Graham guardian., 1898-09-02

here almost side by side on the mt
tie porch, Capt. Mills and Private
Clark, one white, the other black.
They were wounded almost at he
same time and in the same way
The patient suffering and hcroIsm
OF the black soldier wero fully
equal to the Anglo-Saxon. IL vas
quite the samC-the gentleness and
appreciation, They were a study,
these men, 50 widely apart in Iife,
but here so strangely close md
alike, on the common ground of
duty and sacrifice. They received
precisely the same care. Each vas
fed like like child, for with their
bandaged eyes they were a. help
less as blind men. When the zee
pads were renewed on Capt. MIlls'
eyes the same change was made on
Private Clarks eyes. There was
no difference in their food or beds.
Neither ever uttered q word of
complaint. The nearest to a regret
expressed by Capt Mills was q
heavy sigh, followed by the words:
Oh, we were not ready; cur army
was not prepared"
"Of himself ny talk cheerfully,
strong and hopeful, 4 think |
shall get back with the sight of
one eye,' he said. That was all.
In the early part Of the night he
was restless-h1s brain was active
strong and brave as he was. The
moonlight was very bright, a hood
of silver light, seen only IN the
tropics. Hoprug to divert him !
said 'Tbe moonlight is too bright
captain. l will try to put up a
little screen, SO you can get to
Sleep He realized at once the
absurdity and the Iudicrous side
and with an amused smile replied;
But you know cant see the
moonlight
II said it was time to get more
ice for his head, and half stumbled
across the porch; blinded by tears.
When told who his nearest neigh
Dor was, Capt. Mills expressed
great sympathy for Private Clark,
and paid a high tribute to the
bravery of the colored troops and
their faithful performance Of duty.
Private Clark talked but little. He
would lie apparently asleep, until
the pain in his head became un-
bearable, then he would try to sit
up, always carcfalto keep the ice
pad on his eyes over the bandage.
wat can l do for you, ClarkT l
would ask, tNothing, thank you,'
he woG!!11 Answer, ftsvory ice
and eomforta here. But it's
only the misery in my head-the
misery isr%FfuI.'
at is,not -auliIseIy chat Capt.
Mills will yet have sight Of both
eyes, and&riygte C# will leave
here atsoTn Stter shape than at
first seemed possible. They are
most anxious to g home; nn-i--....lI
bo among the first who will be TAX
en- on the hospital ship for trans
portation to the United States. |
have mentioned these two men not
as exceptional in bravery, but to
illustrate the rule Of heroism, and
because they happened to be among
the patients under my immediate
care that night. II was a strange
night picture, one that could never
be dimmed by time, but will live
through all the years of ones life.
CATER midnight a restful atmos-
phere pervaded the hospital, and
the blessing of sleep fell upon the
suffering men, one by one. Iu the
little interval of repose 1 dropped
into an old chair on the porch,
looked away into the mountains
sharply outlined in the moonlight,
and the sea-like waves Of silver
the camp on shore-near by thirty
or forty horses standing motionless
then the hospital tents, with now
aud then the flickering light of a
candle; in the background the cliffs
with here and there Spanish
blockhOuse. Over all the tragedy
Of life and death, the pain and sor-
row-that was the stiffness Of a
peaceful night-a stiffness broken
only by the sound ofthe surf
brought back on the cool, refresh
ing breeze, for which we all thank
cd God"