The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-07-14

k0 where lucIe WAS ouuctthk.
knew my back was made for just such
a burden" she says. And her life
since the war shows that charity,
philanthropy. and self sacrifice are the
fountain springs Of her existence. For
eight months, at one time, she was
he only woman in the camp. She
had tent of her own, which was
made as comfortable as possible for
her, and worked like slave in caring
Tor the sick. cheering the GONZALES.
cent, and feeding the hungry.
Aunt Becky has most unique per-
sonality. Plain and retiring as she Is.
one recognizes at glance force OF
character In her which Of inherit ne
cessity must have worked out an I'M
usual career. The war gave her her
opportunity. She helped TO make his
tory in an obscure and toilsome way,
and is now reaping her reward OF at
lection and honor. In person Aunt
Becky Is rather understood, lean and
bent of body, but with an active step
and a certain readiness and command
OF manner that does away with all for
mality and proceeds at once 10 bust
ness. Her face Is delicate In outline,
sallow and weather. beaten. but with
eyes like a spaniels, large, dark, and
full of fidelity. Her black hair has the
dusty miller look to It that go years
will bring, and is brushed plainly back
from the wrinkled forehead. Her
name is not "Becky" at all. The army
boys got in way of calling her "moth-
err at first, probably from homesick
longing TO have mothers ministra-
tions. To this she objected, as many
of them were older than herself. FL
nally happy compromise was made
on Aunt Becky" as convenient and
fitting soubrequet. and that name has
clung to her ever since. Letters now
often come to that name alone, and
there is no troHble in getting them 70
their proper destination. When the
war was ended, and she left the East
10 make her home in Iowa, she thought
TO drop the title from certain timid
dislike of being in any way conspicu-
GUS. But on her arrival In her new
home the first one who accosted her
called her "Aunt Becky" and she knew
il was OF no use. So Aunt Becky she
has remained.
To people who have known Aunt
Becky good many years any query
about her is quite apt to provoke Q
smile. Not by any means smile oil
derision, but one of amusement, fol
her name is certain TO recall some
original speech or action on her par'
worth repeating. Her wit is quick, hel
good sense without a flaw, and thu
courage that carried her through
scenes Of carnage and death without
ninching blazes up now with its ole
fire In behalf of the poor, sick, o
abused, either man or beast. In every
day life her speech is full OF uncon
scious wisdom. She strikes at the roo
of things, and Is the most interesting
when she has the least expectation o
being so. She seems to have been tn
instrument of higher uses than she 1
herself able TO understand.
"When you go to their reunions hoy
do the soldiers treat your" she wa
, asked.
"Ohr" with tenderness in the ex
clamation as IL she could not expires
their goodness, II never had rud
word from a soldier In my life. Tv
met rebuffs from steamboat captain
,, and paymasters and that kind of fist
l but never from one Of the boys"
"But your boys are rather bald
> headed and gray for that title"
"They were boys there They an
! boysw That settled 1t.