The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-06-02
My Bull Run Soldier
BY Fannie L. Fancher.

~ GUNS W NC u 4CS u1Al oCO1C llCI,
mother" said Cousin Tom, COM
ing in at the kitchen door with two
trimming pals of foaming milk.
N'Think we won't go to the village to-
day, and Parson Brown will preach to
empty pews!"
Every likely! It's so sultry I know
severe storm is brewing" said Aunt
Jane, while deity straining the milk
into the rows of shining pans.
The door of the living-room was ajar,
therefore this conversation had been
noted by Cousin Helen, Sister Kate and
myself. With lazy stretch and yawn,
Helen said: "Oh, dear! this long, sui
try Sunday will be very tiresome. What
can we girls do to relieve the monot-
ony? TO go to church is out of the
question:"
''Sister Ruth and I must write our
father long letter-poor dear father!
had bad dream about him last night,
thought he was woun-"
FLUSH, for pity sakes!" cried I ex-
citedly. Don't you remember the
Saturday night dreamed and Sunday
morning told, twill come to pass be-
fore week DID,"
20, fie, Ruthie, I wouldn't be so SUI
perstitious!"
'You wouldn't would you? Who
wore stocking inside out all the way
from Ohio to Wisconsin, fearing to turn
her luck, and who regretted the night
before starting, that the moon was
visible over her left shoulder?' said 1,
triumphantly.
''Oh, we'll, a body can but think of
these nonsensical things, that they hear
from babyhood, though they may not
believe in them! Heigh-ho! I'm going
to begin letter to our dear old captain
this minute
'All right, Kitty, you are so good at
description, tell him all about our
journey last week to this western wild,
and I'll write particularly regarding
uncle, aunt and cousins, though father
was here visiting his sister about five
years ago. It isn't nearly so isolated
here in Wisconsin as expected. Why,
Milwaukee is really pretier city than
Cleveland"
"Halloo, girls,' cried Helen, rushing
in from the kitchen, there's splendid
idea for taking up time. See, the first
page of yesterdays paper is completely
filled with lists of poor soldiers who are
languishing in hospitals. Let each
choose name, and write just the best
letter, of sympathy that we can frame;
surely we can do this much to cheer
the dear boys who are risking their
lives for u.s."
"Capital ideal" said I, ''but we had
better ask Aunt Jane if it is perfectly
proper"
II can see. no harm, my DEAR" said
aunt, who, being on the porch, over
heard the plan.
"Now for our names;" said Helen.
let's choose from different hospitals ~
Quickly making choice, the scratch
of our pens was the only sound heard
for some time on that muggy August
day. After reading aloud each sympa-
thizing missive, our eyes were suffused
with tears. All, we did not in the least
exaggerate our feelings, for in those
terrible times how we suffered from the
horrors of the cruel war, and though
our sex exempted us from going to the
front, the months and days of agoniz-
ing suspense caused us great suffering.
Say not that woman had no part in the
terrible conflict; to part with all that
she held dear, to suffer through her af-
fections caused as much pain az the
physical suffering of the soldier.
1t was very hard for my sister Kate
and me to part with our father, since
being bereft of a mother we were left
quite alone; hence our visit that ter
ribie summer Of '61 to Aunt James farm
homa i'm the far west. :~
Nearly two weeks had passed since
our letters had beer sent away when
Uncle James brought home two letters
of reply. With nervous haste I tore
mine open and read the following in
teresting epistle: <.,~> F..
MY deer miss Franklin III %FzENt%ks
was orful glad tu git line from sum
body sides my own folkses. / was In the
Teller. Wall sence been sick In this ere
hospital, rit potry bout the battle Of Bull
run efsye| rite tn me agin, will send yew
the hui % varses OF my pome.
Yours trewly Jack Downs.
po1Hssec1 fl ~