The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1891-04-24
NANNY BROWN.
An Did virginia War Tiins Figure who
Has survived Until the Present.

An Old virginia War Time Figure VINO
Has survived Until tho Present
One of the most familiar and be-
loved faces In the Virginia hospitals
during the war was that Of an old col
ored 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 the last
three years, lived to the age OF 112.
and was, up to n few weeks OF her
death. brisk, bright-eyed old lady.
She was visited by many of the quail
ity folks as she remembered the Rev
olutionary war. being n child OF some
five years OH at that time. Mary. at
the age of 22 was bought by Mr.. Tow
sen afterwards Major Tawsen). who
was then just married. Nine children
were born into the family, the mother
dying when the last child was an in
FAINT 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, aifording almost the only
case ON record where the colored dam
sci has failed 10 take unto herself a
better half. Some years before the
war Mr.. Tewsen moved TO Philadel-
phia. taking Mary with him. OF course
she was free upon crossing the line.
but her deep devotion to the family
kept her with them. 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 1t WIS with
an aching heart that NANNY" saw
her beloved boys don their soldier
clothes to leave her.
But she had no time for repining.
Those four years were full of unselish
deeds for her. She was always nursing
the sick. taking the covering from her
own bed that they might not go cold,
buying them dainties from her own
seaut stock of mopey.
Sieepless nights she watched by the
side of some poor dying fellow, whose
last faint words were those of thanks
and blessings for his nurse. She made
from two to three hundred suits of
soldier clothes. sewing them for the
most part during her night watches by
the sick.
At one time when the troops were
stationed Mt Manassas. before the first
battle there. she made a barrel of
blackberry cordial. for the most part
picking the berries with her own hands.
How those thirsty wornout boys did
cheer when that barrel arrived The
story of an old colored woman having
made it for them WAS told. Boys"
said one poor fellow, ''let's give her
three cheers" And cheer her they
did.
Nanny was twice cheered by the
soldiers Mt Manassas-the second time
at the reception of some much-needed
clothes she made.
All this time her heart was bleeding
for her own especial seven. Before
the close of the third year there was
not one of them left. lit do seem, "
she said on one occasion to Gen.
Mosby. dat de good Lord hab set His
mark oh death upon them" They all
died in her arms.
All the boys made her the contidant
of their joys and woes alike. ever find
ing her most sympathetic listener.
On one occasion nanny lost all of her
few remaining possessions while trav-
cling from one town to another.
"Dey's wrapped in an old blue eouu-
terpane. she told one of the soldiers,
land dar is bottle of juach brandy
in de bundle. Ell yer finds der eoun-
terpane yer can hab de bottle"
Il is needless to say that with such a
reward offered. most diligent search
was made. but without avail. The old
blue counterpane has never come to
light The soldier who has now
changed into portly judge, who
counts his dollars by the ten thousands.
never meets nanny without saying
| (with twinkle in his blue eyes), 81
am still looking out for that blue couu-
! terpane, nanny, aud remember, the
bottles mine when | tiud it.
After the war NANNY went TO live
with Major Towsen's daughter. where
she has been ever since. She linds
much comfort in new set of boys.
though they can never take the place
| Of her dear dead soldiers. The twin
boys are her particular delight.
Nanny is over 80 now, but still
brisk. and looks quite equal to several
generations. Her life has indeed been
! full of good works. ever marked by a
loving, unseliish spirit Philadelphia
| Times.