The National tribune., 1892-12-22
MAGGIE DALE,s CHRISTMAS.
A Practical Exemplifcation of Grand Army
Comradeship.

MAGGIE DALE's CHRISTMAS.
A Practical Exemplification of Grand Army
Comradeship.
II was late on the afternoon before Christmas.
portly. middle-aged gentleman was passing
down the street just fraii young girl came
YEARLY down the steps of q beautiful residence.
and, after taking few steps, suddenly reeied ana
fell. A moment later the gentleman was bending
over her PROSTATE form. As he gazed upon her
pale wan face he murmured "starvation.'
Somehow that face carried his mind back TO
Southern battlefield, where he had once bent over
slight young form, mere boy, with fair griish
face tho one before him seemed to recall.
Calling . cab he lifted the girl in his arms, and
placing her within, she was soon conveyed to his
own home, where lie was met at the door by lis
wife. who asked in astonishment whom he had
brought and whyf He replied: "a frail young
thing who tainted the street, case OF overwork
and starvation, believe. And do you KNOWN !"
he added, her face reminds me of poor Harry
Dale, the day carried him off the battlefield, and
somehow hadn't the heart to send her to the City
Hospital. guess she will soon come out OF this"
Poor. dear child" cried the good lady, as she
hustled about, trying to make her patient comorta
BILE and prepare some warm drink for her, and
stopping now and then to wipe away tear. for sho
could not help thinking Of dear young face that
just one year before had been hidden beneath the
coffin-ld.
At the end Of half an hour The large blue eyes
slowly opened. and the girl started up in a Devil.
dered way, as she saw her strange surroundings,
saying:
30, where am II Surely must be dreaming,
or this Is Heaven"
"No! dear. you are not dreaming" and sweet
face smiled kindly down upon her. Just lie
still and will tell you all about IT,"
"You tainted on the street this afternoon. and
my husband. DR.. James, brought you home. Now,
send a message 10 your friends. that they will
not be uneasy at your long absence. for you will
not be able to return home before Tomorrow
The blue eyes were dimmed with tears, and the
thin lips Quivered as she answered,
my name is Maggie Dale. have friends
Since mother died. two months ago. am left
"what was your fathers name7" cried DR..
my fathers name. sir. was Harry Dale. He
''Is it possible that you are the daughter Of my
old friend and comrade. Harry Dale? O. yes.
am positive for you are the very picture of your
father. The same golden hair. high, white fore.
head. and blue eyes; and this afternoon, as lifted
you from the walk, your face looked Just as Harry's
did the day carried him off the battlefield"
"Then you are Charley James? Oh. how glad
father would have been could he have seen you
before he died. How many times he talked OF you
and how you saved his life when he was left on
the field for dead'
As Maggie grew stronger the Doctor and his good
wife drew from her all Of her sad s,ory-how she
and her mother had worked to support themselves
and the husband and father, after his health failed
and he a helpless invalid and after bis death
how the two had struggled on till the mother, too,
sank into the grave and she left alone TO fight
as best she could the battle of life.
And hard battle she had found II, too. Work was
scarce, and. then, some people were slow about
paying her after the work was done. On the after
noon mentioned she had taken some work home,
hoping to receive the money for II, as she had had
h. ,sxrl, hnf, h,,ff lad,
down word that she was busy making prepara-
tions for Christmas and could not attend to her,
but that she should call the next week. as she
would then have some more sewing for her.
Overcome with disappointment and fatigue she
left the house, and reaching the street she remem-
bered nothing more until sho opened her eyes In
Dr. James's house.
And when another Christmas Eve came around
there WAS not one in all that city more happy than
Maggie Dale. for she had found home beneath
Doctor Jamess roof.-Carrie NJ. Brown, Burg Hill,
NATIONAL coUEsELoR's REPORT.
The following is a continuation of the report OF
National Counselor Emma Stark Hampton. as
adopted entire by Tenth National Convention:
OPINION TX. DEC. z, 1891.
Question Referred.
Case-Is II not desirable that the recognition pin
be secured from a discharged member and money
be refunded If necessary to procure It, the same
is done with the membership badge?
Opinion.-Yes II is highly important; and the
surrender of the recognition pin should come under
the same law the badge as the wearing of either
or both il q privilege accorded to members only.
II Ia particularly necessary In the explanation sub
mitted where parties were dishonorably dis
charged. for a recognition pin Is ia q pass
port and medium of introduction for strangers;
the fact that such extreme sentence has been passed
Is evidence that nothing designating fellowship
with the Order should be left in their possession.
The law requiring the return OF badge was made
for protection and to regain possession OF nsignias
of membership from the people not members of
the Order. Corps must remember they are ut no
loss when paying regular price return of
badge " or recognition pin, as such are turned In
as regular Corps supplies to be resold.
OPINION x. DEC. z, 1891.
Question Referred
Case.-Are Department Presidents expected to
announce anything concerning Courts of Inquiry
and action of the same in their General Orders?
Opinion.-It Is my judgment that Courts of In
curry should be Chased secret work and only
made public In part or in whole when necessary
for protection TO either individuals, Corps or the
Order at large. A Corps Or n Department should
hold their differences as secrets and guard them as
conscieutously the happenings in their own
homes. All are liable to err and the findings of
Court Of Inquiry might prove to be an injustice
OPINION XII. DEC. 90. 1891.
Question Referred.
Case.-Can q Corps vote to take part of their re.
lief fund and turn IL TO the Post for their re-
| lief fund? If so. how report it on Form b
Opinion-On general principles il could be SO
voted. as both organizations work for the same OBJ
| iec,: but owing to established business forms
| for reporting moneys discussed. all disburseme t.
! must appear under the proper heads. Where Corps
have a surplus in their relief fund, the same object
| NAV be attained by the Post referring their cases
for relief directly to the Relief Committee of the
Corps.
| OPINION XII. DEC co. 1891.
| Case-Date of regular meeting comes on New
| Years Day. Can the Corps vote to hold the regi-
lar meeting for that week on the day previous or
| during the following week..
| Opinion-It is An established municipal custom
| that regular meetings falling upon holidays may
| be held upon the preceding or following day, as
| may be voted; but In this instance, being New
| Years Day, the meeting could not be held upon
the preceding day, It being The last day of Deem
ber and the meetings for that month have already
| boen hold but II may be held upon the following
| day Should that day be Sunday, the meeting
| should be called the third
! On other National holidays Corps may by vote
| meet either on preceding or following day but in
| every instance each member must be notified Of
| the change in date OF meeting.
OPINION XIII. DEC. 81, 1891.
| Case-Our charter is for tho Territory of Wash.
in0ton Washington has since become State and
| Alaska has been added 10 the Department of Wash.
| ington. Is it necessary TO have u new Department
| charter?
partment Nov. Ii, 1885, and from that date has re-.
| manned In good and regular standing. II Is no
| doubt q source of pride to the members Of that
| Department that they were able TO organize and
| sustain Department Of the Woman's Relief Corps
| before Washington became State. The annex
Ing of new territory to establish Departments Is
| ter be issued, bearing names of Washington and
| Alaska the latter may in the future become De-
partment In ITSELF see no necessity of q change
In the charter because Of the Territory becoming
| State or because Of the snneIing Of Alaska.
/ r.. 81,