The Hayti herald. (Hayti, Mo.) 1908-1922, 1914-07-02

the famishng soldiers who called at the house
for food.
Every week vegetables. poultry mutton, etc.
were brought to Valley Forge by the generals
own people, either from his farm eight miles
from Morristown, N. j., from the Livingston
manor house, for heroes of the Revolution
had to supply their own rations. and this one in
particular, who raised regiment and equipped
1t at his own expense, never repaid for food
or services by an ungrateful country.
Daily Lady Kitty would sally to the camp with
basket filled with goodies on her arm, followed
by servant laden with clothing for the soldiers
1t was a long, cold walk from her home to the
camp, but the young girl braved 1t in spite of
snow and storm. The doors Of hut after hut
would be gently knocked at and the inmates ques-
toned as to their most pressing needs. No one
can imagine what blessing these visits were to
the suffering men. There hardly one who
not afflicted with frostbites and for these
Lady Kitty had sovereign cure learned from the
old squaw. This, with other remedies drawn
from the handy reticule, were lavishly given with
many CHEEKY word laugh at the travelling
drug shop. The baskets containing delicacies for
the very sick were emptied and besides
many mans heart was made glad by the gift
Of warm worsted comforter for his neck or a
pair of knitted stockings mittens Then there
were undercothes made from the fleece of the
sheep raised on the Jersey hills the wool having
been spun in tenants houses and woven on the
looms that groaned and creaked increasingly.
This was the work of the who stayed at
home while the men folk struggled with the
horrors of army life
The fingers of the women of the day were
never idle. We are told on page AIT of Mr.
Irving's Life Of General Washington" that his
wife, "set an example to lady visitors by dgent-
ly plying her needles knitting stockings for poor,
destitute soldiers" And indeed, womens busy
needles clicked far into the night even when
frugal housewives only permitted the blaze of
the fire to light the rooms, for candles were luxu-
ries In those days, although they were home
made. and these selfsacrihcing women denied
themselves every comfort they could in hopes of
being able to relieve the needs of the soldiers
and many candle that had been made In the
family kitchen and perhaps from bayberries
picked by delicate fingers, found its way to the
huts of the men. Most of these were illiterate
fellows who had obeyed the call to arms, leaving
their families In distant parts Of the country
Lady Comforter" she was called by the men,
would ask each one about his life, and suggest
that she would write letters to his homebound
family or friends. Pen, ink and paper would be
whipped from the great reticule hanging by her
ssde and dictation taken down, which must
have given pleasure and hope at many desolate
hreside The ladies were cheered in their benevo-
lent work in the camp by the commentators Of
the commander-in-chief who could not be sufa-
ciently grateful for these ministrations.
The young aide-de-camp. James Monroe (who
was recruiting his strength after a severe wound
received during late battle) was detailed to
accompany the young lady on her daily rounds,
to report onicialy on the condition of the men.
This duty was not uncongenial to the young Vir-
ginian and the one bright spot in the dark days
OF suffering for the men in camp was watching
the courtship Of their future president and his
engagement TO Miss Nanny Browne was soon
duly announced and hurried arrangements made
for wedding in the spring at the home of her
aunt, Mrs. Van Horne She could pot have asked