Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1892-02-24
PICKLES ron soLplrRs.
The Famous NWrse. Nather BIcksr
dyke. Gets Thsm Eram C1nnt.


dyke. Gets Thsm Erom CrRnt
To many women ANA t., very nluv
men all over the country, ever since the
awful years oC the war, the u.mt ~
Mother iAckerdyGe has been the name of
the modern Madonna. ,hc woman whose
breast has pilloWed more stricken heads
aud closed more dying ewes than any
other IN all the world. perhaps
When Mother Biekerdyke rGgued iu
her big hospital kitchen at Chattanooga
she made frequent visits in au army
wagon, drawn by mules, 10 the country
homes and farms across the mountains.
over terribly rough roads aud through
deep mud, 70 gather in rations for "hcr
BOYS
During the cold Of winter her hospital
boys did very well: but ia March, as
storms drenched the trees and earth
about the camp, they sickened aud many
died. Some were furonghed and sent
North: but many sick were left behind.
Mother Bickerdyke took with her to
Huntsville all who were left 10 the large
military hospital of which she was given
charge. But scurvy followed upon thg
dreadful privations Of winter, and moth.
ing could save them except vegetables,
fruits OF picE les These must he had az
any cost.
Mls. 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
aud canned goods.
One day, while General Grant was in
Washington on business with the Presi-
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
hriedly: "Who in thunder is thpt?'
but before the words left his lips tho
general, with a hearty smile, leaned ont.
exclaiming: "Why, Mother Bicberdykc,
How came you here? l left you with the
army of Tennessee What doyou wautt'
"Pickles!"
"Pickles!" repeated the general.
Yes, sir. pcklesl My boys and your
boys are dying for pickles, and you're
just the man | want to-dayl We need
500 barrels shipped South this mnute,"
IAN right, mother!" responded General
Grant. Pickles you shall have, and
right away, too Go back 10 the boys;
! they need your
Thank you, general. Ill be there in
few DAYS I've had a blessed trip! Fruit.
vegetables, and now pickles! God bless
You, general
With wave Of her hand "A toss OF her
fine, handsome head, and the kud of
smile that went through the hearts of the
sick and dying boys, she turned away
satisfied with her general
AT that time General Grant was com
mander in chief Of the Union armies Of
the United States. Several hundred
thousand men marched under his 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 shone
out of quaint little black bonnet, and
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 Bickerdyke want,
anything il has to be found, and that,
too, in hurry. Sherman and fall ia,
double quick, when we hear her voice.
( She's worth more TO US down here than
/ dozens Of officers, nurses, or whole saui-
tary commissions.
/ And that night more than 800 barrels
Of picked cucumbers, onions beans,
/ cabbages, and tomatoes were shipped
from the capital by order Of General u.
I s. Grant, commander in chief OF tho
army.