Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-02-23

scarcely ask for that for which 1
plead They expect TO sacrifice their
lives for their country I know that,
If they could come north, they could
live, and be well, strong men again.
at least, many of them. I say / know,
because l was sick among them last
spring, surrounded by every comfort,
with the best of care. and determined
to get web. | grew weaker. ana
weaker. day by day. until, not being
under military Law. my friends
brought me north. I recovered en-
tirely by breathing northern air"
While she was 50 earnestly speak
ing, Mr. Lincoln's expression OF face
changed often, but he did not take
his eyes from her. He was evidently
! distressed. for he was convinced that
she was speaking the truth His face
/ contracted almost painfully as he
said: You assume to know more
than l do" The tears almost came
to the lady's eyes as she replied:
Pardon me. Mr. Lincoln, intend uU
| disrespect; but it is because OF this
knowledge. and because l do know
what you do not know, that / coile TO
YOU. II sou had known what ] know,
and had net already ordered What /
ask, should know that an appeal to
you would be in vain; but | believe IN
YOU. believe the people have not
trusted YOU in vain. The question
only is-do you believe me, or not?
If you believe in me, you viii give us
hospitals: if not-well."
"Yo, assume to know more than
surgeons do. said Mr., Lincoln.
sharply. oh, no, she replied; =
could not perform an amputation
nearly so well as some of them do.
But this is tue l do not come here
for yoEr favor [ am no aspirant for
military favor or promotion. While 1t
would be the pride Of my life to COM
mand your respect and confidence,
stin, even this can waive to gain
my obieet-waiye for the time, You
the medical authorities know as well
as you and 10, that you are opposed
to establishing northern hospitals;
and they report TO please you. They
desire your favor. I come to you
from no casual tour OF inspection, hay-
I ing passed rapidly through the general
hospitals, with a cigar in my mouth
and a rattan in my hand, talking 10
the surgeon in charge of the price OF
cotton, and abusing our generals in
/ the army H. not knowing and per-
I forming the, duty better, and finally
coming into the open air with long
drawn breath as though ! had Just es-
capped suffocation, and complacently
! saving to the surgeon: A very fine
hospital you have here. sir. The boys
/ seem 10 be doing very we'll A little
more attention 20 ventilation is de-
sirable, perhaps It is rot thus thar
! have visited hospitals For eight
! long months-from early morning IN
! I'll late at night, sometimes have
visited the regimental hospitals on
/ the Mississippi, from quincy to Vlcks
burg; and come to you from the
| cots Of men who have died, and VINO
might have lived if you had permitted
It. This is hard 10 say but it Is
r~ue'
/ While she was speaking the last
sentences, afr. Lincolns brow mad be
come severely contracted; and a
/ panied. hard expression had settled
upon his whole face Then nc
sharply asked her how many men her
state had sent to the field she
replied. about fifty thousand THAT
means" he responded, that she has
about twenty thousand now WITH
an unpleasant voice and manner he
/ continues you need not look SC
sober: they are not al dead" the
veins filled In his face painfully, and
one across his forehead was fearfully
large and blue Then, with an i'm
patient ln6T>nent OF his whole frame
he said: 4 have a good mind 10 dis
miss them all from the service and
have no more trouble with them
The lady was astonished, as she
might well be, for she knew that he
was not in earnest. They sat looking
at one another in silence. He bad be
come very pale, and at last she broke