The Somerset reporter., 1892-02-18

Turned over to Pos s, $3.50 81
These figures represent only par of
the relief done III Maine. You wall call TO
mind that there is another band of wo
men VIII sc numbers are very much larger
than ours, who have for Years been work
ng III this same direction; women whose
nfcllects are as bright, whose hands are
as wiling, and hearts as loyal as ours.
We should be glad to welcome them to
orr broader platform and extend the fra
ternal hand loyalty, and although they are
not ready TO accept it, We are glad TO give
them due credit and honor. They repre-
mt the wives, mothers and daughters of
veterans; while we not only represent
these but all loyal women whose moral
character is above reproach. Women who
have proven themselves as devoted to flag
and country as have we more fortunate
listers who can claim kinship and there is
in this fair land of ours to-day a natl nal
organization Of 600 women 10000 of
whom have joined the ranks the past
year, who are proving their right to the
title of "loyal," and membership in Relief
Corps by their deeds
They have expended for relief the pas
year, $50, 40 80
Relief fund ON hand 1913, $1,000
In the nine years of their existence they
have expended for relief, 5000 600.
They have bultaud are maintaining sew
eral state Homes" for soldiers orphans
and National Home at Madison, Ohio,
t OF for soldiers orphans aud W dows, and
army nurses, but for the sick veteran and
his aged wife who after walking hand in
hard through life, should not be separated
but shall spend the evening of their lives
III the bright suns t of eacA others pres
ence While the State of Maiue is doing
but small part Of this work, it is not
that her women are less loyal, pate otic or
ehari able; but that the work is divided,
and the needs perhaps less stringent.
You will all remember how quickly the
loyal women of this old Pine l rec $ ate, y
r, spondei to the call for aid how truely
they kissed you goodbye and bade You
God speed though their hearts were freak
ing. Who but God knows what they en-
dured; You suffered the hard-hips and
toll IL ely endured the agony of suspense;
who can count the hours they lived III the
moments which pa, sed between the cry OF
| the news boy under her window and when
she held the paper in her shaking hand,
hardly daring 10 run her eye down the
long list Of dead, wounded, mi sing, ali,
the icy baud that clutched at her heart,
was she wife or wldow-a mother or child
le>s2
Many aSilver threads AMONG the GOLD +,
came to the wives and matters DURING
those four ycars of agony. Deal tenGorl,
with them thew suffered with Won
bring YOU their teraer greetings.
The curly headed, rosy. checked girls
the wee todlers. whom YOU kissed good by,
with brave tears scarcely concealed WHO
crowed with alee, or proudly smiled a.
papa's uniform, have grown to woman
hood to.da, with tie lessons Of those foIu
ars burned into their very hearts; nc
need to tel them what that cold nnp'
means. they love every inch of it. Ibriup
Won II cir greetings. with assurances Of
tilial devotion to all who wore the blue.
| The devoted women who formed SAM.
ltary commissions. who knit STOCKINGS
scraped lint mods nm boyas of ooo1ies
uhJ raised funds with tongue and men.
who let happy homes and braved death te
care for the wounded, write letters fo,