The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-08-11
Aunt Becky Young, the soldier Boy's
Friend.

Aunt Becky Young, the soldier Boy's
Friend.
Aunt Becky is often asked to sign
pension papers where she cannot re-
call the person in any way. They say,
"You must remember me-you took
care of me"-at such time.
The "boys" all want her picture.
They do not like her SO well with her
glasses on, so at reunions she takes
the glasses off to please them. or the
hair so plainly drawn back from her
forehead she said: "The boys would
not like TO see it cut or frizzed."
AS nurse many amusing instances
are told Of her woman's disregard Of
authority when she felt her own good
sense was the better law.
; In one instance the chief cook had
taken a great dislike to Aunt Becky
on account of her Unsuitable demands
upon his larder. and had forbidden
his subordinates to give her any ex-
tras for her boys. Here her great
cloak served her good turn. for
many chunk of dried beef, basins of
custard, balls OF butter and other dam
ties were successfully struggled under
its ample folds to her ill-fed and ra-
venous charges. She says the boys
always frightened at sight Of her.
Her quick wit helped her through
emergencies. Once during period OF
inaction the convalescent soldiers
made raids into the woods and cap
tured pigs, which Aunt Becky would
skillfully roast for them. One day
she had fine rooster Drowned TO per-
lection when waiting would be
diner entered breathlessly, saying:
80, Aunt Becky, hide the pig. Col.
Tracy's comingl"
"Hide the pigg O, no." calmly. "Col.
Tracy shall stay to dinner; the pig Is
nicely done, you see." And the Col
onel did stay.
She tells with great zest how she
rallied one poor fellow, who was so
low spirited and weak she feared he
would die. She knew she must do
something to rouse him, so she said:
"Now I've got you--the doctor says /
can raise you, and l can have you all
to myself, and it'll be so nice when
the war is over to take father back
TO my little girls" She says she never
can forget the staggered look in his
weary eyes as he said, family, any
good woman, have wife at home"
After the battle of Fredericksburg
she so wore her feet out with constant
attendance upon the wounded that the
M ri An hos
shoes. She hates tobacco. and always
did, but she tells Of the exquisite salts
faction she enjoyed when any Of it
came into her possession and she
could distribute it amongst her boys.
Red tape she could not endure, except
las IL was sown on the white ground
work with many stars, and floated In
the free air Of heaven" She says: ave
had 90 cut just the same length of red
tape II man lay dying for need Of a
pins worth"
Aunt Becky is not troubled with
vanity. She says III presume was
the worst dressed woman in the whole
army" A little satchel held All aer
worldly possessions. She had pair
OF bed tick dresses, which were strong
and would bear washing Her straw
hat would shelter her eyes, and when
that was taken of, as was frequently
the case, 10 cover some soldiers head
whose cap was lost in the battle
charge, "Sanitary" would furnish an
other. Heroic as Aunt Becky was TO
stand by the surgeons table and watch
the cruel knife lop away shattered
limbs, or the no less cruel probe enter
deep wounds In search of bullet or
fragment OF shell; fearless rs she was
to keep vigil all night alone with de-
lirium; brave as she was TO hold the
hand Of the agnoized dying-yet an
army mouse In her tent would nearly
drive her frantic. She confesses that
many night, weary as she was, one
OF those little terrors was enough 10
threw her into panic and drive all
the sleep from her eyes.
OF late years Aunt Becky has given
her time and strength mostly TO chart.
ties and neighborly kindnesses TO those
In sickness OF trouble. She has pen
sion OF $50 per month. secured for her
by special request 10 Congress from
the Iowa General Assembly.