Birmingham age-herald., 1895-05-06
A TOUCHING STORY.
The Widow of Confederate Hero Tenderly
 Cared For.

ObtOb
 In 1858 or 1859 there landed in the town of Cahaba from a distant northern state a young man named John F. Garrett. He was a jeweler by profession, but modest, unassuming young fellow. When the bugle sounded to arms two years later he at once volunteered in the Cahaba Rifles, Fifth Alabama, and marched to the front to fight the battles of his adopted home.
 Before he left for the front he had married a southern girl, and was fight ing for what is dear to the heart of every man-wife and home.
 He was as gallant a soldier as ever shOuldered muSket and came up to the full measure in every fight that he went into. At the battle of Malvern Hill, on July 1, 1862 he was not so fortunate, however, and mimic ball went through his head, between his eyeballs and brain.
 His comrades saw him fall and rushed on, thinking all was over with the poor fellow, and did not go back to get his body from among the dead until next day. As they were prowling around among the dead they came across John Garrett, and to their astonishment he was living. Tenderly he was. placed on a litter and carried to the hospital and to the astonishment of all he recovered.
 He was sent home to his young wife in Cahaba, with his eyes out, to com mence the battle of life again. as he could not make living at his profession of jeweler A building was purchased for him and it was stored with all kinds of groceries and turned over to him-a present from his comrades who wore the gray.
 He was a quick-witted man and soon could change money and attended to his duties and in a short while was making good living again for himself and wife-no children being born to them. Six or eight years ago MT. Gar rett died. The town of Cahaba. once the proud capital of the state, is now nothing but a mere village. but Mrs Garrett has always managed to make a living for herself.
 She has been the postmistress at Ca haba for number of years, which pays her about $50 a year. and that, with what going. Judge Craig has kept her post mistress during repu olican rule, and General Morgan looks after her when the democrats get into power, and in that way Mrs. Garrett has held the office for number of years.
 -sTime, however, was telling on the roof of the old house that had sheltered her so long, keeping out the storms of winter and the showers of summer, and try ever so hard she could not get money enough ahead to put a new roof on 1t. The Con federate Veterans association found out her condition and took, the matter in hand
 Mrs. Garrett came to Selma yesterday and a check was handed her for $51. Mir Jga M Baker of the Chiffon Lumber com pany contributed $25 worth of lumber delivered at the wharf. The hardware merchants contributed forty-five pounds of nails, and the Nettie Quill will take it to Cahaba free. John Norris says he will take his hands down there and put the roof on, not charging a cent except what he has to pay his men.
 MT. Garrett was offered home by a rich brother in Philadelphia after he lost his sight, if he would renounce the south, but he wrote him word that if his charity had come with request that hampered his right to free thought he would not accept the same, and he never did re- ceive any help except from his Confeder- ate friends.
 The Times is glad that the survivors