Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1892-02-18
PRICE ONE CENT
PICKLES FOR soLn,rus.
The FamOWs Nurae. Mother Kicker
dyke. Gets Them From Grant.

The Famo"s Nurse. Mother Kicker
dyke. Gets Them From Grant
To many women and to very many
men all over the country, ever since tho
awful years of the war, the name ~
Mother Bickerdyke has been the name Of
the modern Madonna, the woman whoss
breast has piDlowed more stricken heads
and closed more dying ewes than any
other in ali the world, perhans.
When Mother Bickeriyke reirncl i'm
her big hospital kitchen at Chattanooga
she made frequent visits in an army
wagon, drawn by mules, 20 the country
homes and farms across the mountains,
over terribly rough roads aud through
deep mud, to gather in ratiops for "her
bows.
During the cold Of winter her hospital
boys did very we'll; but in March, as
storms drenched the trees and earth
about the camp, they sickened aud many
died Some were furloughed and sent
North; but many sick were left behind
Mother Bickerdyke took with her 20
Huntsville all who were left to the large
military hospital Of which she was given
charge. But scurvy followed upon the
dreadful privations of winter, aud moth
ing could save them except vegetables.
fruits, or pickles These must be had az
any cost.
Mrs. Porter took charge Of the BOYS,
and the mother started out for supplies
She spoke in public halls and churches.
with direct, splendid appeals for her
"dying boys She received wonderful
gifts of dried fruits in Nashville; the
little children sent her barrels of pota-
toes, and the aid societies gave her jellies
and canned goods.
One day, while General Grant was ia
Washington on business with the Plpsi-
dent, he was driving with some gentle
men on Pennsylvania avenue, when he
saw just in front of the horses, in the
middle of the street, a sunny faced
woman, waving both hands and calling
at the top of her voice General | say,
general
The horses were pulled up suddenly
The gentleman who was driving said
huriedly: "Who in thunder is that ~
but before the words left his lips the
general, with hearty smile, leaned out.
exclaiming: why, Mother Bickerdykel
How came you hereI l left you with the
army of Tennessee, What doyou wantf"
"Pickles!"
"Pickles!" repeated the general.
"Ees, sir, picklesl My boys and your
boys are dying for pickles, and you're
just the man l want to-day We need
500 barrels shipped South this minutel"
"All right, motherl" responded General
Grant. Pickles you shall have, AMI
right away, too. Go back to the boys
they need you'll"
"Thank you, general. I'll be there in a
few days. I've had blessed trip! Fruit,
vegetables, and now pickles! God bless
you, general
With a wave of her hand, toss of her
fine, handsome head, and the kind Of
smile that went through the hearts Of the
sick and dying boys, she turned away,
satisfied with "her general
AZ that time General Grant was com
mander in chief of the Union armies Of
the United States. Several hundred
thousand men marched under hs con
troll. But this was no reason why he
should not be stopped on the way TO the
White House by plainly dressed woman
whose eager, sunny, loving eyes shoue
out Of a quaint little black bonnet aud
who demanded pickles for the boys -
with all the dignity Of his own office
The gentlemen from the State Depart
ment who rode beside him that day
laughed at the whole affair. General
Grant simply said It's no laughing
matter. When Mother Bickerdyk yke wants
anything it has TO be found, and that.
too, in hurry. Sherman and fall in,
double quick, when we hear her voice
She's worth more to US down here than
dozens of officers, nurses, or whole sani-
tary commissions.
And that night more than 500 barrels
of picked cucumbers, onions, bean5,
cabbages, and tomatoes were shipped
from the capital by order Of General U.
S. Grant, commander in Chief Of tho
army.