The National tribune., 1883-10-25
A KIND HEART IN ARKANSAS.

dear friend There are very few Union soldiers in
this vicinity, and ] think but two copies of your
paper come 10 this Office. have read the appeal
Of that soldiers widow. and send you my mite
Sand hope Others viii help her We ought not
TO forget any of the brave soldiers and their fam
lies who IN want trouble. / for one, feel il
my duty. and it really Is duty which we owe to
those brave, yalient boys who fought SO hard for
our country and each one Of Us. Oh how can we be
forgetful Of any Of their loved who suffer-
ing? ! not like Mrs. Matte Reese, a soldiers
daughter, but have had the honor of having had
two husbands who were brave soldiers. My pres
ent husband belonged to the Army OF the 1ennes-
see, company K. Ninth Illinois. God bless ali the
WIFE OF COMPANY K.
WOMEN IN SOCIETIES.
Lydia Bell, in the IFoa0n'S Tribune, writing
OF the advantages of the various societies for
the cultivation and improvement of women,
makes some good points in the following:
When the boys marched to the war woman be-
came conscious ofthe power of organization. When
The necessity for relief in that direction accom-
pllsheG the Soldiers Aid Society developed into an
extensive organization, organizations for the
mutual Improvement of woman. The idea has be-
come widespread. and ali over the country we find
women banded together pursuing some line Of
study, gaining acknowledge that makes them. their
homes, and society better. Finding IL interchange
of thought an impulse 10 better thinking and
means to intelleetnal culture which has been con-
sidercd beyond the reach OF the family woman,
many housekeepers living isolated liYes and hun
gefIng for something better than they have
known find a mental Stimulus in these meetings.
Instead Of detracting from her honleiy duties be-
cause of the time spent from home IN the club, the
inspiration OF new ideas aad pleasant, congenial
associations make the homelife OF women happier.
their duties less iriIsone The society is found
be not only great help, but source of pleasure.
KANSAS WIDOWS THANKS.
ELDoRADo, KAN, Sept. %.
To the Editor NATIONAL TI.IEUNEi
Yours from DR.. Coffee, Avalon, No, received,
and thankfully too some time ago l received
donation OF two dollars from Mr.. j. NJ. Deems, OF
West Fayette street. Baltimore, Md, for which
al truly grateful. / do ali the work can get 10
CO. ana having rheumatism Al TINS time, so am
hardly able TO get around. May the Lord bless
you all Mrs. MARY j. LUKE.
GENERAL McPHERsoN's GRANDMOTHER AND
MOTHER.
The following letters, which originally ap-
peared in the Fremont o. Sentinel following
the death of General Mcpherson, are full of
historic and touching interest, as giving
glimpse into his home life. The first was from
General McPherson's aged grandmother, ap--
prOachisg her ninetieth year, addressed to
General Grant, and the second was his reply:
CLYDE, O., aug. 3, 1854.
To GENERAL GRANT.
DEAR SIR: hope you viii pardon me for troul-
ling you with the perusal of these few lines from
the trembling hand OF the aged grandma of our
beloved General James u. Mcpherson, who fell in
battle When II was announced from the public
print that when General Grant heard of his death
he sveBt TO his tent and wept like child my heart
went out in thanks 10 you for the interest YOU
manifested In him while te WIS with you. have
watched his progress from infancy up In child
hood he was olsedient and kind; in manhood in
teresiing noble and perseFering, looking to the
wants Of others. Since he entered the others
appreciate his worth more than can. When
IL announced 70 Es by telegram that our loved
hAd fallen, cur hearts were almost rent asun
der; hut when we heard the CcinInander-in-Chief
could weep with Us too, felt sir, that you have
been q father 10 him. and this whole Nation is
mourning his death. I wish TO inform you that his
hV 10 lao
very par3oT where he spent cheerful evening III
1851 with his widowed mother. two brothers, only
sister and his aged grandma, who is trying 10
write In the morning ne took his leave at 8
O'Clock, little dreaming he should fail by ball
from the enemy. His funeral services at
tended IN his mothers orchard where his youthful
feet had often pressed the soil 10 gather the falling
fruit, and lis remains are resting IN the silent
grave scarce hall mile frons the place of his birth
lbs grave Is eI8lnenee but few rods from
where the funeral services were attended, and near
the grave Of his father. The grave, doubt, win
be marked 50 that passers-by viii pause TO drop
4 tear over the dear departed. And now. dear
4 friend. few lines from you would be gratefully
received By te afflicted friends. pray that the
God Of Battles may be with you and go forth with
your armies Tin rebellion shall cease the Union be
| restored, and the old flag wave over our entire
land
LYDIA SLocua
Aged 81 years and months.
GENERAL GRANTS REPLY.
! HEADQUARTERS AKMIIs OF THE UNITED STATES,
CRY PoIET, Va, Aug. 10, 1864.
/ Mrs LYDIA SLoCCM
My DEAR MADAM. Your very welcome letter OF
1 the 81 inst has just reached me- am glad to
know ihe relations of the late laaaented Major
/ General IcFhersoD are aware OF the more than
/ friendship existing between him and myself A
1 Nation grieves at the Joss of dear to our
Nations cause II j. selfish grief. because the
Nation had more 20 expect from MIN than almost
I any now living. i join IN this selfish grief.
and add the grief Of personal love for the de-
4 ysartei- He formed for some time one of my
1 military family. ] knew him well II may be
some consolation 10 YOU, lis aged grandmother, to
4 know that every oihcer and every soldier who
served under your grandson felt the highest rever-
enee FOR his patriotism. zeal his great. almost
1 equalea ability, his ainiabiy. and all the manly
4 virtues tiiat can adorn commander. Your be-
1 reayeEaent IS great, bUt cannot exceed mine.
Yours truly, &. :. GRAsTi
Lieut.. General
THE MCPHERSON STATUE At CLYDE.
General MePherson's grandmother was right
1 The spot where the hero rests has been appro-
I pr0priateiy marked with beautiful monu-
4 ment erected IL the summer Of 1881. General
4 McPhersons mother, since deceased, was then
4 living. She was early left a widow, and heI
Oldest son was obliged 10 seek a home among
/ strangers. With al the effects he had in the
world tied mp IN a little ebundle, he started from
I home, while his mother and the younger chil-
dren stood IN the door and looked after him
The last words he heard his mother say, were
! 90, Jamie Mcpherson +" with a cry Of an
J ElthA tifdb EaI olLAD-I nfs14e MIN tGf0 D1Gk.
/ But he was brave little fellow, and, instead o.
turning back, started of on a run, which soon
took him from sound and sight At the little
village Of Green Springs he entered grocery
store, and the kind proprietor Mr. Smith. took
such liking 20 the boy that be took him intc
his family as his OVID son, and afterwards sent
him 10 West Point. The following poem, writ
ten at the time Of the unyeiling OF the statue
commentaries this incident:
JAMIE MCPHERSON.
by Kate BroacrlIee .Sisrzuoodl
o friends why gather you here to-day in the fusi
of the golden weather,
With your arms reversed and your colors furied
aud yous heads bowed low togelher2
There cheers for the victor aud flowers for tls
bride aad songs for the happy hearted,
And prayer FOR the soul that is nrouialc on in tht
shadows that time has started;
There's kiss for the child and airing FOR the bride
aud rose for the happy lover
There smiles for the guest, and rosy nest tha
the last born babe may cover;
There's laugh for the feast and gift for th
priest there are VOWS for the holy altar
But what has tlIe valley of death for him in who's
praises voices faiter?
% Jamie 5IePherson Jamie Mcpherson - the or,
j. the csy Of "A mother;
But tie little lad goes, and the little lad comes az
more beside sister and brother.
The little tad goes and the cherished chief comes
prince IN bis pride aad his yalor;
And the iiero-he2rt thrills IL fills with his fame
and the craven Is asbeg with pallOr.
= q Jamie Mcpherson. Jamie 3icI'hersoni the On
is the cry OF Nation,
Tor the pinee in his pride liei low IN the trail an,
the traiApiing Of sore Eibulaslon
The brsyc heart s dust and the bright sword Is rus
aud under the sod he is lying.
Whose heart was babes IN tlelogeligbt Of peace