The San Francisco call., 1906-05-20
4 Taleof eWhaeHouse
Revealing the Human
Side Of the Hero
of Appon,attox,

her best. She managed to take in few
cents each day. just enough to encourage
h r into the hope that the next day would
see turn for the better. For three or
four months she had hung on doggedly.
IS she stood looking hopelessly at the
business that was rushing by her door
and with the snow swirling up around
her and sweeping into her basket, threat
er1ing speedy ruin TO her stock in trade,
she presented a pitiable picture. An old
fashioned shawl was drawn tightly
around her childish shoulders; a Tam o.
Shanter topped q glorious young head OF
hair that in itself nigh. have been pro-
lection from the biting March winds. Her
shoes were none too stout nor her stock
ings too warm for such frail child as
she appeared to be. Her face. however,
was full of freckles that chased one an
other around and gave indication of
healthy constitution.
J1st as the last OF the clerks were
returning to the offices and Mary was
choking back a tear over her Improbable
day a window of the great building was
raised and a kindly voice called to her.
She was asked to display her basket.
Proudly she lifted the linen from her
wares and, picking out one of her bright
est oranges and an apple, she passed
them over. Her purchaser took twenty
five cents worth of lunch, handed Mary
q freshly coined quarter and told the
little gir! to climb into the window and
go through his room to the other men,
that they might all buy something. He
was the assistant paymaster of the army.
and of course there was no disobeying his
orders. although it was against the rules
OF the rules of the department Tor any
vendor to be allowed inside a government
building. Mary sold her entire basket
Of stock before she left the paymaster's
Office She was told to come to the win
dow the next day. She did and her basket
was empty within five minutes
At the end Of the third week that Mary
had been coming to the paymaster's office
the assistant called her to his desk and
handed TO her large sealed envelope.
bearing the paymaster's stamp.
Take that up to Army Headquarters
the first thing Monday when you come
around and have an extra supply in your
basket. Bring as much as you can carry
and I'll promise that you will not go home
with any of IT."
{ When Mary appeared Monday. just be-
fore noon, she was dripping from head to
foot. 1t was a weeping day and the side
walks were constantly washed with films
of running water and the cutters were
almost choked. But not a thing in the
basket was harmed. The little girl had
carefully tucked coverings enough around
her stock to thoroughly protect ii. She
went at once to the paymaster's window,
but was told, 60 up to headquarters
first"
on the girl trudged. through the slosh-
ing wet, for a quarter of mile. At the
hea dquarters door she was met by a stern
man who told her she could not come in.
She offered her envelope and the door
keeper unbended instantly and led her
into great room, where. behind a large
nat topped desk, sat soldier. Something
in the mans face made the little girl feel
at once that she was among friends. The
soldier was General t. S. Grant. :,
General Grant read the note. It was
request from the assistant paynaster,
who knew the General Intimately, for him
to try some of Mary',s apples General