The daily gazette., 1882-07-21
PATRIOTIC WOMEN.
How the Mothers and Daughters of 1878
Helped the Suffering Soldiers at Valley
Forge.


Miss Amelia Thropp, in the Norristown
Herald, gives the following touching bit of
history and tells the story in an entertaining
manner !: f7
There is a little incident connected with
the Revolution. which occurred in the year
l7IS, at Valley Forge, to which there has
not been as much publicity given as it Justly
merits. We are all familiar with the ter
ribie snfierings endured by our army at
Valley Gorge during that severe
winter, one ol5h,the coldest ex-
perienced for many years. It was
| through the most intense suffering this win
| ter was passed. BY that band of patriots who
risked all that we might be free. Brave he
| roes OF liberty t@'fhe recollection ofthe deeds
viii echo through every hill and valley over
our land until time shall end in eternity
Their slItlerlngs were great, and endured
with patience. Yet there was no prospect
of things growing better but constantly
worse. There was no hope for tomorrow
and each tomorrow was ushered in with
greater distress. The hopes of the bravest
| began to falter,p the. feet of the strongest to
grow weaker. Overcome with sickness and
fatigue, the bravest saw that their only
refuge was in death, and many In despair
cried out, "Save us, Lord, or we perish"
Over rock and hillside, down through hill,
valley and raYine the feeble sound was
echoed. On a day when the sun shone
brightly and the clear blue background
more beautiful than usual, there appeared
upon the horizon bright speck like a cloud,
which appeared to have come to dim the
beauty of that clear winter sky. The sick
dragged themselves to watch, while the
keener observers noticed that the cloud
moved, not away from that suffering band,
hIIfn nnhn int al
caravan as onward it came-on on and
over the snowy, frostyroad, Presently they
heard the creaking sound of wheels, when,
10 to their eager gaze appeared 10 wagons
filled with foodand clothing, each drawn by
two oxen and driven byiwomen.
On they came, slowly over the frosty road,
patiently plodding to save their loved ones,
the soldiers fzValley Forge. The women
of Philadelphia had, out of their own in
comes, filled three wagons with supplies,
among which were bundles of their own
handiwork. These consisted of two thou
sand shirts, cut out and made by their own
delicate fingers. Other things were in pro
portion, all done by those noble, patient
women to save their hberators. The poor
soldiers had nearly lost all hopes death APP
peared inevitable, when, 10 could it be
possible, relief was coming to them SO far
away on these bleak hills. Yes those ten
wagons were driven by noble, self-sacrificing
women, who came to save them from starva-
ton.
The sick dragged themselves to the door
of their miserable huts to look out through
the cold, frosty air at their deliverers. Tears
rolled down their cheeks, and the sick and
suffering all joined IN one loud shout of joy,
exc1aiming, "God bless our deliverers, the
women of Philadelphia !" Over hills and
down through the valley the sound went
ringing. On through time, on until eternity
will the sound of praises echo in memory of
that noble band who saved the army at
Valley Forge. Those women who asked no
reward nor solicited praise. 1t was on an
errand of mercy, for their hearts We're tender
and their love was strong. We still have
reason to cry out, "God bless the women of
Philadelphia !" and all over the land, for
their good works, the. noble enterprises in
which they are constantly engaged. There
are many noble workers who are willing to-
day to make personal sacrifices for the good
OF humanity. The same blood courses
through their veins, actuated by the same
spirit that inspired that noble band who
saved from starvation the heroes OF
the Revolution, the army of Valley
Forge. Time will record their good
act. 1t will be written on the
pages of eternity. Long after the trace on
those bleak hills of Valley Forge shall be
blotted out, and not trace of the founda-
tions of fort or tent left, will be fresh and
green in the halls of memory. That genera
tion which has passed away has left its re-
cord sacred in the hearts of all. Their bodies
have long since moldered to dust, but their
spirits have assembled, and they have been
in glory by Him who has recorded
their good deeds and pronounced their work
aceL DONE