Year: 1869

Il had been wounded and was in one
OF the Washington hospitals-almost well,
yet still not quite fit for duty in the saddle.
hate. above all things, to be Idle; so /
begged for light employment as hospital
nurse, and they gave it to me, and said l
did my duty we'll


81 never felt for our poor, brave fellows
as did there. had been very fortunate,
and until that summer had never been in
hospital. Now l saw such suffering and
such heroism as | had never seen on the
battlefield Companionship helped to
keep up the spirits Of those we could not
save, to the last. Then it seemed hard
that each brave boy must make his march
down the dark valley alone. But they all
went off gallantly. would rather have
gallOped forward on forlorn charge, any
day, than have followed any one of them
over to the Soldiers Rest though it is
pretty place to camp down in. In fact,
my heart grew so soft here, SO Christian
lied, as it were, that forgot to look for
my old enemy; for so, you see, | still re-
garde1 the surly straggler who refused me
water at the roadside spring.


"After the battles of the Wilderness, a
great multitude of the wounded were
poured in upon u.s. all our wards were





weather; most of the patients were fevered
by their wounds and exposure to the sun,
and up and down the long CHASTITY lines OF
white beds the great cry was for water. 1
took large pitcher of ice-water and
tumbler, and started on the round of my
ward, as eager to give as the poor fellows
were 30 receive The ice ratified and rung
in the pitcher in q most inviting way, and
many heavy eyes opened at the sound, and
many hot hand was stretched out, when
| all at once, on one of the two farthest beds
/ of the ward, [ saw man start up, with
his face flaming with fever and his eyes
/ cleaning, as he almost screamed out :
Water give me water, for Gods sake :


"Then, madam, l could see no other
face In all the ward, for it was lie
81 made a few steps toward him, and
saw he knew me as we'll as knew him,
for he fell back on his pillow, and just
/ turned his face toward the wall. Then
the devil tightened his grip on me, till it
seemed he had me fast and sure, and he
seemed to whisper into my ear: Rattle
+ the ice in the pitcher and aggravate him
/ Go up and down, giving water to all the
others, and not drop to hirnp


"Then something else whispered. little
nearer, though not in such sharp, hiss
ing conscience, | suppose it was
good Methodists might call it the Holy
Spirit other religious people might say
it was the spirit of my mother; and per-
I haps would all mean about the same thing
anyhow, it seemed to say: Now, my
boy, is your chance to return good for
evil. Go to him, give him to drink first of
allr Aud that something walked me right
/ up to his bedside, made me slide my hand
,1.r. ,I,, H.
put the tumbier to his lips. How he
drank | never can forget-in long, deep
draughts, almost tumblerful at a swal-
low, looking at me 50 wistfully all the
/ time. When he was satisfied, he fell back,
and again turned his face to the wall,
without word. But somehow | knew
that fellows heart was touched, as no
4 chaplain's sermon or tract had ever touch
/ ed it.


"I asked the surgeon to let me have the
sole care of this patient, and he consent
4 ed, though he said the man had bad gun
shot wound in the knee, and would have
to submit to an amputation, if he could
stand it; and if not, would probably
make me great deal of trouble while he
+ lasted.


Well, took charge Of him-I had to
doit, sOmehow-but he kept up the same
silence with me for several days; then,
one morning, just as | was leaving his
bedside, he caught hold of my coat and
pulled me back. | bent down to ask him
wha.-h wanted, and he said, in hoarse
whisper you remember that canteen
business in the Shenandoah Valey?'
Yes; but it don't matter now, old fellow,
[ answered.


&c But it does matter he said. Il don't
know what made me so surly that day,
only that an upstart young lieutenant from
our town had just been swearing at me for
Struggling; and | wasn't to blame, for |
was sick. l came down with the fever the
next day. AS for what | said TO you, /
was ashamed of it before you got cut of
sight; and, to tell the truth, I've been
looking for you these two years, Just to
tell you so. But when l met you here,
where | was crying, almost dying, for
water, it seemed so like the CARRYING out
OF your curse, was almost afraid of you.


" tell you what, madam, it gave me
strange feelings to think Of him looking
for me, to make up, and looking for him,
to be revenged, all this time; and it was
such little sin, after all I'm not
. ashamed to confess that the tears came
into my eyes as l said: Now, Eastman
(that was his name; he was Maine many,
don't fret about that little matter any more
it's all right, and you've been better fell
low than all along


But he had taken it to heart, and was
too weak to throw it off, 1t was so
mean,' he said, SO unsoldier-like and bear
ish; and | was so good to forgive it, he
insisted.


81 stood by him while his leg was am
I putated; and when, after time, the sur
geon said even that couldn't save him,
that he was sinking, l found that the man
was like brother TO me. He took the
hard news that he must die, just as the
war was almost ended, like the brave fel-
low he was. He dictated last letter to
his sister, the only relative he had gave
me some directions about sending some
keepsakes to her, and then asked for the
chaplain. This was good. sensible, elder
iy man, and he talked in about the right
style, think, and made us all feel quite
comfortable in the belief that in the
Fathers house there must be mansion
for the poor soldier, who had so often
camped out in snow and rain and that
for him who had given his all for his
country, some great good must be in store.


"At last, the poor fellow said to the
chaplain: Isn't there something in the
Bible about giving cup of cold water p
All madam, l cart tell you how that
hurt me. 20 Eastman said ], don't,
/ dontF But he only smiled as the chap
! lain repeated the verse. Then he turned
I tn me and sai1 sVor 1;J,,t tbinL- xvbot