The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-09-18
--..he Touch of a Mothers Hand.

rom tho Philadelphia Prcss
A Lieutenant of Rhode Island bat
terry, a mere youth, lay dying at Wash
ington. He had his right foot shat
,ered by piece of shell at an engage
ment near Mechanicsville. The foot
had been amputated, but he sank slow
ly away. All his sufferings had been
borne with soldiers fortitude, andit
was now near midnight, he having
reached the city at noon. His mother
had been telegraphed for and was to
meet him at Washington in day or two.
lie was very low, and two ladies sat by
the other holding his feeble hands.
The lady had her finger on the pulse,
noting the fuctuating pulsation.
About midnight mis- mother arrived at
the hospital, and begged to see
her boy. She was cautioned not
to excite him, as the least thing would
carry him off suddenly. She said she
would slip in and take the place of one
of the ladies by his bedside. It was
quite dark in the room and he dozed.
Smothering her emotion, the mother
stole softly to the bedside and, sitting
down, took the impid hand from the
lady. Hardly had she touched his hand
when he said slowly: "Surely that was
my mothers hand. know her touch"
Then, opening his eyes, he asked. Who
is this beside meS 1t must be my
mother. l feel her hand; turn up the
gas and let me see my mother. I know,
oh, thank God l know, / know she is
here" The gas was turned up, and
the two dear faces met in one long low
ing embrace. After little he said:
ooh, mother, / am SO happy now that
am with you. shall die content.
"But you must not die, my dear boy"
said the fond parent. 81 could not
lose you"
"Alas," he replied, II wish it could
be SO, but God wills it otherwise; but
mother" he said with a smile. II have
faced death too often to be afraid of him
now, and l gladly give up my life to my
country"
This young man had been wounded
on the very last day Of his three years
service One more day and he would
have been discharged and on his way
home He died when he was just twenty
years, ana nine mOuUuS Olu,
After one of the severe battles some
officers were riding in the wood near
Stone Bridge, and as they passed the
dead they noticed the body of a little
boy resting against tree. He seemed
to have sat down at the foot of the tree
and fallen asleep, with handker-
chief covering his face. Removing
| the handkerchief, conntenance of rare
loveliness was disclosed The boy was
clad in handsome, almost gay, uniform
of staff officer, and beside him lay q
fancy little sword. The officers dis
mounted and gathered about him, one
lifting him carefully up The blue eyes
stared in vacancy, and, although stone
dead, he was not yet cold. He had a
wound in his right breast, and his jack
ct and underclothing were soaked with
blood. appearance indicated he was
attached to the staff of some regiment
or general, but no one knew him. A
search in his clothing resulted in discov-
ering small bible, end onthe fy-leaf
was written, "James Simmons, New
York. From his loving mother. My
son, remember thy Creator in the days
of thy youth ;" Nothing else was found by
which to identify him.
One of the officers wished to take him
/ to headquarters, but that was six miles
away, SO they left him where he fell.
His face was bright-almost radiant
and his lips parted in smile. He was,
indeed beautiful boy, and some
mothers darling. but there he lay, q
| victim of the cruelty of war. Who he
| ,,,,, ,,4I,,, @l,o,, 4bu+ P;l1o 4nI1 ~ a,,a,
heard, but if they be living | hope these
lines may meet the eyes of his friends.
He was not oy e, twelve OF fourteen years
of age.
| At Nashville in one of the hospitals,
on little cot, laNa young officer,
almost boy, whose form was burning
with fever. All day long he lay on the
bed, his bright eyes fixed upon the
miniature of a beautiful woman, which
he held in his hand. He kissed it agair
and again, mul1nuring. "Mother my
mother" In the night he grew worse
and delirious, talking all the time abou
his mother. One of the sisters came tx
him, aud, catching sight Of her dress
he smiled and said, "Ah, mother,
knew you would come" The nurs,
smoothed his brow, and he murmured
kiss me, dear mother" Tenderly til,
noble woman stopped down and kisset
him. "Ah,," he said, "this is the frs
moment of peace / have known for
week" and passed quietly away.
His mother did not come, but tn
Sister of Charity smoothed his way
All, when these death-bed scenes ar
remembered, and the gentle, patient
gray -robcd figures gliding abont anon,
the dead and dying, what do wenot ow
to those noble women who sacrifice
comfort, home, everything to ministe
to our poor boys in the war