The Coconino sun., 1891-08-22
The Soldiers, Friend.

One OF the most familiar and be-
loved faces in the Virginia hospitals
during the war was that OF an old
colored woman. By the side OF the
sick and dying she was always to be
found, whether they wore blue or
gray. The face OF old Nanny Mary
Brown was the face OF an angel Of
mercy to many during this time.
She belonged to the old Nell estate.
Her mother, who died within tho last
three years, lived to the age Of one
hundred and twelve, and was up TO a
few years of her death brisk, bright
eyed old lady. Mary ut the age OF
22 was bought by Mr.. Towsen CATER
ward Maj. Towsen), who was then
just married. Nine children were
born into the family, the mother dying
when the last child was an infant
in arms, So to Mary fell the care Of
the children, and they could not have
fallen into better hands. Her life
was given up to them. She never
married, affording almost the only
case on record where tho colored
damsel has failed to take unto herself
better half. Some years before the
war Mr.. Towsen moved to Phila-
delphia, taking Mary with him. OF
course she was free upon cross
ing the line, but her deep devotion TO
the family kept her with him. and she
returned with them TO the south. She
had cause TO be proud OF her little
brood. seven OF which were boys, for
they grew into noble men and women.
When the civil war came it was with
an aching heart that NANNY" saw
her believing boys don their soldier
clothes to leave her.
But she had no time for repining.
Those four years were full OF unself-
ish deeds to her. She was always
nursing the sick, taking the covering
from her own bed that they might
not 60 cold, and buying them dainties
from her own scant stock OF money.
At one time when the troops were
stationed at Manassas, before the bat.
tie there. she made barrel OF black.
berry cordial, for the most part pick.
ing the blackberries with her owr
hands. How those thirsty, worn Out
boys did cheer when that barrel ar
rived! The story Of an old colored
woman having made 1t for them wa:
told. boys" said one poor fellow,
lets give her three cheers" and
cheer her they did.
Nanny was twice cheered by the
soldiers at Manassas-the second
tine at the reception of some much
needed clothes she made.
All this tine her heart was bleeding
for her own especial seven. Before
the close OF the third year there was
not one OF them left. 1T do seem,
she said on one occasion TO Gen. Mos
by. dat de good Lord bab set hi:
mark OBJ death upon 'em." They al
died In her arms.
All the boys made her tho confidan
OF their joys and woes alike, evei
finding her a most sympathetic list
ener. On one occasion nanny los
all her few remaining possession!
while travelling from one town Il
another. "Dey's wrapped in an ole
blue counterpart, she told one Of
the soldiers, land dar is bottle o
peach brandy in de bundle. Ef ye
finds de Counterpart yer can hab d,
bottle
II is needless to say that with sucf
reward offered most diligent search
was made, but without avail. The
old blue counterpane has never come
10 light. The soldier. who has now
changed into a portly judge who
counts his dollars by the ten-thous
ands, never meets nanny without
saying with a twinkle in his blue
eyes): Il am still looking out for tina
blue counterpart nanny, and re
member the bottle is mine when
find it,"
Nanny is over ninety now, bu
still brisk, and looks able to liv,
many years more. Her life has in
deed been full OF good works, eve
marked by a living, unselfsh spirit
Badly Scared.
In February, 1862, the writer, wa
nurse In the Confederate hospita
at Springfield, Mo-, said hospital be
ing in a building known as the Pres
byterian church. Our men were dy
ing every day with measles and pneu
monia. The dead room was acros
the hallway from the wards, and mex
to that was another room. where clear
straw to I'll hunks was kept. THAI
evening we had carried out tire,
poor fellows who had died. A dark
stormy night was raging. l wa,
ordered to get some straw, and IL
order TO do that had TO go through
the dead-room. l took light with
me, and, as / opened the door o
the dead-room, it (the lighO blew on