Year: 1868

The>year following the late civil war I
spent in oneaof the most beautiful citfes
of the late rebellous States-in city to
which nature had contributed most Law
ishly. An unusual amouDtIo of i'll health
ard lack of loyal society were the causes
of my forming a warm and intimate ac-
quaintance with the family of the presid-
ing physician of the Government hospital
in that city. As the location of the hos
pital and the grounds about were airy
and pleasant, 1t was not rare for me to
spend one or two days out of each week
in the Doctors family


The systematic, admirably arranged
and conducted duties attendant upon the
hospital was owing chiefly to the efficient
management OF the hospital matron but
whose appearance and manners were any,
thing but attractive to casual or even
studious observer. She was tall and
gaunt in figure, with faded blue eyes, and
gray hair falling about her face when she
stood still, but flying in various directions
when she moved (such was the velocity
of her pedestrianism) give her pecu-
llarly wild and haggard appearance She
usually wore an old-fashioned straw hat,
tipped back on her head, in order to be
ready for any emergency that might call
her without. Usually hat worn by
woman on the beavenward side of fifty
gives an impression Of one trying to hide
The SHOWS Of winter under the promise Of
a spring time that blossomed wears ago.
But when the matron came busting into
the Doctors room, with hair flying and
voice pitched TO the highest, hardest and
most piercing key, giving accounts of the
untalthtulness of sub officials and en-
ployees about the various wards, no one
had the disposition to insinuate that she
had any desire to ape youthfulness or de-
celve one In. regard to her amiatility.-
She seemedan embodiment of endurance,
and e cry wish ard aim Of her. existence
crystallzed into the one hard Word-busi-
ness. Early and ate she toiIed, as if
driven by some remorSle5s task matter, SO
1t was really tlresome to think Of her,
Being in the Doctors room one day
when she came IN explosive with wrath
and Indignation, [ remarked, after. she
went out: a.e ~ :.


" What a strange, hard, unfeminine
creature your matron is l wonder she
dOesn t.make you fairly nervous with her
address and peculiarities"


Oh, indeed Y he laughed; "that
would i'll beft me. | couldn't manage
the hospital at all without her. She is
fire, water, earth and air to the whole
concern. Her bark is worse than her
bite; and with all her repelent ways she
has the tender heart of a woman. |
| have seen her cry over many a poor fell
low but mind you, she never lets tears
blind her from seeing when something
more than tears will better avail him
Moreover, through her influence, she oh


tains many valuable donations to the hos
| pital." After moment he added, "You
know she belongs to one Of the first fami-
lies Of Ba.timore-the famous book pub
fishers - ...-.- ..-


No" I answered, 'I knew her name
was Conness, but / never thought Of as
sociating her with those Of Baltimore
But that being SO, how came she in her
present position ? or how do you reconcile
her ways and manners with the refining
and cultivating influences that must have
been her inheritance bg birth and sur
rounded hex early days at least z" .


All, as to that, she has a history. II
/ you can get her to tell you that you will


have the key to the whole. | learnt II