick, and
one spring day laid him away in the meet
ing-house graveyard and went back to a
lonely home. Nobody knows how my heart
ached for something to love and work for.
And then the war broke out, and as hadn't
husband or sons to give to my country
thought I'd go myself. Not to fight o no;
but as a nurse. And so that's how hap
pened to go. | had been there several
months when the battle of G. killed
and wounded so many of our boys, you re-
member. Quite number of them were
brought to our hospital. saw them carried
in and then went through the wards to do
what could. As was hurrying from one
to another | came to this one in the corner.
/ couldn't help but notice right away how
young and boyish the face was Somehow
! thought of Jamie, and my heart gave a
great throb lie raised up on his elbow as
came near, gave a cheerful nod and said,
/" Good morning, Auntie."
/ wanted to put my arms around his neck
and give him motherly hug, but, you see,
we had to learn to overcome our feelings
there. So only said, "Good morning."
as quietly as | could, and then went to work
to smooth out the army-blanket, and replace
the haversack, doing duty as pillow, by a
wooden shawl Of my own. You see, was
thinking so hard of Jamie it never occurred
to me that he was wounded until he put his
hand over his breast and gave little short
BREATH "What have they been doing to
you ?" asked taking away his hand.
"Used me for target, Auntie. Splendid
shot, true as you live" and he smiled just as
though he was talking about some sport.
"Did the surgeon take the ball out ~
said |.
"That old fellow with the saw and screw
driver Whew He bored till | most
thought he was the gimet and | was the
hole. Guess he didn't find it."
I caw that IL rantad draceino On I cot
about it. 1t didn't look very bad. / ven
tured to say so, and you ought to have seen
his face brighten, while he asked so earn
estly, ado you think so? Just what
thought. I'll be all right in few days.
Don't you think will ?"
shook my head. didn't want to disa-
gree with him but knew it was better than
to give false hope. I" No; not in a few days.
Perhaps in few weeks" had dressed
the wound by this time, so he said in his
CHEEKY way that he'd take little trip into
the land of nod, and then began to snore
like mischievous school-boy. | went
about my other duties, but by and by came
around just to see how he was; and sure
enough, he was sleeping just as quietly as a
baby.
Next morning l stopped the surgeon after
he had gone through the wards, for though
he was in a hurry wanted to know when
my boy was going to get well. thought
likely as not he'd ask me again and it would
be so much better TO say "the doctor says
So" The way that surgeon frowned when
! asked him-and he answered so sharp
"When Shot through the lung, madam
ust as surely dead as though his head was
cut Off"
1t was well that had so many months of
discipline among the suffering and dying, OIL
] could never have heard it and been SC
calm; for, you see, this boy was taking
JAMES place; so when | went in with the
bowls of porridge l couldn't smile back al
him, although | saw him raise up on his ell
bow the minute | stepped inside the door
Of course | expected he would be worse, but
he ate the porridge with boys relish, anG
declared he felt good enough to stand on hi.
head. While | was working for the Others
heard little tune, now softly whistled
now sung, coming from that corner.
was something about the "patter of tn,
rain-drops on the roof" When | cam,
around again he stopped in his tune long
enough to ask me if ever sung it. / tolc
him | didn't sing, but perhaps somebody
could
"No matter anyway" he said only
mother used to sing it to us when we were
little chaps at home. | thought it would
sound sort of good here, but don't suppose
anybody could sing it quite like her."
told him didn't believe anybody could
The next day, to my great surprise, h,
seemed great deal better. had made
resolve to have him send letter home tina
day; but when he began TO talk about get
ting well, in his CHEEKY way, it grew harde
and harder.
"Don't you suppose I'll have a furlough
Auntie, after the old hole gets filled up 2"
"You deserve one," | couldn't help bu
say. But hadn't you better write to you
mother, so not to brighten her D."
"Oh, no; 'twould scare the little woma
out OF her wits. Besides, want to surpris
her. Won't she be glad enough to burs
when she sees me walking in that side-doo
by the lilac-bushes !"
And he began to get so excited lust talk
ing about it that had to scold him and tel
him to go to sleep, or he wouldn't go HON
very soon.
Really, couldn't help keep up the deli
sion. lie was so much better, and SO hop
full too; really began TO think the surgeo
was mistaken about the wound The ne1
day he felt so well he wanted to sit up bl
said no, and tried to amuse him ever
moment could be spared from the other
lie salu RUBBED MS head almost like h
mother, and wouldn't she be glad TO 81
him, though When he spoke of his mothe
asked him if he hadn't better write HON
and if he didn't want his mother TO con
and escort him home, for he wouldn't
real strong for long time. But he seeme
80 much to anticipate surprising her an
then he argued that twas too far for Il
little mother to come alone, and then
was getting well so fast. The next day az
the next found my boy full of hope an
impatient to get well and start for HON
We had such pleasant talks. lie told n
about his home and little sisters and wi
owed mother. told him about Jamie al
my lonely life. | found myself laughil
over his funny speeches good many tim
very unusual thing for a sober old ma
like me. He so firmly believed and insist
that he was getting well that he made
believe it. Since then | have wonder
how could have been so deceived.
The sixth morning, when | opened I
door, missed the raised head and VIII
reached his corner | saw it lay on
pillow. The smile was little fainter th
usual. / noticed at once that each che
was marked with a flushed spot, and that
breathed in short, quick breaths. In ansy
as to how he felt he said:
GAN right-only out OF wind. Can Y
raise breeze some way I"
! bolstered him up and famed him