The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-09-01
WIDOWS, HOMES.
A Soldiers Widow Thinks Places Should Be
Provided for Women.

| "A soldiers WIDOW THINKS ftaCeS SnOui0 BE
Provided for Women.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: I am the
widow of Union soldier, and have in mind q
project which it seems to me is worthy of con-
| sideration, and rs tho time draws near when
| the Grand Army will be with us feel impelled
| to place the matter before its leading men and
| leave the result for time to determine. Iwrite
| this letter out of my experience, out of my
heart of hearts, beating in sympathy with our
| noble men of the Grand Army aud the fullest
| possible appreciation of what they have done
| for our country; and while / tender to them
my honor and respect, still l cannot forget an
other class of fellow-beings who believe are
deserving of some thought, and il in want Of
assistance ought to receive it. / mean the
widows of Union soldiers. and mothers, too, if
so be they need help. They are every where
oil over our land.
Women who. in the darkest hours of our
Nations peril, gave their best and dearest,
although by so doing their homes were Swallowed
and their lives made desoate; women who
made sacrifices and bore burdens of painful
anxiety through the weary years of that cruel
war, and whose youth was clouded by the dread
fear that came with each days news from the
because they have struggled to gather up the
burden where their soldier laid it down.
How heavy tho burden and how hard the
| struggle has been to many God only knows.
do not speak Of such as have remarked, unless
they are second time bereaved. am think
ing of the loyal women, the faithful wives of
our fallen heroes who have stood true to their
trust, and have brought to manhood and
womanhood the children left fatherless by the
death of their soldier husbands.
1, Sir, am the widow of Roger w. Love- of the
Sd K. /. II. A. At his death, in 1878, was left
with five children, the oldest but IL years of
age. My husband died from consumption, con.
tracfed in service, and although he was a capa-
BILE man, his state of i'll health forbade active
employment. Hence the necessity of zenf
on my part was arbitrary.
At the time of his death my children were
all small, and being left utterly dependent, /
have found use for every power that God has
endowed me with
Ten years ago l received an appointment in
the Department of Agriculture, hence have
been favored beyond many of my less fortunate
sisters. STILL the struggle to keep the little flock
together has taxed me to the uttermost. Two
little girls have died since their father left us.
My boys are now self-supportng, but am
now educating my young daughter, girl of II.
And when l look back upon the experiences
of my widowhood from the hour that l
stood by the silent form of my soldier,
and saw those five little faces upturned to
forget that there are Others whose lot has been
SO much harder, and who from old age or in
trinity are drifting on, perhaps suffering, pos
sibly neglected and dying for want OF care and
assistance; for to the masses of women it is not
possible to earn, as do, comfortable recon-
pense for their labor. Thank God, things are
better than formerly, but l hope to live to see
the day when women shall receive wages for
their labor in the same ratio as men, especially
when they do the same work and do it as we'll.
And when the double duty (either one of
which, God knows, is heavy enongh) falls upon
the shoulders of a woman, the duty Of being
both father and mother, God pity her.
Such has been my experience, and although,
as said have been favored, still the way has
been weary and my hands and heart grow
tired. But in my tired heart l ask this ques-
ton, and lay before you and the Grand Army
my plan: Why not build and maintain Homes
for the widows of loyal soldiers? These Homes
to be situated wherever they may be deemed
most needed. Let them be supported as wise
men may think best. The Government could
well afford to remember US, and it would be
but small service in return for all that we
have suffered in order that its principles and
greatness might be maintained.
am not writing this with any selfish motives. |
I trust that | may die in the harness. Still, |
none of US know what is in store for US. am |
nearly so years of age, and even with closest |
economy l have never been able to lay by |
much for a rainy day. My hair Is growing |
gray, and the shadows lengthen; hence, am |
thinking of the hours when we may not be able |
to do and dare.
Thepidea Of such Homes as have in mind |
seems to me to be grand one. Our Homes |
for soldisGs are scattered through the length |
and breadth of our land Here these veterans |
may find haven of rest after life's battle has |
made them helpless or dependent. God bless |
them; that is right, but oh tell me, sir, why |
not also think of the mothers and wives who |
are also wearied and worn. face old age with |
its gloom and weakness, and have nowhere to |
lay their heads?
This is no mere figure ofspeech. In Thousands
Of cases this is absolutely fact. Can anything |
shrink from it! pray that may fall at my
post of duty, and be spared the pain of being
dependent.
But we are not allowed to shape our own |
destiny; hence, if 1t ever should be my lot to
battle under the burden Of years, it would be
blessed peace to know that place could be
found for US where our closing hours of life
might be at least robbed Of the terrors Of want
have two sons. Both are married. To
hem tho burdens of life have como, and to
hem cannot look for help. What little can
ave would lily provide for my old age. But
n connection with the plan of Home for SOL
liers' widows" have thought that it might
70 made possible for US to pay in . certain
mount each month of our earnings while We
re aDlo TO WOrR, anu Luub ouuOW Clalm 70 1
he protection of such Home if 20 be we need
t. II not. then let it help some other less for
innate sister. To be sure, it might not be an
fering worthy of note, but you surely re-
member "the widows mite"
Or, grander still, let oar Government build
Is Home, float over 1t the Stars and Stripes,
urround it with attractive grounds. and supply
with comforts necessary to advanced age.
Let our sick ones be nursed! Let our weary
mes rest And when the last sad hour comes,
st kind hands minister to US who have been
aithful until death!
If the idea seems worthy of your attention,
on may be able to SOW the seed, and may God
i've the harvest.-Mrs. AMELIA Fl. LOVE,
Washington, D. G.
Why Discriminate Against the G. A. r..
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The Western