Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-06-18
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AS time went on, other and more
terrible battles were fought, and wom-
en-, as we'll as men, had their hands
full of work for those at the front.
My husband spent more time raising
money and men than in his business,
while |, in common with other women,
almost forfeited my claim to be con-
sidered model Philadelphia house
keeper, for l confess the dust some
times lay thick on tables and mantels;
Harry's shirts went buttonless, and
his dinner was frequently a dinner OF
herbs" While I was busy making
lint, bandages, jellies, and stockings,
or roaming through hospitals doing
what could, Rose was my efficient
little helper, but her wan face and list
less manner were pitifnl to see, her
faithful heart was true ever to one
memory of few short weeks of hap
piness. One OF her duties, never omit
ted, was the visiting of Hospitals daily;
and another WAS attendance at the
"Cooper-shop," q soldiers resting
place at the foot of Washington aven.
ue, where "the boys' were fed, COM
forted and, nursed, if sick. There, AL
SO, exchanged prisoners were brought,
on their way home and many were
the pitiful scenes there witnessed.
AS the exchange of prisoners be-
came system, and the vicinity of
'Cooper-shop," became rendezvous
for northern aud southern prisoners,
Rose grew more and more constant in
her attendance, indeed, fairly haunted
tho place. She would leave home
early in the morning. and not return
until late at night, until / was obliged
to demonstrate with her, on the score
OF her health as we'll as of propriety.
1t was all useless, and finding her de-
termined to go. I sometimes sent a
servant with her, and at other times
accompanied her myself. After two
or three of these trips, I was struck by
Roses behavior while at the Cooper
shop for instead Of helping the busy
and hardworked women to feed the
hungry soldiers, she took her station
some distance up the avenue, and
stood there like a statue; a train
was coming slowly toward us, it's
platform crowded with blue coats,
who hardly waited for it to stop,
but sprang off and hurried to the re-
freshment rooms. Rose planted her
self in a position to see every man as
he passed, and when all were gone
expected to see her turn away, but she
stood looking eagerly toward the ap-
parently empty train. In O. few min.
utes two men appeared at the door of
one OF the cars, having between them
q third man, whom they seemed to be
supporting, and slowly, carefully they
helped him down the high steps and
came toward us. Rose peered wistful-
~ in their faces, then turned away to
repeat the same action again and
again, as several similar parties were
carried past. At last she came, slow
ly and listlessly toward me, saying
YEARLY: -
"Shau we go into the hospital and
see what we can do for the poor fell
lows?" ..,....5. -.
Little Rose! So care-free aud light
hearted before this dreadful wa g.. =,ssem-
ed now mature woman, so rapidly
had she changed, and as we walked
between the cots, and stopped, to fan
one, to give water to another, to write
letter to q third i was struck by her
tender compassionate womanliness,
which seemed to make her the daugh-
ter OF all elder men, and sister of all
the younger ones. While we were thus
engaged q shrill whistle heraided the
approach of another train, and in
stantly Rose dropped the fan she had
been waving before An armless soldier