The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-06-19

record Of the past, TO your generosity you have
displayed to those who fought against YOU
Yes and the spirit OF forhearance you have
towards those who were worse
than those clad in the grey, kind of bronsed
reptile lurking behind, far away from danger
and farther from principle and patriotism
You then will bear with me when ! say that
you are too generous to claim that you were
the only ones who suffered and sacrificed in
that great struggle,
One of our poets has said; "lhe world
knows nothing of its greatest men,"
If this be true it is still more true that they
know but little of its nohlest women,
Unrewarded by praise, unsullied by self
complacency, there is a character of no repu-
tation, which formed in strictest retirement
and in the patient exercise of unobserved sac
ri6ces, is dearer and holer in the eye of heav
en- than the most illustrious name won by the
most splendid services. To the honor of the
country, to the glory of womanhood, there
were in this war women without relative,
without personal friend in the army, who
denied themselves of home for the entire four
years of the war. Surrounded by plenty, and
accustomed only to the comforts of home, ex-
lied themselves from these, and with an extra
blanket valise filed not with tea and sugar
or flesh, to quench their thirst and appease
their hunger, but packed with bandages and
cordials, that they might bind up the ghastly
wounds and stop the flow of blood, and
thereby save the life of tho stranger.
Employed by no one, paid by no one, their
only reward was the God bless YOU falling
from the lips of the sufferer.
Our country has kept no record for these.
God himself keeps this record. 1t is too sa-
cred to be trusted to men.
And still never heard of one of them COM
planning for want of praise or meager fare.
many of them lowered around the battle field
as though no danger was nigh. They cheered
the dying and gave courage TO the irresolute.
As a rule American women exhibited not only
an intense feeling for the soldiers in their ex-
posures and sufferings, but an intelligent
sympathy with the national cause, equal to
that which furnished among the men two mil
lion three hundred thousand volunteers"
1t took brave hearts to bid adieu to theil
husbands, brothers, sons and lovers and bic
them go save the country. Though giver
with unparalleled alacrity it was sacrifice tc
them beyond rubies or popular applause.
Many heart bled in secret. and many al
earnest prayer went up to the God of battle
, in the silence of the night for their loved one
far aw ~.
A telegram from the battle field was putin!
: them in torture upon the rack, and the list 0
the killed and wounded was searched witt
! breathlcss anxiety. In the hospitals wingl
, would they have taken the place of the love
, ones.
How carefully they watched over then
and in the end greeted their returning heatt
or bore them to their last resting place.
9 took brave hearts to do this. Nor were the
:, content TO remain inactive.
Their patriotism was OF that kind which lie
+. them to action. While you were at the fror
they wrought diligently to aid you in you
! cause. While you suffered, their hands wer
busy to alleviate suferngs.
/ 1t is not our purpose to enumerate tn
Ii names of these heroic ones. They were
: every community, in your homes, around yor
hearth stones They lived to pray for yol
+ and then worked as they prayed. Memor
recalls those whose labors and sacrifices
It health for the cause Of the nation have bee
f been not less heroic or noble than those
s. soldiers whom they sought to serve.
< In the book of Gods remembrance the
>, names are all recorded and inscribed, the
# deeds of love and mercy will not be lost, b.
p in the great day of final reckoning will
: said of them, she did what she could An
:, when an assembled universe shall be gathere
:. they shall hear with their own ears Wore
from the lips OF the Judge of the whole cart
saying: 'Inasmuch as you did it unto one
- the least of these, ye did it unto me. Ent'
~ thou into the JOY of thy God"
Comrades, as you value your own homo
IL as you believe in the noble cause in whie
+ you were engaged, never-no! never, forg
D. those who were so true, so patriotic, so abun
ant in labors for their country's honor al
g your welfare.
Sc To you above all Others is intrusted Il
lie memories of these unrewarded faithful one
l They have a right to look to you for who
n they labored as their natural protectors. The
ID need your sympathies and your counsel
IS They might refuse your money, but they ca
Id not refuse praise, your grateful remembra
,s ces Regard not your work as fully end
o. until by your united voices you place the
noble patriots upon the roll of honor, the pc
;, estal Of fame equal with yourselves, and
), so doing you shall add to your own emol
= mcnts that of nobleness, of equality and
: justice.