Year: 1862

to New York on the Ocean Queen, "a week |
or two ago, was young man named
Henry -, Massachusetts, volunteer.
He was little fellow-scarcelys seventeen,
| afterwards learned-and his smooth
face was very boyish and innocent in its
look The hair was cropped close on his
shapely head, and his eyes, tho clouded
with fever, and wild looking-for he was
often wandering in mind-told of unu.
sual intelligence, and [ thought [ could
discover in his general appearance tokens
which Indicated that he had gone from q
home of more than ordinary comfort, and
from care that was loving and assiduous,
to fight in the armies of his country, and
to fall prey to insiduous disease. Like
very many of the sick, he had been SO
much alone, had suffered so much, and
was so weak, that utterance was exceed
ingly difficult, now that he was where
there were attentive friends to watch by
him, and to encourage him in his trouble
His sentences were broken, and his COM
mand of language seemed nearly gone,
the words coming out disjointedly.


AS the ship approached New York,
and when he was tod we were almost at
our wharf, Henry's eye caught an un,
wonted lustre, and half-smile played
upon his smooth, flushed face.


"Tm so glad"'


Poor fellow, New York suggested to
him quiet, and more comfort than the
hospital Of the camp or the crowded berth
of the hospital ship could afford, It also
made him feel near home and tender
nursing.


"If mother only knew, she would come"


"Your mother shall know, my dear boy.
As soon as the ship touches the wharf, |
will telegraph her, if you like


40, do; if she ,ooutd only come"


So I took from the sick boy his moth
ers address-it was a town in the sub
urbs of Boston one of those beautiful
suburban villages. which had often rid
den through, to covet as the fit spots for
happy homes. After taking the address,
l gave Henry his punch, and he soon fell
into sleep, which happily must have
lasted till we were in the hospitable har-
Dor of the Empire City, and the hurrying
feet of officers and sailors above and the
slow pull of the engines awoke him.


Once we were fairly at the wharf, dis
patched a messenger to the telegraph Of
fee, and before many hours the mother
knew that her boy was in New York,
longing for the sight of her kind face, and
for her loving attention.


On Sunday Henry was conveyed in an
express wagon to the New York hospital.
could have wished for him better ve-
hicle, bat it was impossible shat he should
have anything else, As he was borne
over the eangway, [ came to him and
taking his hand, bade HIM be courageous,
for bis mother would speedily come to him.


"Thank you I'm 50 glad"


And then left him, for there were
many other sick men that needed at
tention.


Monday morning I made my way to
the hospital, and passing through the
wards, crowded with fevered men, came
upon Henry, and by his side was lady.
His mother had indeed come. hur-
rying as fast as steam would let her,
and was now laying her cool hand on the
hot forehead of the tired, sick boy. He
did not open his eyes as I spoke to the
mother and expressed my thankfulness
that my young patient had got so fit a
nurse, and my hopes that under such
care as he would now get, the fever would
abate, and Henry would soon be again in
his home in -


"Poor little fellow ~ she said. 1t does
seem hard that SO young boy-not yet
eventeen-should have had such hard
ships to endure. But he wanted to go,
and [ could not forbid him. Some moth
ers must suffer, and God has chosen me-"
All, yes Many mothers must suffer.
The pains which rack, the weakness
which enfeebles the occupants of these
many couches are not borne by them
alone, but oppress the hearts of mothers,
and sisters, and wives, and sweethearts
in many distant homes. War lays rude
hand on the happiness of thousands Of
households.


Bidding the mother a good morning,
and again expressing my hopes for the
recovery of her boy, | left, praying that
if disease or wounds should fall to the lot
of my own soldier boy, God would bless
him with the opportunity of having his
4 mothers care.


The next day, in the afternoon, l was
" again in the ward. The mother was
e there no longer administering to poor


Henry's wants, or gently wiping his brow
for he was past the need of such care
now-dead.


Bearing up bravely under the load oi