The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1909-11-12
IT n e
Nurse
BY
b. x. MOO Abe

eSsssse;se2Saasl2 ee;alass;al ;ss;Se2SSs
On the lawn of Riverside Drive,
amid the boom of cannon, surround.
ed by vast multitude of people and
with her hand holding the flap of
hospital tent, nurse stood with her
eyes transfixed on the nearest bat
tleship, as the guns of the flagship OF
the American Squadron announced
the appearance of the naval parade
which began the Hudson-Fulton cele-
bration on Saturday, September 18th.
1909 How the blood tinged her
cheeks, and how her grip frightened,
as she beheld the flashes and heard
the reports of those weapons of war
now being used for better purposes
but which, nevertheless, awakened
In her breast acute memories
rowful, soul-racking visions, of anoth-
er pageant, equally as sublime, and at
the same time, more interesting to
her than the review of the ships
about to pass.
Born below Mason and Dixon's
line, and blessed with that gracious
ness which has made our Southern
women known the world over, Fran
ces Kathers was, through the early
training received at the hands Of
humble parents, imbued with those
attributes of loyalty and principle
which made Kentucky famous for the
"even-divide," which cognomen it re-
ceiyed during the Civil War. Per-
haps 1t was from her father, native
Of that state, that she. inherited those
auburn locks; but, surely, it was from
the maternal side whence came the
frankness Of expression, which i'm
bued her listeners with a sense OF
justice-a lover of truth.
AS the naval demonstration hove in
sight, some one of the spectators
filled with enthusiasm, and carried
away with attendant excitement. be
gan humining the air of our National
anthem: "My Country, tbs of Thee"
At times we are placed in positions
Of admiration; the environments, the
day, the getting AWAY from ones self,
the glory, and the acknowledgment
which we desire to express, forces US
to accept the most wholesome means
casion, took the form Of song. What
a beautiful tribute to the American
flag; the starry banner which should
mean so much, and which would
mean every uplifting tendency under
the sun, If the spirit OF the occasion
were practically exemplified from
time to time, individually, as was in
tended by the Congress which adopt
ed the emblem.
During the singing OF the second
stanza of this most popular Ameri,
can air. Miss Kathers, turned pale,
her hold on the tent flap relaxed, and
she reeled and would have fallen but
for the assistance of policeman,
who conducted her to chair within
the tent. She begged to be left alone,
and in reply to questions from SYM
pathizers, said the ailment was OF
passing moment-a triffing faintness
It seems cruel how the irresisti-
BILE law of fate inexorably forces hui
man beings to live over again those
0d1lOWAu6 CApCliCINCo WAISA, IA pdAt
go to make up their positions in life.
The public which witnessed that DEM
onstration of fealty, received new
impetus to greater things; but the
nurses mind lived over again one of
the earlier trials of her life, the in
cident which was responsible. in a
measure, for the white cap and apron
which clothed her so becomingly.
While in a boarding school. in one
of our Southern cities, she had her
favorite friends, without whom, living
far from home and all that it means,
school life would lose some of its
charm. Among this class, she counted
as her one choice, Miss Vincent
They knew each others secrets;
their little primitive affairs Of the
heart were mutual: spring time saw
them hand in hand through the wood
land of joy; each succeeding sum-
mer's days sun seemed to increase
their youthful happiness; but, like
us .'all. their fall of discontentment
and winter of adversities had to be
accepted in this vale of tears.
Among their acquaintances was a
scholar at the Military Academy, a
few miles distant. sensible looking
chap, devoid of those characteristics
one observes among the indolent
rich; the kind OF fellow to whom
you like to bid the time of day, in
order to hear his response; person
who answers to the title OF good
mixer. without getting his name in
the parish book for over doing it:
the man who does things as attested
by the roster of his class, now draped
in dis memory.