Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-12-12

they all called Mother Bickerdyke,'
and the mothers and sisters and daugh-
ters, with that beautiful trust of the
American woman, sent her letters of love
and encouragement and appreciation.
And for the reason that the dear mother
of the boys had not time to make OF
mend or care much for her own apparel,
her thoughts all on her intense work
the good women sent her abundant sup
plies of clothing for her own needs
whole boxes Of it, sometimes. With a
preoccupied air she would look over the
garments, Gull out three or four articles
for present necessity, and then she would
take the remainder in her ambulance
the conveyance in which she always trav-
eled-and 60 off into the country peddl-
ing. The Southern women in the neigh.
boring vicini,ies would buy them, and
pay her we'll in butter, eggs, milk, honey
and chickens. Her family was large,
and consumed great deal, and her sick
boys needed the delicacies which she thus
obtained so readily. She would concoct
great kettles of delicious chicken broth
for them when the wherewithal was at
hand, as on these frequent occasions.
1t was great treat TO them to get real
broth, such as their mothers made at
home.
How she did endear herself to the poor
sick soldiers. But the medical directors
sometimes found her indomitable will an
obstacle in their punctilious ways. One
Of them, a young man at Memphis, be-
longing to the regular army, wished Mrs.
Bickerdyke to revolve in an orbit of his
own marking out. He did not approve
OF her possessing so much power, she who
defed the Queens English as she did red
tape-a woman who worked with her
own red, stubbed hands-who held no
social position-who did what she wish
ed and as she pleased without consult
ing him. He concluded it was about
time that they understood each other,
and soon an opportunity offered.
In passing through ward one day he
could find no fault or defect with its per-
feet management but what was this !
Under sick mans pillow he espied a
half dozen Of eggs. This was intoler-
able.
The poor, sick boy was recovering from
fever and craved the very food that in
his weak condition was not allowed.
He planned out piteously, Would Moth
er Bickerdyke let him have good fill of
hard boiled eggs as soon as he got WELL"
She assured him she would do so.
He said he wished he could have them
now, so they would be ready and wait
ing. To humor the poor fellow, whom
she had petted in her good, motherly
way, she smiingly assented and brought
him six hard boiled eggs for his very
own, to keep on condition he would not
eat them until she gave him leave. 1t
did no harm to please him, and it cer-
tainly gave him vast amouu, of pleas
ure to fondle the eggs with his thin,
white, bony hands.
The medical man spied the eggs, and
forthwith gave orders to have them car
ried of to the kitchen, saying he would
have no hens nest under the pillows
while he was about
They were carried awav. Presently
Mother Bickerdyke came in with an arm.
ful of clean, fresh towels, and found her
sick boy crying. The poor fellow was
a, that stage of half-convalescence when
crying came easier than laughter.
whats the matter, honey she
asked, stopping suddenly. The boy told
her with broken sobs how he had &" been
'bused by that old, drafted director of a
doctor"
When any insult came to her boys she
would fash into anger. She would show
fight like mother tigress over her young.
80, So" she said, her blue eyes di-
lating, and her breath coming rapidly
"we'll see!' and she Immediately seized
upon large pailful of eggs and strobe
into the ward where lay her whining boy
with the tears stealing down his wasted
cheeks with" won't let you have
half-dozen of eggs, sonny Well, here's
a whole pailful. l will stand them right
here, dear, where you can see them all
the time. They are all yours, and you
may keep them till they hatch if you
want to. You are my boy and l will
take care Of YOU"
The Doctor paid no attention, and pre-
tended not to hear the countermanded
order from the brave little commander
in-chief, the woman who " had no social
position" But few days after, writ
ten order from this same Doctor came into
her hands stating that all the contrabands
detailed to her service must be sent to
the contraband camp. 1t was to be at
tended to Immediately. She had just
returned from the smallpox hospital,
hungry and tired, and the rain was fall
ing in torrents that night. The little
woman rose up until she looked like an
Amazon, and going to the door, she call
ed back the ambulance, which was just
going away.
"Andy," she said to the driver. "you
and me and the mules must have ouI
suppers, and then we must 60 to General
Hurlburt's headquarters right away. III
see whether these darkies are going into
contraband camp or not. I'll have tc
teach the Doctor lesson or two,
guess"
The poor blacks stood about with
doleful faces, and their hands in thei
pockets, saying:
"Os we gwine to 60 way from dii