Marble Hill press. (Marbel [sic] Hill, Mo.) 1881-1923, 1897-04-01

also distributed Every now and then one o
the women sat in camp chair and wrote c
letter for the poor fellow who hadn't the
strength to write himself.
81 wanted nothing to eat or drink, bu
those pretty poses held my attention. One
of the ladies stopped at my cot l hadn
yet got my full growth, and in my ther
emaciated, pale condition must have looked
like child. She seemed surprised as she look,
ed atme.
"'You, poor child, what brought you
here"
"'Ihey sent me here from the army Of
the Potomac
Put you ale not soldier
"'Yes, madam; belong to a New York
regiment. The surgeon here has the rec-
ord
"'Can do something for you? Can you
eat something or take a swallow OF wine?'
Pm not hungry or thirsty
"'Can I write a letter for your
":Not today, Pm too weak.
"'Then | will leave some of these flowers
with you. President Lincoln helped to Gull
them. will come again in two or three
days Keep up your courage. You are go
ing to get well; you must get WELL
'She was the first woman who had spoken
to me since | reached the army. Locking
at the sweet flowers which Mr. Lincoln had
'helped to Gull, anu thinking of the dear
woman who had spoken SO kindly and hope
fully, had more effect iu Frightening my
spirits than all else that had occurred in the
hospital.
Three days later the same lady came
again, and direct to my cot,
"'How is my little soldier boy today?' she
asked in way SO motnerly that it reminded
me Of my good mother bacl; in New York,
the patriot molher who had given her con-
sent to my going to the war after praying
over the matter many times, The hospital
angei-that is what we learned to call those
noble women-after giving me taste OF
chicken and jelly, asked If had a mother.
She saw by the tears in my eyes that
had
"Now, we will write mother letter,
''Then she sat by my side and wrote the
letter. l hadn't been able TO write for
mcnth.
81 have told your mother that am near
her soldier boy, and have talked with him.
What shall 7 tell her for you? That you
are still too weak to write yourself?
please don't tell her thai; it will make
her worry, Tell her I am fast getting WELL
,'The first day |. got home my mother
asked me howl liked Mrs, Linooln, the
presidents wife.
81 never met, Mrs Lincoln. What made
you think had?'
"Then she took from BOX closely guard
ed in the old bureau, a letter 1t read like
this:
"'Dear Mrs. Agen: ! am sitting by the
side Of your soldier boy. He has been quite
sick, but is getting well. He tells me to say
to you that he is all right. With respect for
the mother OF the young soldier,
"'MRs. ABRAHAM LINCOLN
"That was the first knew that it was the
presidents wife who had made me those two
visits begged mo,hef to give me the letter.
You can have ii when l.. am gone When
she died bux and an old letter folded in a
silk handkerchief were among her gifts to me.
THE box, 'kerchier and letter will pass
along the Agen line as mememtos too sacred
for everyday display yfs.
''Last fall when Capt. Robert Lincoln, ex-
secretary Of war, aud ex-minister to Eng
land, passed through West Superior cn his
way to Duluth to speak for Mckinley, one
Of his fathers soldiers in the early sixties,
! took seat in the same car, IIe was sur
rounded BY crowd, and ! could not get
very close to him Holding up the old let |
ter and asking him to take it, he complied, |
read it. dropped his head for a moment arc
reached over and took me by the hand and |
drewme to him. His lips were trembling as
he pointed to the letter and said
Sony dear mothers writing.
Il then told him how Mrs. Lincoln hap
pened to write it. lie said his mother fire.
quertly visited the hospitals, and on many
occasions bis father and himself had uccOm-
panied her. he had many times helped
bis father cut flowers q he sent 10 the hos
pitalsa-r Chicago Times-llerald.