The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-12

going, nor yet, with one exception, any
ayahs even to wash and attend TO the chill
dren.
1t was an awful life, for this work all fell |
upon the European women OF every |
grade, they who, up to that time, had
found life in the shining cast only endura-
BILE by the help OF such Injuries rs but
few have or desire to have in their own
country.
They were all brave, every one of the
women OF that devoted band yet, without
II doubt, the bravest woman in the garri-
son was the colonePs wife, Mrs. March
mont. She was not particularly strong
and she had not had the advantage OF
what is generally called ''domesticatcd
education;" she had never been especially
handy with her. fingers, and knew no more
how to make a pudding than she knew
how TO make Greek fire. She had been
twelve years in India, and, as q rule, had
lived an inactive, luxurious life, lying
most Of her DAYS upon sofa, and driving
out in the cool of the evening to listen to
the band or chat with the other ladies OF
the garrison.
But when the terrible mutiny OF 81
broke out ut Meerut, and blazed from one
end of India TO the other, Mrs. Marchniont
reused herself from her lstless life and
showed the husband who adored her that
his wife was made of the right stuff, and
that a brave Englishwoman is quite us
capable OF endurance rs gallant English
man may be. From the hour that the
mud wall was thrown up along the com
pound of the Presidency and the last stakes
were driven in in the hope Of strengthen
ing il, nothing seemed TO come amiss to
her hands, and without doubt she pu'
her whole heart into everything that she
found to do.
do not mean to say that she became ali
at once a first-rate cook who could have
set up cooking classes for young ladies at
South Kensngton, and sent them home
to poison long.suiIering fathers with pre-
served ginger made ont OF lettuce stalks or
apricot lam made chiefly OF vegetable.
niarrows do not say for one moment
that rs a laundress she would have kept
the washing OF any respectable middle
class family in any part OF London aitei
the first trial; nor DO | believe for a
moment that they would have taken her
| in at ST. Johns house, or any similar in
stitution, and have chosen her to take
charge OF the most critical cases which
called for help from them, without the
regular hospital training; but do say that
many was the jadcd palate to which Mrs
| Marchmonts arrowroot OF beei-tea came
! like food for the gods, many was tn,
wound to which she brought bandages
! that were cool and fresh, many the ievcrcd
and weary pillow she soothed, and many
| the fever-choked child that sh6 famed to
sleep. In this world everything goes by
! comparison, and TO the sad little world oi
| Mccnapore Mrs. MarchmonI appeared
very often in the gliise OF an angel
Several DAYS had gone by. Hour 10y
hour the anxious watchers kept strict
lockout for the reiniorcemenis which they
believed TO be already on the road to their
succor. Hour by hour all ears were
strained TO catch, amid the crack OF mus
kerry and the din OF the onemy's forum
aiely poor and ill-manned artillery, the
sound OF the Scottish bagpipcs or English
cheers.
Yet they came not, and the siege was
not raised.
Sill the men OF the little garrison were
dauntless in their determination to fight 10
their very last breath, and TO guard th,
tender women and helpless children wht
were their nearest and dearest, as long ~
they could keep a defense OF amy kind
standing between them and the enemy
Aud to this end every man that was vel
enough 10 stand upon his feet and use hi;
hands, gave his time and strength RICH
willingly to working at the trench which
they dug within the walls and barricadc'
OF which thicr fortress consisted. How
they dug. Ay, dug for dear life and tn
lives Of those who were dearcr to then
than life itself,
And then there camo an evil day whcl
Il was advisable that all but the invalid
should be put on shorter ntions and tia
the water should be dealt out even NOR
sparingly. An evil, evil day; for thos
, whom full allowance Of food and waite
, might have kept in comparative healll
and strength, were weakened and brough
10 low M to he in no condition To meet III
{ vet more deadly foe that was fast stealth
upon them, a foe which had no need
70 worS mines under their feet, nor TO max
b attacks upon their barricadcs, Zoe whoi
! no trenches could keep at bay, the 10
which was even more mcrciless than IN
: insurgents, and which was caled-choleri
The number OF souls in the little girr
] son WINS thinned rapidly after this-th
Il disease worked 10 pcrsistcntly and Wit
a such deadly results for not only were th
weakly and the ailing taken, but tilo'
"a who seemed the best able 10 withstand 4
: rayagcs fell victims among the first.
!, In short. there were eight or ten deail
d every day, and the difficulty OF givir
= proper burial To those who wcrc gone ado
= cd In terrible way TO the disircsscs M
y dangers Of those who wcro left.
: Very early after the outbreak the Marcl
" mont baby died after few hours' Hines
and then the colonel and his wife waich'
their remaining child. Totlic, In an agof
~ II apprehension, dreading every day, ma
y every hour. 10 see the signs 81 that fat
: complaint against which they knew NJ
y would have no strength 10 fight. Bu
~ strange 10 say, although strong aud sccr
y, ingly healthy men were falling on all side
- here today and gone tomorrow, just ben
ing their heads nj the first touch OF th
~ dread hand and giving up their lives wit
out a struggle, the delicate icvcr-wcakcn'
- little girl lived on In safety, aud the che
, era passed her by. Perhaps Il was bccau
~ such luxurics and medicines ~ was nj h
~ parents command wcr all layished up
y her, perhaps she was spared that she mig
nv prove 20 those who were older and strong
US than she that In the reign OF terror
1857 there was not wanting one III
~ weakly English girl who could show |
" whole world that the spirit had not di
IN out which carried fair maidens into
wv Roman amphithcaiers TO meet with Y
ninching courage n cruel and lingcrt
death for Christs sake--thc spirit which
y? their sisters Of a later day 10 suffer u
W endura with unoucnchablo brightness