The National tribune., 1891-01-08
B NURSES STORY
A Boy Who Had the Best Mother in
the World.
BY MRS. ANNIE wlrrEvNYER.

The booming Of cannon had ceased at
Yicksburg; the artillery and the heavy guns
of two great armies were silent and idle
And, although there were about 100000 men
of war, the cOnqUerOrs and the conquered,
in and about the city, il was
as quiet IS q country village.
Only the day before, July 4, 1868, we had
stood on Fort Hill and witnessed the touch
ing formalities of the surrender, which we
could see plainly through our feld-glasses.
Now duty and conscience called upon all
who had hearts full Of sympathy and hands
ready 10 help, 20 assist in the Confederate
hospitals, where thousands Of sick and
wounded lay destitute and suffering
The hospitals inside the city were in a
wretChed condition. The buildings used
for hospital purposes had been constantly
under fire from the beginning Of the siege
till the surrender, and had been struck by
solid shot and bursting shells again and
again. Some Of the men had been wounded
in the battle outside Of the walls Of FIcks-
burg, and when the Confederates retreated
to this stronghold, had been carried into the
city. Ii was pitifEl to look into their
pinched and caTewOrn faces, and to realize
that, for all those long weeks, so many Of
tAANAAA ADA bSNA AAAE pAEHo bAACACf bAAAANA
fire day and night. To them the battle was
always on, and death might come at any
moment 1t may be thought strange that
any hospital should have been under FIRE.
The hospital flag is usually protection, but
the hospitals of both armies at YiCksburg
were under fire. The air in and around the
city, for miles was full Of flying missiles.
When / entered the Confederate hospital
near the old Courthouse / found it over
crowded. The building was a fine old
mansion IN the heart Of the city. When i
entered the ample parlor which was crowded
full Of patients / noticed q boy about rs
years old, who looked very wistfully toward
me. He had such bright, frank face, that
my first thought was, any mother might
well be proud Of such a boy.
went directly to him, and taking his
hand in my own / asked:
Have you a mOther?"
Instantly his great brown eyes filed with
tears, as he answered enthusiastically
Yes, Madam, have the best mother in
the world"
His answer pleased me greatly; there was
so much of heart devotion in it,
Where does she live ?D
He gave me the name Of village near
Mobile, Ala. lie was an Alabama soldier.
After a long talk questioned:
Would you like to have me write to
your mother and tell her all about you ?"
You couldn't; a letter would not go
through the lines"
eyes, / can send letters through the lines.
/ take them to Gen. Grants headquarters.
He knows me, and sends them, unsealed, by
the first flag Of truce that passes"
ooh! if you could send one to my mother
how glad / would be-"
Then he went on to tell me about himself;
how he had been carried into Vicksburg
severely wounded at the beginning Of the
siege.
II want you TO tell my mother" said he
chat have kept my promise to be good and
true. When we were about to separate my
mother said: Now, my son, there are things
worse than war or death do the best you
can be good and true; do not swear or
drink, or touch cards, no matter who asks you
TO do these things. Remember, your mother
will be praying for you; do not, whatever else
may happen forget your mother or your moth
er's God and it may be that God will have
compassion on Us and bring you back again
And, lady / lifted my hand to Heaven and
promised her, and have kept my word"
As he recalled the parting scene with his
mother the tears ran down his face, but they
were tears Of love and joy, for he had come of
victor over the temptations that had constantly
beset him. / took his mothers address, his
name, company and regiment, and secured
the statement from the Surgeon that he was
out OF danger from his wound, and that night
/ wrote a brief letter to his mother, giving the
few facts / dared to write (for, of course, it
would come under the scrutiny Of the officers
Of two armies) and then closed with these
words:
Your son desires me to tell you that he has
kept his word and has been good and true.
He will likely be moved soon tOa Northern hos
pital, but you can reach him through me- Write
briefly, say nothing about the war or its effects;
send your letter unsealed. However much we
may differ as to the great questions that have
brought on this war, feel it my duty, as it is
pleasure, to let you know Of the welfare Of
your son."
/ then instGcted her how to direct the letter
so that it would come to me.
The next day took that and other letters, as
had often done before, to Gen. Grants head
quarters. He was very gracious and jubilant,
and asked great many questions about the
condition of the hospitals, and assured me the
letters should 90 through with the first flag Of
truce.
In a very short time had an answer, which
was follows:
"DEAR LADY My eyes are full Of tears Of
joy. Your letter made rift in the black cloud
that has hung over US like a funeral pail for so
many weeks. At first the news seemed too
good to be true, for / thought i had reliable
information that my boy was killed outside Of
Vicksburg, and buried in an unknown grave.
Oh, what Joy to know that my son lives, and
greater Joy to know that he has been good and
true
IAN hoar ago we were all dressed in black :;
now we are all dressed in white.
However much we may differ as to the
questions that have led to this cruel war,
recognize you as possessing the true Christian
spirit, and thank you for taking the trouble to
let me know that my son who was dead is
alive. When / kHeel TO pray for him be as
sured that | will pray for you that you may
be kept safely through all the terrOrs and dan
gers Of this conflict" A few items Of home
news followed. Many letters passed between
Us during the following year. Whenever ne was
removed from one hospital 20 another, or from
one prison to another after his recovery, he
notified me that letters from his mother
should they come, might reach him.
The last time | saw him he was in Camp
Douglas. near Chicago, held as prisoner. He
was well clothed and fed his cheeks stood out
with fairness What a contrast in appearance
to our prisoners whom i had met near the
lines as they came from the Southern prisons.
They were mere skeletons, too weak to walk.
Many Of them bad to be carried in arms like
little children. Some were demented for lack
of food and care.
He told me he was well treated and never
wanted TO lift his hand against the Government
again. few weeks afterward the war closed
and he took the oath Of allegiance, and was sent
to his Southern home. What a glad home
coming that was to the boy and to the mother,
bO 10 HIN, yUaa the hest pnothpr in thp yvorld