Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-09-08
Miss Matilda'S Substitute
BY J. l. HARBOUR.
Copyright, 1893.
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of Kent a more motherly looking
woman than Matilda Gwynne. She
bore no resemblance whatever to the
ordinary spinster. She was large,
jolly, warm-hearted woman of about
fifty years. Never prim nor in the
least ''fussy" about her dress or any
thing else, she verified her oft-repeat-
ed statement that she always took
things as they came.
Miss Matilda was one of the most
useful persons in Kent. She was one
of those capable women who can turn
their hands to most anything, and as
the spirit of hopefulness was strong
within her, there was not day of her
life that she did not do someone a good
turn, rejoicing that it was her priv
1ege to do so. When the war with
Spain became a settled and sorrowful
fact Miss Matilda at once became filled
with a desire to do something to help.
The spirit of patriotism ran high in
her heart, and she was the first per-
son in Kent to run up flag and to be-
gin the making of comfort bags and
mosquito canopies. 1t was labor of
love and loyalty.
Then she went around with a sub
;scription paper, collecting money for
the Volunteer Aid association, and al
though Kent was but a small town,
Miss Matilda never stopped until she
had collected $500. Only she herself
knew how much of that sum had come
from her own slender purse.
And yet she was not satisfied.
IF were a man." she said, I'D en-
salr nd On
nurse if 1 was not so old and so big
and fat. / never could stand it down
there in that hot climate, for heat al
ways makes me dizzy. And, of course,
they'd want experienced nurses. I've
nursed most ev'ry disease l ever heard
of, but amt fit for an army nurse for
all that I'd just love to be down there
caring for our boys, but / amt fit, and
I'd only be in the way. But us stay
to-homes needn't be useless"
When the call for volunteers came,
it filled Miss Matilda with disappoint-
ment and indignation because there
were no volunteers from the town of
Kent.
I'm ashamed of the place." she said.
openly. ITO think that there isn't
man in this town with patriotism and
loyalty enough 20 respond to his coun-
try's call for men to battle for the
right. It's disgustin'."
s'Mebbe you wouldn't want to go if
you had family depending on you for
support" said old Mrs. Lane, to whom
Miss Gwynne had thus unburdened
herself.
ST would. For" said Miss Matilda
stoutly, "rd have my family trained
so that they'd be plumb ashamed of me
if 1 didn't go, and so that they q be
willing to make any sacrifice to have
me go. I tell you, Kent wouldn't be
without a single volunteer if was
man."
But Kent made no response to even
the second call for troops, and Miss
Matilda's regret and indignation
waxed warmer.
well, there's one thing" she said to
herself, ''if can't go myself, mebbe
can send a substitute. i know what
I'll do. I'll offer to support some mans
family if he'll go, and put him to the
test that way"
This idea took such full possession
rof her that she let the comfort bag on
which she was sewing fall into her lap
and began to run over in her mind men
who might be willing to volunteer I'M
der these conditions, but the number
of available men was very small. In
deed, Miss Matilda could not think of
even one until she CHANGED to look out
of her sitting room window and saw
Sam Dawson spading up strip in her
vegetable garden.
why, there's Sam Dawson!' she ex-
claimed in the spirit of one who has
made joyful discovery: hes great,
strong fellow, who ought to be match
for any Spaniard in even hand-to-
hand fight. I could support his wife
and two children for two dollars 4
week better than he supports them.
and I'd give more than that to tell that
/ had a substitute fghtin' for my coun-
try.
''And it might be just the making
of him to go to war. Then, again, he
might get killed, but if he did he'd be
dying for his country, and his family
would have pension, which would be
more cash money to them ev'ry week
than Sam brings in"
After a little further reflection Miss |
Matilda suddenly appeared in her lit
tile garden with a corner of her apron |
thrown over her head and her crisp |
calico skirts gathered up in her hand. |
How you getting along, Sam?" she |
asked.