Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1908-08-22
RUFFLES.
BY Margaret spencer.
(copyrIght, ,sos. bv W. R. Hearst.)

BY Margaret Spencer.
Copyright, 1903, by W. r. Hearst.)
DO tell 1t again, joe"
But it's such an old story. boys, I've
told 1t forty times to you"
60 on! go on; could cry like a boy,
this minute, when / think Of Mothei
Bickerdyke's sweet face-and-love!
They sat together, these fine looking
men OF sixty, seventy or eighty years
at dinner with two comrades OF inc
great war-a reunion at the Ebpett
house after trip to Gettysburg with
General Boynton. Tomorrow tney
would separate, perhaps never TO meet
again.
We'll, it was in washington. saIs
shouted to me on the avenue"
Did you say Mother Bickerdyke waS
In the city?"
Il did! Saw her in the pension Office
an hour ago."
BLESS my soul! Cali Ruff. We
haven't seen that most blessed OF all
women since the war;
knew her, then, 1 suppose?"
Knew her? Well, rather"
An angel appeared with-not wings
exactly-but with healing, to two poor
tramps, with broken bones, bleeding
wounds, and starving bodies. She
brought heavenly smiles and food and
cheer and ruffied nightgowns! Gee,
lHdt lOW nun got
Always heard him called Run;
thought 1t the short for Rufus or may
be Raphael"
And this is his story:
I'm 1868, Bob and ! were discharged
from a southern hospital as able 10
go home and make room for others.
Battles were fought every day: the
wounded and dying were brought in
hundreds to the hospitals. This old
empty sleeve boys, tells my story, and
Bob had a bullet in his hip. 1t was
August and the heat uncomfortable. We
started home, but going by slow, over
crowded trains waiting in sitting
depots, In the hot sun, wanting care
our wounds broke out afresh. One
night We had to stop off Oh the Mobile
and Ohio road, crawl into a little
shanty and lie down. as we felt to die
provisions and bandages used up
clothes in rags, and our wounds bleed.
ing. In our misery, l crawled half q
mile for water. as Bob grew uncon'
scious from thirst and heat. ! must
signal a train. We must make some
one see us, l tied n bit of newspaper
] picked up to a stick, and at almost
sundown heard a train rumbling il
the distance. ! waved my stick, yelled
and howled Help! Help with all thu
strength l could muster, and the traiI
| slowed up.
What do you want" the engineer
shouted.
DO take us aboard, or leave us sup
plies"
Bob had shuffied over to the tract
and we looked a sickening pair"
THE train came to q dead stop. OF
sprang a sunshiny. fair faced woman
She carried a bundle most as big al
herself, black bag, and a sunbon
net hung on her neck. Talk abou
angels, about the gates of pearl or o
golden streets! We then and there me
an angel, right out of the New
Jerusalem.
why, boys, you do look pretty wei
used up. Want soap and water AM
bandages, and / guess something goo
in your poor stomachs.
What sort OF surgeons or nurse
let their boys go off on trains in thi
fix? Like to send them in Capita
prison while
"Out of the huge bundle and ba
came everything we needed.
I'VE built a fire and cooked such
supper as I've never tasted since. Jus
we three in that lonely place by tn
railroad. We heated water and Mothe
Bickerdyke washed and dressed ou
wounds.
"'Got no change, boys?
Not one rag"
out came the bundle and. wrappe
around paper parcels, saucepans, breat
lint, jelly and salves, came two loni
fine cambria nightgowns.
There, boys, got to be clean some
how; got to have more bandages; jus
the thing-soft as silk
$50 Bob looked at me, and looked 6
Bob, and we both looked into the des
shining blue eyes OF our saint ou
mother, and we all three laughed alou'
actually laughed.
She tore off the lower portions fC
wide bandages. and used the uppe
parts for clean shirts. Mine had SON
sort of edging, but Bob's was trimme
around the neck, sleeves and down ,
the waist with a wide. soft. fiowin
ruff1e. He family protested, and trie
to make 1t tuck inside but 1t wouldn
stay, and Mother Bickerdyke said. {
merrily: Never mind the frills. boyi
you can tell the rebels they're nor
too fine for our soldier boys"
I'VE were so heavenly comfortab
and cool and clean, with our stomach
full Of good food our poor, throbbin
burning wounds washed and wrappe
in magically healing cloths; ourselv,
decent and clean once more, tn;
ruff1es and lace were not to be rid
culed, tell you!
These garments, with many other
had been given to Mother Bickerdyl
, | NY wealthy "oHlSH lOI HUSpltdlS III
all the way through the south she hs
sold the finest to rebel women for bu
ter, eggs and milk. These gowns 81
had in her bundle for that purpose
"Oh, what a night of rest we spel
under the stars, with Mother Bicke
dyke tending US like little boys, gettir
cooling drinks, making quick broth
and finding a whole drug store in tn
bundle! The next morning she too
us along with her to the field hospit
of which she had charge When alb
we were sent nome, as unfit for duty.
And, boys, Bob goes on one leg,
, have but one arm, but tell you whel
ever, and wherever Mother Bicke
erdykes face shines in this wor
there's one arm to wave, and one l.
willing to tramp in her service
That very week "the boys" met t
blessed mother, and they cried al
laughed together over the story
"Ruffies;" and Ruff" has been call
by that name ever since the ane
met him by the way" and that was
1868.
Mother Bickerdyke died three yea