Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-04-17
gu @riginal Stprg.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
rltten lor the 1ofh'iiio i1i4"
EIGHTEEN YEARS.
VIII,

CHAPTER VIII. ...
81. When pain and sickness wiring the brow,
A ministering angel thou.
One cold snowy day, during the winter of
1864, covered wagon, drawn by pair OF
sorry looking horses, might have been seen
slowly proceeding along an unfrequented
road not far from the outskirts of Warren
ton, in the State of Virginia.
This wagon contained four ladies and an
elderly man, besides the driver. Itwas also
piled with sundry boxes, and baskets, filled
with hospital stores.
The driver presently halted, and jerking
his head backwards over his shoulder, said
in gruff voice. -.,
81 reckon we're on the wrong track. |
don't see no signs of hospital about here. "
There was a brief consultation inside, and
then the male occupant of the vehicle re-
sponded- ,
have not gone far enough yet. There are
some settlements about mile ahead. VIII
the horses hold out, do you think ~
'They're about dead beat now," was the
Jehu's not very encouraging reply. -.
"Well, let them take rest, poor brutes."
"It's likely Well get showed up, if we
stand still. Storms comm on worse," re-
marked the other.
"Dear me so it is. Well, we must push
on, suppose. There is no help for it,"
The wagon numbered on, and for few
moments there was depressed silence in
side.
had lost our way" one OF the ladles AT
length observed in a low tone.
ooh, don't think that it is likely" cheer
fully responded another, in whose calm, Sc
rious face we may recognize an old friend
Marion Vane. She was dressed in deep
mourning, and looked several years older
than when we parted from her last; but her
countenance, though grave, wore q serene
expression, denoting mind at ease. She
had passed through sorrow, and conquered
it; and had for the past year found whole
some occupation in ministering to the needs @
of wounded and suffering soldiers in this
part of the Confederacy. How she came to
enter upon this employment at such dis
tance from her old home, may be briefly ex-
planned. On the death Of her uncle, which
had occurred some eighteen months pre-
yiously, Warner Grove had been rented to
a family of refugees from Charleston Jessie
had gone to live with Kate, and Marion had
accepted an invitation from an old friend to
Join party of ladies who, under suitable
escort, were about to start for Virginia to
aSSlSC III CtkiLS CIlaiSe VI q Pil'aVo hooP'' ''t'i
lately established there. She was glad to
throw herself into the work, and soon be-
came one of the most efficient nurses at st.
Mary's, as the new hospital was called.
One day message was received there to
the effect that several wounded men had
been taken to a farm house some fifteen
miles distant, and were in want OF immedl-
ate help. Accordingly four nurses and a
surgeon were dispatched to take control of
al WI
q refuge for other sufferers as well, and Ma
rion was among the number selected for the
purpose.
1t was an unfavorable day for their jour
ney. and they were already benumbed with
cold: the wind blew fiercely, the snow fell
thicker and thicker, the driver grumbled,
and the horses were barely strong enough
to drag their load.
At last, to their great relief, they came
within sight of their destination--a small
brown house, from the roof of which waved
a dilapidated looking orange-colored rag.
It was dreary spot. The dwelling stood
alone, in the midst of ruined fields, broken
and burned fences and outbuildings, and
with the charred remains Of other settle
ments, recently destroyed, visible on the
surrounding hills.
AS the wagon drew up in front of the
house, door was partly opened, and a
young and pretty face looked out.
SIS it the hospital wagon?" asked the
voice belonging to the face, in rather an ap-
prehenSive tone. ....-.:.....,.-
eyes, marm," answered the driver.
"This is the right place, suppose"
"Oh yes, and I am so thankful you are
come"
Ina very short space of time the whole
party had alighted and entered the cottage.
THE young woman who had opened the
door showed them into the two rooms which
had been fitted up as wards for the wounded.
About ten or dozen men occupied the coarse
beds, hastily constructed, most of them on
the floor.
zone of them is very bad-I know he
can't last out tonight" she whispered.
''1'he others are not so bad. The nurse who
was here left this morning, expecting you
to come, and am all alone. was get
ting frightened. thinking I might have to
take care of them tonight all by myself,
in case you didn't come"
s'Do you live here alone?" asked Marion.
81 and the baby. Ny husband is in the
army, and my brother Joined lately, though
he is only young boy, and I didn't want
about month back, burning and stealing,
but luckily our house was left, and the
neighborhoOd is quiet now"
Think you are very brave, said Marion.
"Don't you ever feel afraid?"
sometimes, but l am used to it. The
only thing that worries me is not being able
to hear from my husband. haven't heard
from him in three months. But he told me
not to worry, and try not, though it's very
hard"
81 should think so," rejoined Marion !;
and then her attention was called to the
work before her, and she turned away.
s'There is scarcely any need for all of us
to remain here" said DIR. Eames, the sur
geon, who had been inspecting the patients.
"Most of them are doing we'll. There are
onIv three bad cases, and this place is so
remote doubt if many more will be brought