The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1883-05-24

Then he put his lips close to my ca
and whispered something that made
me start.
eWhat?'
"Hush! 1 am not what you al
take me to be; l am a woman!"
Itwould be impossible for me tt
describe my feelings. A thousand
thoughts flashed through my brain
a thousand emotions filed my heart
There had been for months. sur
rounded by the sick, the dying and
the dead. had mingled with sut-
fering, disappointment and sorrow
in every form and Of every shade,
and had patiently, calmly and faith
fully done my duty, and kept my
inanhood in equanimity, but now
the hot tears ran down my cheeks
and my heart seemed almost break
ing. Never before had l realized
the greatness of the calamity that
the rebellion had entailed upon our
once peaceful and happy country.
1t is true 1 had seen and felt, but
l had endeavored to comfort my
self as became a dignifed member
of my profession. looked on dis
ease in the light of medical science,
and endeavored to realize suffering
with skillful treatment and gentle
hands. l had cheered the despond-
ing with words of hope and kind
ness and had devoted myself entire
tirely, fearlessly to my duties, but
never until now did feel fully the
vastness of my responsibilities, nev-
er until now my heart thrilled with
the anguish that filed a hundred
thousand homes with sorrow, be-
reavement and desolation.
doctor, want you to do this.
You know my sex now, and l do
not wish any one else to know it.
Promise me that you will keep my
secret. You yourself place me in
my coffin. Swear to me-
But why? What is your name?
In the name of all that is good,
what was your motive for joining
the army? Tell me ALL"
"No! 1 would have told you
nothing could I have been sure that
my secret would not have been
found out. Do you promise me?"
81 will do as you wish, and sa-
credly perform my trust. Have you
parents, brothers or sistersP'
''No; 1 am alone in the world.
My brightest hopes have been
blighted. I have nothing to live
for but my country, and for the
stars and stripes 1 die! 1 go to
meet dear ones on that beautiful
shore. l 60 to the arms and affec-
tions Of those whose love perished
not, even in death. When they had
gone I found comfort in friendship,
and JOY in the bright, sweet dreams
of love that comes but once to
mortals. But he was falsel Doctor,
give my life for my country. I
have fought to defend its rights and
maintain it's honor. And now fare
well. God bless you-meet me
therew
And with these words, and others
that l have forgotten, she ceased
from exhaustion. The cold sweat
stood thiclsly on her brow, bright
hectic spot burned on each cheek,
the eye grew lustreless and closed,
slight convulsion passed oyer her
frame, and she ceased to breathe.
The pulse futtered a moment Ion
ger, the color faded from the cheek,
and the girl soldier was dead!
l. 7 Il.
history of her life, the great grief
that had blighted her stainless
heart and its pure affections, the
secret of her selfimposed martyr
dom on the altar of our country.
81 found JOY in the bright, sweet
dreams of love that comes but
once tomortals; but he was false"
Oh, God! must thy creatures suf-
fer, suffer, still drink from the bit
ter cup! Must those most pure in
heart, most noble in purpose, so
sensitive to suffer keenly- must
they most worthy Of all that makes
love and life desirable weep over
the grave of crushed affections, or
linger only in the delusive smiles
that cluster around the mockery of
worthless VOWS
l called one Of the nurses.
"Charlie Is gone" [ said. And
the nurse rubbed his eyes, gasped
and deliberately took a chew of to-
bacco.
"TelI you what, Doc, the measles
play the dickens with the boys.
That's five to-day!''
''Need not change him, Tom.
You get his things, and we'll put
on his pants, coat and pair of
socks. I'll attend to that while
you 90 down and tell Elias Faribee
to send up a pint of brandy"
1 was left alone. When he re-
turned 1 had "Charlie" dressed.
We lifted the body onto the bier,
bore it out to the porch, and threw
a blanket over the cold clay.
"Tom, don't move that boy till l
give you permission, and get his
coffin early
At nine o'clock next morning 1
helped carry the bier to the dead
house; helped put the inanimate
form into the coffin and nailed
down the lid myself.
We buried "Charlie" with the
honors of war, and for the first time
this sketch of the "Girl Soldier" is
given to the public.
Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe,
! while in Savannah RECENTLY. eX-