Year: 1862

trleo TO steady her voice.


"A ball through the chest. Not set
down as dangerous, however,


Poor Anna What sad tidings for her.
My wife arose. Il must go to her imme-
diately'


Do so,' answered.


Soon afterward We went out together.
to my Office, and she to visit the wife of
our wounded friend.
1t IS strange how little those who are
not brought into the actual presence of
death and disaster on the battle field, re-
alIze their appalling nature. We read Of
the killed and wounded, and sum up the
figures as coldly, almost, as if the statistics
were simply commercial. We talk of
our losses as indifferently as if men were
crates and bales. do not except myself.
Sometimes feel as though all sensibility,
all sympathy for human suffering, had died
out of my heart. 1t is, perhaps, as well.
1t we perceive to the full extent the terri
Bile reality of things, we would be in half
paralyzed states, instead of continuing our
useful employments, by which the common
good is served. We cannot help the suf-
terlng, nor heal the wounded, by our men,
! tai pain. But let us see to it that through
lack of pain we fail not in ministration to
the extent of our ability.


When L met my wife at dinner-time,
her face was paler than when l parted with
her IN the morning. [ saw that she had
been suffering, while l, intent for hours
upon my work, had half forgotten my
wounded friends, Harley and his wife lone
pierced by visible and the other by an
invisible bullet.


Did you see Anna p asked.
Yes


FHow is she?'


Calm, but hurt very deeply, She only
had the news this morning.


Is she going to him p


EThere has not been time to decide
what is best. Her husbands brother is
here, and will get as much information by
telegraph to day as it is possible to receive.
To night or tomorrow he will leave for the
battlefield. Anna may go with him.


She appeared to be hurt deeply, you
say


Yes replied my wife; and was in
most intense pain. Every line in her face
exhibited suffering. One hand was pres
sed all the while tightly over her heart


What did she say p


Not much. She seemed looking into
the distance, and trying to make out things
seen but imperlectly If he were to die,
[ think it would kill her.


Two deaths by the same bullet l said,
my thoughts recurring to our morning con-
versation.


In the evening, I called with my wife to
see Mrs. Harley. A telegram had been
received, stating that her husbands wound,
though severe, was not considered danger
Gus. The ball had been extricated, and he
was reported to be doing we'll She was
going to leave in the night train with her
brother-in-law, and would be with her hus-
band in the quickest time it was possible
to make. How few hours suffering had
changed her The wound was deep and
very painful.


1t was nearly two months before Harley
was sufficiently recovered to be removed
from the hospital. His wife had been per-
mitted to see him every day, and to remain
in attendance on him the greater part of
the time.


Did you know that Mr.. Harley and his
wife were at home p said I, On coming in
one day.


NO When did they arrive?' was the
answer and inquiry.


This morning. heard it from Harleys
brother


'How are they?' asked my wife.


He looks as well as ever, [ am told,
though still suffering some from his wound;
but she is miserable, Mr.. Harley says


A shadow fell over my wife's face, and
she sighed heavily. 4 was afraid of that,
she said. 4 knew she was hurt badly.
Flesh wounds close readily, but spirit
wounds are difficult to heal. These in7isi-
BILE bullets are almost sure to reach some
vital part


met Mr.. Harley not long afterward, in
company with his wife. His eyes were
bright, his lips firm, his cheeks flushed
with health. You saw scarcely sign of
what he had endured. He talked in a
soldierly manner, and was anxious for the
time to come when the surgeon would pro-
nounce him in condition to join his regi-
ment His wound, when referred to, evi-
IDENTIFY gave him more pleasure than pain.


1t was a mark of distinctions sign that
he had suffered even life for his country.
How different with Mrs. Harley! It
touched you to look into her dreamy, absent
eyes, on her patient lips, and exhausted
countenance.


FShe has worn herself out in nursing
me- said her husband, in answer to re-
mark on her appearance. He looked at