Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-09-20


As illustrative Of Mrs. Hayes kind
ness Of heart and her pleasant ways,
let me tell an anecdote of her which
heard some years ago. If some have
heard and read 1t, 1t viii be new 20
others. During the war Mrs. Hayes
now and then went to "the front" to
visit her husband, who was Colonel of
the Twenty Ohio. She was an
angel of mercy to the sick and wounded,
often passing days and nights IN minis
teTIng to their needs. She was well
known to ali the soldiers of the Twenty
third, and no favorite General ever
evoked more tempestuous cheers than
did Mrs. Hayes when she appeared IN
the camp. Whenever the soldiers
wanted to express their esteem for
anybody they didn't lift their rusty old
hats and make graceful bOws-they
Just yelled.
At one time, while the Twenty-third
was lying in camp in Western Vir-
ginia, q squad of recruits Joined the
regiment. One of them thought Uncle
Sans tailor didn't put pockets enough
in the soldiers blouses, and could not
be satisfied till he had another in his,
to carry gim-cracs which every veteran
despised, but which he had not yet
/ learned to do without. The first day
IN camp he inquired of the boys where
he could get it done. One Of the wags
Of the company sized him up and saw
at once good chance for q Joke.
Certainly" said he to the fedgIing;
eve have a regimentaI seamstress for
doing just such jobs as that. There
she Is. And he pointed to Mrs.
Hayes, who was sitting on a camp
chair In front of the ColOnel's tent.
Gust take your blouse right to her
and she'll do it up brown"
The innocent recruit stalked boldly
up to headquarters, threw off his blouse
and handed it to her, asking if she
would put in a pocket for him, remark
ing with patrOnizing air that he would
pay her well for it.
Colonel Hayes, who was writing in
his tent, heard the young soldier and
came out. Observing the new uniform
and fresh face he took in the situation
and his eyes twinkled with merriment,
but he said nothing, knowing that his
wife was equal to any ordinary emer-
gency.
'sOf course 1 will, +" said Mrs. Hayes,
who was as quick as her husband to
''see through" it. Come back in and
hour and I'll have it ready for you"
She set to work with scissors and
needle, and when the young patriot
called for his blouse he found in it as
nice a pocket as his mother could have
made.
How much ?" he asked, taking out
his pocketbOOk.
ooh, nothing at ALL I was glad to
do it for you, and you are very well
come"
While the soldier was expressing his
thanks Colonel Hayes came out of his
tent, and thought he would carry the
joke little further.
''DO you know me, my man ?" he said
pleasantly, extending his hand to the
soldier
The latter, somewhat abashed by the
official presence, said he did not.
''WeI, my name is Hayes, and I am
the Colonel of this regiment. Allow
me, sir, to introduce you to my wife.
The young man retired in great con
fusiOn-but he had the pocket in his
blouse that he wanted.
The survivors of the Twenty-third
Ohio have always retained the warmest
affection for Mrs. Hayes. Their regard
has shown itself in the most emphatic
way whenever she has been present at
their reunions: Her death comes to
each of them as a personal bereaYe-
ment. Vas bj9gtO9l Cor