New-York tribune., 1897-08-29
A NERVOUS WOMAN.
IND ARsENr SOLDIER HUSBAND.

In horizon.
owed both hemispheres. and darker and deeper
car,e tho shadow of war which soon to en-
yelop and environ the country and Nation Inc
drum and ffe were heard In the land. and on every
street were seen volunteers drilling marching ana
counter-ma rching Anxiety was depicted on every
countenance. Some felt grave doubts as to inc
safety Of our country others feared that the sta-
b,lity Of business and commerce would s,iffer ex-
tremely and still others had already sent their
loved TO the front. and yet there were tnose
who still hoped that the war cloud would blow
over that better counsels would prevail that some
body would devise some means some way out OF
the threatened terrible evil Vain hope. The first
proclamation for seventy five thousand volunteers
was quickly followed by another and another
asking for and still more What New-for'er
will forget that Sabbath morn. when the frs;
contingent of the city militia marched down Broad
way. off to the war. 'off to put down the Re-
belion." said in as light tone though 1t would
be the work Of few days, or weeks at most?
Among the earliest to respond to the call OF duty
and patriotism brother John w. Syms,
OF Company d. sth Regiment. His wife did not
want him TO go TO the land what wife dd?.
but he had served term In the State militia. had
big ideas of himself and Of his military skill and
thought. many others did at that time. that II
would not last-that 1t would only be prolonged
excursion to the Southern States. He would no
doubt make his mark. be rapidly promoted be-
come captain. colonel or general. and return
fully equipped and adorned with shoulder-s,raps.
stars and things.
Brother Syms called on me before his departure
for Washington. bid goodby and to get his
diploma. which had promised him. | made him
a present Of very nice one. handsomely bound.
and name and number Of the lodge stamped in
gilt letters with his name underneath on
parting he told me that he had left his wife and
children amply provided for. that his wife was a
very good manager" and the little sum he had in
ban In her be
until he would be able to send money home from
the front. He only asked me to call occasionally
on his little family In case they should need the
advice Of friend. He did not suppose the lodge
would be called upon to do anything for them. but
/; would be well, he thought, # brother
would take II upon himself 10 look after them and
call on his wife from time 10 time and see that
she was all right. and. Of course the secretary, as
usual. is that one.
had met Mrs. Syms several times at our picnics
and other social gatherings. and judged her 10 he
very estimable and sensible little body. She
very good-looking woman well educated and in
every way excellent lady-at least that is as
thought her to be and found her whenever !
met her on those social occasions; But my cal
culatlons miscarred entirely. totally. absolutely.
Not but that Mrs. syms was everything a good
woman ought TO be. but did not calculate Oh hei
nerves. and these are important factors in a WON
some more so and TO spare Mrs. Syms had nerves
without taking stock of her nerves and taking into
strict account the state these are In. and also tax
ing a full diagnosis of her nervous system. is apt
to be badly taken in" At leas; had this expert
ese w T so win sys wa saay s or w
his regiment. ! called on his wife TO pay my re-
her loneliness AS had entered the house
She rushed up to me, grasped my hand. sighed;
away! The two children began TO cry, and there
was; faintinG woman on my hands. little girl
little baby boy believing blue thunder. | looked
around to see II there was any way for me to
turn Of affairs and this unexpected reception that
hardly knew what to do or how to act in the prem
been aroused and hearing the loud and persistent
squeals of the youngsters, came up 10 see what the
kind d-hearted women who came 10 my. or rather
had been bronsht on Of hT anne n and 5e bcn bid
her good evening. promising 10 call some other day
go alone % bat ePk Gaps e TO-
Mrs. Syms was glad TO see me, apoogized for the
She felt better now as she had since heard from her
John. and that he was still In Washington. and she
hoped and prayed that ne would stay there. and not
be the seat of to kill any OF those horrid
rebels This second visit was about the only quiet
and peaceabe call made on the woman for some
time. for after that her husband sent 10 the
front. and she knew or heard nothing about him
She wanted me TO report this TO the lodge. wanted
a committee appointed 10 look after her John, or
would write to the commanding general to the
the seat of Government who had influence with the
War DEPARTMENT and send her Johnny home.
All sorts of crazy propositions came from the ner
vous little woman; she had all sorts of plans
hand. Of course, she ielt very bad about her huS
band. who absent, and / began TO feel very
bad about the wife. who present. She now
Grand Master. TO memb.rs Of other lodges with
whom she had any acquainiance. complaining that
ing her and her husband. etc. She needed nothing
pecuniariiy only she was in a terrible state of
could see. however, that unless something was
done toward pacifyng her somewhat her health
found out from her the. The name Of her family ply
ga la1 m he rhn md
Mason 4, fine man; and an p Of The Old
have talk with her. lie seemed to make lght
had known the woman since her chdhood' and
said he had no doubt that she would out OF
called on her some days after I thought the
doctor had been to see her. and to my great and
the first place her old friend and physician had
given her some guietins medicine and secondly
advised her TO get something to do, some paying
to almost anything in the line of woman's work
The old doctor knew al this and knew that her
was a good worker and rather ambitious regard
ing money King. and as there was at that time
not 10 spend her time in lamenting and crying for
her absent husband bnt rather set to work to
came marching home she would he in a better
state, to receive him. both physically and pecu-
This seemed to please her. and ! don't know but
she got to work bravey. and while earning
money she calmed down Considerably and tho
time passed better and easier for her. and when at
last, after a weary time. Johnny did come march
health but financially well fixed" The money
he. left in the bank was all there yet. with con.
sidera BILE addition in funds and interest. And
shortly after his return Brother syms. unlike the
many who at that time spent their time and
money going about blowing and recitng their
exploits. with the assistance Of his little wife
tied down 10 business and is to-day one OF our
prosperous merchants In leading avenue
He, always thought ! had done wonders for his
family In his absence. and felt grateful toward me
never dreaming how heartily sick was Of his wife
and the whole business II only in after
years when both his wife and myself were talking
over the past with him. that gradually Brother
Syms and Mrs. s. were told how little ! did and
how much the brave woman did for herself and
children and Johnny. AN OLD SECRETARY.
SIR KNIGHTS or TIE RED CROSS.
Of n.