The Washington herald., 1914-10-22


I of some absent one In those few min
utes here was indeed an angel ministry
Before she left the room she sang to
them, first some stirring National melody,
then some sweet or plaintive hymn to
strengthen the fainting heart; and re-
member how the notes penetrated TO
every part OF the building.
Soldiers with less severe wounds,
from the rooms above, began to crawl
out Into the entries. and men from be-
low crept up on their hands and knees
to catch every note and TO receive OF
the benedicsion OF her presence-for such
/, It was TO them.
Then she went away. 1 did not know
who she was, but / was as much moved
and melted as any soldier Of them all
This is my nfst "reminiscences Of Helen
L. Gibson.
"Just Brfore the battle, MOtheT."
Mr.. Reeds next reference to Miss GIL
son shows her in the dreary winter days
at City Point. among the sufferers in the
field hospital.
ut Is surprising TO see what tender
spots there are in the hearts Of some
OF our toughest men," he wrote. II
went with Miss ellison into one Of the
wards. where she was asked to sing.
Joining in some simple hymn. which
called forth a response from a few
voices in different parts Of the tent, and
finding how eager the men were for
more, she sang a plaintive little song.
Just Before the Battle Mother then
the most popular song In the Army. and
reproduced in hundred different ways
by the soldiers or by the bands.
There was perfect stiffness in the
ward and melody melted into that ex-
quisite air. Tn Lonely Since Ny Mother
himself on his elbows TO catch these
notes. Some were wiping their eyes and
others, too weak to move, Were hiding
their emotions. which still was betrayed
by the quivering lip and the single tear
as II fell, but was not wiped away.
lone fine fellow, Vermont boy, very
sick, could hardly speak, when she went
in and laid her hand upon his head and
brushed back his fine. soft. black hair.
He was a man of delicate mold and she
soon found in talking with him that, al
though a private in thO, army. he magni-
fed his position. while It also reflected
back its dignity upon him.
"Homesickness had done its work, He
had been in the hospital six months,
after the severe exposures Of the earlier
part Of the campaign. He said to me,
DO you know how many men dieNof
inconsistencies in the army? o. said he,
I feel IL so much here pressing his
fingers over his heart. and it will wear
me out"
Among the COntrabands.
Quite a different phase OF Miss Gill
sons work carried her among the "con-
trabands," or freed slaves. who by thou
sands had fiocked to CITY Point and were
housed there in a haphaZard collection
Of shantiea near the river.
With the coming Of winter these people
suffered.
The attention Of Miss ellison had been
called to their condition" whites Mr..
Reed, "and soon comfortable huts were
built. clothing was sent from the North,
and their prospects frightened.
THE influence Of Miss ellison was
quickly noticeable in the camp. Her
word was law, and as she moved among
them, illustrating and enforcing the
plain duties OF life, its effect was seen
in greater faithfulness to their work, in
kindness to each other. in neatness and
gentlepess with the children.
she made them feel that their re-
ligion was not for prayer meetings and
Sundays alone, but was for the washtub.
for duty among the sick. for bearing
their burdens patiently-a religion for
work life. for all places and all
tlIltE. ucN were nldue 10 lcti lndl ln.y
had hearts and minds as well as bones
and muscles, and that while they were
compelled to work for their daily bread .
they must also steadily improve their
and be worthy of their free I
dom. by living true, devout, faithful, and /
loving lives
Miss ellison served with the army to |
the end OF the war. She was not spared |
to long taste the sweets Of peace and /
home, for she died in 1855 being then the I
wife OF Hamilton Osgood, OF Newton. /
Mass.
(CoTyright. Tsl4.)
TomOrroN-Gen. ButIer's Dutch .
Gap canal.