The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1914-07-04

the furnishing 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 Morr1stown, N j., or from the Livingston
manor house, for heroes of the Revolution
had to supply their own rations, and this one in
PARTICULAR VINO raised regiment and equipped
1t at his own expense. never repaid for food
or services, by an ungratefu1 country.
Daily Lady Kitty would sally to the camp with
basket filed with goodies her ARM followed
by servant laden with clothing for the soldiers
1t was 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 a blessing these visits were to
the suffering men, There hardly one who
was 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 a CHEEKY word or laugh at the travelling
drug. shop. The baskets containing delicacies for
the very sick soon emptied and besides
many mans heart made glad by the gift
of warm worsted comforter for his neck
pair of knitted stockings mittens Then there
were underclothes made from the fleece Of the
sheep raised the Jersey hills, the wool having
been spun in tenants houses and woven on the
looms that groaned and creaked unceasng ely.
This the work of the women who stayed at
home, while the folk struggled with the
horrors Of army life.
The fingers of the women of the day were
idle. We told page AIT of Mr..
Irving's Life Of General Washington" that his
wife, "set example to lady visitors by diligent-
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 luxu-
ries in those days, although they home
made and these self-sacrifcing women denied
themselves every comfort they could in hopes of
being able to relieve the needs of the soldiers,
and many a 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 iIliterate
fellows who had obeyed the call to arms, leaving
their families in distant parts OF the country.
Lady Comforter she called by the men,
would ask each about his life, and suggest
that she would write letters to his home bound
family or friends. Pen, ink and paper would be
whipped from the great reticule hanging by her
side and dictation taken down; which must
have given pleasure and hope at many desolate
Preside The ladies were cheered In their benevo-
lent work in the camp by the concentrations OF
the commandments, who could not be sufa-
GENTLY grateful for these ministrations.
The young aide-decamp, James Monroe (wto
was recruiting his strength after severe wound
received during a late battle) was detailed to
accompany the young lady her daily rounds,
to report officially the condition OF the
This duty was not uncongeniaI to the young Vir-
gtnian and the one bright spot in the dark days
Of suffering for the in camp watching
the courtship of their future president, and his
engagement to Miss Nanny Browne soon
duly announced and hurried arrangements made
for wedding In the spring at the home of her
aunt. Mrs. Van Horne She could not have asked