St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1891-06-18
MISCELLANY.
SWEET SINGER OF THE HOSPITAL.

army was maSS1nS against R1ch-
mond, the hospitals in and around
Washington were very much over
crowded. Under orders from the
secretary of war, had charge of the
women managers of the Especial
Diet Kitchens connected with the
hospitals all along the front lines. 1t
also devolved on me to select the
women for these positions-two for
each kitchen They directed. under
the orders of the ward surgeons, the
preparation of the food for the very
sick and the severely wounded. In
some of these special diet kitchens,
more than a thousand patients were
supplied with carefully prepared
food, in great variety, three times
day. 1t will readily be seen tina COM
petent women were needed to prop
erly manage the work in these i'm
portant kitchens. They had not
only to control force of from
twenty to thirty men, and direct
their work, but they had the response
bility of securing proper prepara-
ton of food on time and without
confusion Their official position
also required that they should be
women of culture and social stand
ing, who would command the re-
spect of the officers and surgeons in
charge. 1t is greatly to the honor of
the patriotic women of America
that scores of accomplished women
volunteered to perform this difficult
and arduous service. Great care
was taken i'll their selection, and
highly Endorsed.
One day there came to the head
quarters in Washington young
lady from Pawtucket, R. I. She was
twenty-five years old, as l after
wards learned, but she was so youth
full in appearance that she looked
much younger.
Il am Lizzie Billings" she said by
way of introduction. Il was ready
and waiting, and as soon as l re-
ceived your letter containing the
pass and orders to come, started.''
Ny heart sank within me- l was
expecting Lizzie Billings, but anti
cipated meeting very different look
ing person. Every letter of recon-
mendation had said:
in years, she is mature in character,
and represents the highest type of
American womanhood. She will
command respect anywhere. We
commend her to you as one of our
noblest women, one who will be
equal in any position, and who will
never falter or fail in the line of
duty"
had therefore expected to meet
woman of commanding presence,
whose appearance would indicate ex-
perience and inspire confidence that
she was equal to any emergency.
But she was small and childlike in
her appearance and plain and un-
in her manners.
Although much disappointed, re-
ceived her as graciously as possible;
but when she inquired where am
to go?" l did not feel safe in assign
ing her to hospital duty. So l
"You will stay here for the present.
My courage, however, almost failed
me, when she said:
Il brought my little melodeon with
me; l thought it might be useful"
And sure enough, when her bag
gage was brought up. the tiniest
melodeon [ have ever seen was taken
out of its box.
what shall we do with that dear
innocent child from Rhode Island
and her little melodeon ?" 1 said
to my secretary, little |
later. But she could not solve the
problem. When the heavy work of
the day was over, we joined Miss
Billings in the parlor. After some
conversation she inquired with child
like simplicity
Would you like to have me play
and sing?"
We assented, and she at once took
her seat at the melodeon We were
charmed and amazed. 1t seemed as
if the curtains of heaven had been
drawn apart, and the song
Of an angel was floating down upon
as. The tones of the little instru-
nent were soft and clear, and the
voice of the singer was remarkably
sweet and sympathetic. Her notes
thrilled one-there was life in them.
After listening to her for an hour,
all our own WEAKNESS and anxiety
we're gone, and we knew just what
% do with Lizzie Billings. There
we're tens of thousands of burden
ID souls all about US, and she, with
Ter wonderful gift of song, could lift
some dropping spirits, and pour the
palm of peace into some wounded,
ainting hearts.
The next morning took her and
ler little melodeon in my ambulance
over to Campbell hospital, and re-
luested her to sing as she had an OPP
oortunity. The sick and wounded
we're quartered in great wooden bar
-acks, eighty feet long. There were
-wo rows of cots on each side of the
-oom. That very day she went in
% one of these long wards. She had
never been in hospital before; and
when she entered and saw the long
-OyyS of COTS and the Do1a o,,J aoru