The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-04-04
CHAPTER vi.


Aunt MARCHES diagnosis of Lieuten-
ant Oakman's case was accurate. The
comparatively slight wound gradually
grew more angry and infiamed until
his system was afire with fever and his
sufferings were intense. He walked the
floor two entire nights, stepping softly
lest he disturbed the sleeping ones who
could give him no more than their SYM
pathy, and he rested only when nat Ire
succumbed.
The fact that the old colored woman
foretold unerringly every phase of his
case kept his confidence in her at par.
In her crude way she explained that
the bullet, which ranged along the fore
arm under the sleeve of coat and shirt,
had carried some of the cloth with it,
and it was this foreign substance that
was still within the wound which caus-
ed the irritation. Until that was re-
moved by her treatment the inflamma-
ton and pain would continue, but the
mischievous substance would be exuded
at some hour on the fourth day, after
which his improvement would be rapid.
| And it came about precisely as she
said. Indeed the relief was 80 marked
that, as he expressed it, the change was
like heaven itself.
A strong man desires to be let alone
when he is suffering. Words of SYM
pathy do no good and generally are a
bore. Lieutenant Oakman was glad that
Mrs. Eldridge and her daughter under
stood this truth and forbore intruding
upon him. The effort to show the cour-
tesy and gratitude due them would
have intensified his pain.
But there were delicacies sent to his
room, accompanied by kind wishes
borne by Aunt Marcie, that were the
sweetest of balms. How these people
reduced to the most painful degree o1
poverty, could furnish him with such
delicate and nourishing food was in
conceivable to the guest. All the slaves
had run off excepting Pete, his wifi
and the boy Rastus. The plantation
had been going to waste for long time
and it would seem that the production
was not sufficient for the sustenance o.
one person.
And here were mother and daughter
accustomed to lives of refinement ani
luxury, besides the three servants, non,
of whom showed evidence of actua
want, though the poverty of attire, tn,
substitutes for genuine tea and coffe,
and the meager fare itself spoke elo
quently of the painful change of condi
tions.
It is probable that this exemption
from the distress that came to thou
sands of other homes was due to vari
ETY. of causes. As is known, the section
J lay in the very heart of the Confeder
, acy, where, until the visit of Sherman
and his army, the real presence of wa
J was not felt Although the men at
tached to the plantation had long sine
gone to war, taking the most valuabl
: horses with them, Pete and his wifi
were able to give more help to tn
: women than would be supposed. Thei
love for the mistress and her daughte
led them to self denial that no on
, besides themselves suspected.
Since Lieutenant Oakman was nc
: ailing in body and the arm which b
carried in a sling was mending rapidly
there was no call for him to stay with
: doors The second night on which h
walked the floor was the mcst wretche
of his life. A drizzling rain fell steadil
: through the dismal hours, and the pal