The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-10-09
NO. ~ AND THE PUMPKIN PIE.

and beloved Mrs. James w. Harris
OF c, lumbus, Miss. recalls an amusing
yet pathetic hospital experience OF that
lady's.
The women of Columbus. when the
necessity arose. organized soldiers re-
lief association, Of which Mrs. Harris
was president. This association charged
itself with the duty of ministering to
the wants of Confederate soldiers as far
as lay in it's power, and of nursing the
sick and wounded.
Medicine, by reason of the blockade,
was hard to get and exorbitantly high,
and ouinine had been declared contra
band OF war. In every storeroom there
had been religiously boarded small
stores of tea, coffee and sugar. against
that possible evil day when some mem
Der of the family might be taken sick.
but when the sick and wounded soldiers
began to come in these precious stores
were distributed among them. Daily
the ladies went to the hospital with
hampers of delicately prepared food,
with which the men we're nourished
under the direction of the surgeon in
charge. One day Mrs. Harris, making
her usual rounds. leaving cheer and
comfort in her wake, stopped to chat
with one Of her "boys" who was then
convalescent. just as she turned to
leave her eyes 'ell upon the occupant
of bed which had been empty the
previous evening.
when did he come in and who is her,
she asked.
Some poor devil of Yankee our
boys took prisoner. He was brought in
with lot of our men last night. He
has typhoid fever, they say, and is pretty
bad off, l believe"
For a momeat wave of repuleion, OF
hate almost, swept over her. but she
was of an exceedingly gentle, sympathet-
ic nature, and she had three young sons
in the army-what il they, too, should
fall into like plight?
She stepped to his bedside and be-
held long. lean. gawky youth OF not
more than nineteen. burning with fever
and tossing in delirium. Mother.
mother, where are your" was his inces-
sent and piteous cry. Her eyes filed
with tears at the sight of the young fell
low who but a few moments ago had
been the enemy" but was now become
one of her "boys." to be tenderly nursed.
She sought the surgeon. good man,
but harassed from overwork and made
quate means for the perfect discharge
of the work he had undertaken.
Doctor. what is the matter with No.
27?"
mo. 81 has typhoid fever. madame,
he replied. at is almost hopeless
case"
"Is there nothing to be done for him,
then?"
"Very little, l fear. BY the help of
stimulants and nourishing food we
might pull him through, but as you are
aware we have none to spare. Our own
men will soon be without" and he
sighed deeply. but it will only be ore
Yankee the less," struggling his shout
ders. Doctor, I'm going to take
that poor boy in my own special
charge, and as long as there is any foe
or medicine left he shall have his share
OF it, And l know you we'll enough
doctor, to feel sure that you will ex
pend on that Yankee boy of mine ae
much care and skill as il he were one OF
my own double-dyed rebel sons"
The next day, and the next and for
many more long, weary days after, Mrs
Harris and the doctor tended and nursed
the prisoner boy from Maine. But he
grew steadily worse. His constant cry
had been for his mother, but after
awhile he came to believe that Mrs
Harris was his mother, and as long as
she was near him he was quiet. The
days heightened into weeks. and at last
the fever burned itself out, but il
seemed also to have consumed the vital
ity OF it's victim. Mrs. Harris hardly
needed to ask the doctor his opinion Of
his patient-death was written large on
that wan face
lis there any chance for him9" she
asked huskily.
"None whatever. in my opinion, ma
dame"
She stopped and kissed the sick mans
brow, then sad and fearful, left him tC
xtry to lose herself in round of duties.
The next day upon her return to the
hospital she was astonished to hear thai
her patien was still alive. She FASTENED
to him and found him conscious.
my son." she said, bending over him
nia thara ANYTHING more | can din tnI