The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1915-12-17

L
parent Until the Next Day and After
He Had Taken His Departure.
1t was in the spring Of 1862, when
Stonewall Jackson, marching down the
Shenandoah valley, had won bril-
liant victory over General Banks,
whom he drove north until the friend
~ Potomac interposed its screen and
he found safety and care for his sick
and wounded in the hospitals of Fred
erick.
A new nurse had been assigned to
one of the hospitals the day before the
battle-a Massachusetts woman named
Charlotte Mckay, widowed and made
childiess within a single year. The
patients she had under her care were
mostly Federals of course, but there
was good sprinkling Of wounded
Confederates who were prisoners Of
war.
One day, just after dinner time, the
chief surgeon entered Mrs. McKay's
ward, accompanied by stranger. The
man had the appearance of student.
His head was bent and his brows were
drawn together, with two deep lines
between them, as If he had spent long,
thoughtful hours at his desk, and his
eyes, the color of blue STEEL swept the
ward with keen glance that seemed
to take in everything. His grizzled
beard showed that he was no longer
young, but his step and bearing were
elastic and vigorous.
"Dr. Janeway is from louisiana" ex-
planned the chief as he introduced the
stranger HE had to abandon large
sugar plantation there when the war
broke out because Of his loyalty. He
was surgeon in the Crimean war and
so is interested In seeing how we do
things here
The stranger chatted genially with
the nurses and the surgeon, discussed
their operating facilities, compared
them with those Of the Crimea, ques-
toned them about the rations OF the
prisoners and accepted steaming cup
Of hot soup from the nurse
The prisoners were watching and lis
tening to all that passed, in strong con-
trast to the sullen Indifference they
had shown before. One young Virgin
ian, tall and muscular, looked as II he
were about to spring from his cot.
"That boy looks like he came from
near my place." observed the southern
Unionist MAY I speak to him?'
Eyes, doctor; you may talk to any Of
them"
With a curiously quick and noiseless
step the visitor reached the bed and
conversed for moment in tones that
were inaudible to all but the young sol
der. He returned in moment.
II was mistaken A chance resem-
blance deceived me. The man says ha
Is 'hankering for drink, nurse. I
told him would ask you for It."
The wounded man drank the water,
stretched out on his side and appeared
to sleep, while the two surgeons went
on to another ward and presently left
the building. Mounting his horse, DR..
Janeway babe cordial goodby to the
chief, bowed with deep respect to the
two women and rode slowly out Of the
hospital grounds.
The prisoners were in better spirits
the next morning. A laugh passed
from time to time. 1t was almost as II
some excellent joke unknown to their
attendants had raised their courage.
did you know the gentleman who
was here yesterday Mrs. Mckay
asked the boy soldier. The lad grinned
up at her and replied:
Eyes, ma'am."
"You did? Who was hep
at was Stonewall jackson, ma'am."
The nurse stared, then she said:
you're making fun of me, Pryor.
General Jackson here In the midst of
our armiesy'
st wouldn't be the first time," re-
torted the boy, nettled by her unbelief.
more than once, when he hadn't Just
the scout he wanted at hand, he has
gone on his own errands."
"But what If he should be recog-
nized!'
who's to recognize him? None Of
your folks, for those who would know
him are fighting, not nursing the sick.
And none Of ours, for they wouldn't
tell If they saw him. Reason he spoke
to me yesterday was cause I was
showing too much interest. I'm one Of
bis foot cavalry ma'am. he wanted
to know just how we was bein' treat
ed, and so he came to see."
1--WE try to do the best we can for
you, Pryor"
'Yes, ma'am. l told him SO. We've
been treated heap better than we ex-
pected to be. But it's tough to be q
prisoner, you know. And that was
Stonewall Jackson."-Youth's Compan.
ion.
Nothing oratIs.