St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-05-07
BEFRIENDED BY MRS. LINCOLN.
A Young Soldier Who Did Not Know 1t was the
Lady Of the White House.

law q iIlhN' ~
see, guess, said Assemblyman James
II. Agent OF West Superior.
With you?
No. 1t is too precious to carry
around in grip or pocket.
Who wrote it and what does it
contain?
Let me tell you a story before
answering your double question. In
1864, while following Grant toward
Richmond, and when we had come
so close to it that they could hear
our muskets and we their church
bells, was stricken with fever and
sent to the hospital. In time they
landed me, more dead than alive, in
one OF the great hospitals at Wash
ington. was very sick boy. Boy
is right for that was all | was
sweet 16, as a girl of that age would
be. For three weeks had no ambl-
ton to live.
One day, after | had passed the
danger point and was taking little
notice OF what was going on, num-
Der of ladies came through the hos
pital. They had baskets containing
deicacies and bouquets OF beautiful
flowers. One of them stopped at
each cot as they passed along. A
bunch of blossoms was handed o
each sick or wounded soldier, and, il
he desired it, delicacy OF some kind
was also distributed. Every now
and then one of the women sat in
camp chair and wrote letter for
the poor fellow who hadn't the
strength to write himself.
| wanted nothing to eat or drink,
but those pretty posies held my
attention. One OF the ladies stopped
, at my cot. hadn't yet got my full
growth, and in my then emaciated
pale condition | must have looked
like child She seemed sur
prised as she looked at me.
, You poor child; what brought you
: here?
They sent me here from the Army
t of the Potomac.
! But you are not soldier.
S Yes, madam; | belong to a New
e York regiment. The surgeon here
has the record.
d Can l do something Tor you? Can
d you eat something or take swal-
J, low of wine?
am not hungry or thirsty.
Can | write a letter for you?
Not today; I'm too weak.
IS Then | will leave some Of thes
lie flowers with you. President Lincoln
n helped to Gull them. | will com
again in two or three days. Keel
|! up your courage. You are going t.
get well; you must get we'll
D. She was the first woman who ha,
b. spoken to me since | reached tn
W army. Looking at the sweet flower
in which Mr. Lincoln had helped to cul
e and thinking Of the dear woma
ID who had spoken so kindly and hope
fully, had more effect in brightenin
t, my spirits than all else that ha
Is occurred in the hospital.
at Three days later the same lad
I'd came again direct to my cot.
ne How is my little soldier DO
On today? she asked in a way S
n motherly that it reminded me of m
,e- good mother back in New York, tt
to patriot mother who had given h,
al consent to my going to the war aft
of praying over the matter many time
That hospital angel-that is wh'
ad we learned to call those mob
women-after giving me taste
ID, chicken aud jelly, asked if l had
at. mother. She saw by the tears in n
ty- eyes that had.
as Now, we will write mother lette
he Then she sat by my side and wro
To- letter. hadn't been able to wrl
Sir for month.
| have told your mother that l a
,ck near her soldier boy, and have talk
at with him. What shall | tell her {
ar you? That you are still too weak
,rd write yourself?
cir Please don't tell her that; it W
on make her worry. Tell her am ia
lph getting well.
has The first day / got home I
to mother asked me how liked Nj
of Lincoln, the presidents wife.
| never met Mrs. Lincoln. WI
made you think had?
cd; Then she took from box clos
oss guarded in the old bureau, lett