The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1893-06-02
THE POTENCY OF PIE.

made his famous cavalry raid through |
Mississippi, the women of the state were
speeches. with Indignation at the ruth
less invasion of their sacred soil, Not
tear was shed as the Roman matrons
buckled ON the armor of the home
guards-old, gray haired majors" and
"colonels,' who had mustered with flint |
locks, and young boys just in their
teens.
All who could "bear arms" went pour
ing forth with impetuous speed and swift
ly formed in the ranks Of war. The III
vaders were beset front, flank and rear
by an undisciplined but pertinacious foe.
The willy generals march was executed
in deuX temps to avoid the harassing
enemy which he dared not halt and dis
perse. Many bluecoats from the invad-
ing column were picked off by the way
side, and every straggler was gobbled up
by the ubiquitous home guards, They
sent the wounded Yankees to the nearest
hospital. A number were taken to Co.
lumbus, where a Confederate hospital
had been established under the super
vision of the Soldiers Aid society. The
society was composed of the women of
Columbus, who had organized at the be-
ginning of the war. The hospital was
full of sick and wounded Confederates,
but the ladies made room for the "hated
Yankees" as a Christian duty.
Torelieve the crowded hospital dozen
Confederates were removed to the house
of dear old lady, who made them COM
Portable on cots in her parlors. This
dear old lady had three sons in the army.
Her husband was on duty with the
home guards.
Her carriage horses were in the artil-
lery service, and pair of plantation
mules pulled her carriage.
Her spinning wheels and looms We're
manufacturing gray jeans, and even
while she slept her fingers moved, as
when awake she knitted socks for the
soldiers.
Daily she drove to the hospital and
went through the wards, followed by
her negro woman bearing basket OF
homemade dainties, which she dispensed
to the sick. With Christian charity she
extended her ministrations to the Yankee
ward. She could not love them-they
had invaded her home and shed the blood
of her knsmen-but she could return
'good for evil" 1t required, however
no small effort on her part to divide with
the enemy'5 sick the dainties 50 hard tC
get in the blockaded south. She did sc
because it was duty, but her heart was
not in the work.
There was one of Grierson's soldiers
scarcely a man i'll years-who lay on his
cot in the delirium Of fever. The kindly
black face of the nurse who bathed hi.
head was strange to him, but he smiled
feebly when ne looked into the gentle face
of the dear old lady who bent over him
and he called her mother"
AT that moment the heart of the deal
old lady surrendered, and she took thai
Yankee boy for her own.
Never was invalid more tenderl,
nursed, and never hung life on NOR
slender thread She watched him from
day to day and administrated with tire
less hand medicine and liquid food. H
fingered days and weeks. his brail
Clouded with fever fancies and the flesl
shrunken upon his bones.
One morning there was CLEAN Of in
telligence in his pale blue eyes as h
looked up at the kind, earnest face 0
the southern woman, and he Whispered
water" After a few sips he contin
ued, II thought you was mother, but
guess as how | won't see her no more"
He closed his eyes, and the dear oil
lady sent at once for the surgeon. Til
doctor felt his pulse and remarked, eli
vitality is very low-we must try t
build him up with stimulants and noul
ishing liquids"
These We're obtained, but he refuse
positively to touch the whisky, as h
had promised his mother never to do SC
he said, and had taken the pledge H
swallowed the beef tea with reluctance
The fever had gone, and with it nearl
all the life that was in him.
The dear old lady looked sadly upo
the emaciated form and sunken cheek
of the poor boy. She forgot that he Wa
an enemy and saw only a mothers so
among strangers and sick unto dealt
Her soul went ont in great wave {
sympathy to the invalid.
In vain she tempted his appetite Wit
each of the liquid foods within the TO
mula allowed 10y the surgeon. She coul
not persuade him to take stimulant
and his vitality continued to sink daily
To her question whether there w;
anything that he would like to eat
answered, Pumpkin pie"
But the doctor said it would kill hi,
in "a hours.
Pumpkin pie" became the lads dG
long and night long plant. Itmade IL
dear old lady's heart bleed to refuse it.
Doctor, can't you save the poor fC
lOw2' she asked.
The doctor answered gravely, INA
am, lam afraid all your work has be,
in vain. He cannot hold out much lon
err"
After the doctor had gone, the dyii
boy opened his eyes and whispered wi,
fully, "Please-just one piecep
"Yes, You shall have it" said the o
lady. and as sbe stpDppd into her %