"After the first repulse of the army before the Confederate stronghold (Vicksburg), I started for the place with stores from the Commission, and passed ten days in dealing out life, health, and happiness, in parcels, to our poor invalids. A solemn processionskeletons we should call them at home-helped by crutches and friendly hands, filed past the little store-house, with certificates of need-not merely on paper, but in their whole aspect. How many

memorable scenes and words might have been recorded in those days could I have spared head and hand for the task! Will you have some soft crackers?' I ask of one man, whose only reply is an outstretched hand, a longing, grateful look on his thin face. 'Shall I give you an onion?' to another. 'Can you? I have longed so for ten cents to buy one from the sutler.' 'Perhaps you would like some home-made ginger-bread.' That always brought tears, for it was just like wife's or mother's. One wasted man drew a small paper of coffee from his haversack, saying: 'I know you don't sell things here, but I thought if you'd change this coffee, saved from rations, for a little tea, I believe 'twould give me an appetite, and I might get well.' I had marked his weary ascent of the stairs, and my heart was too full to allow of speech. I motioned back the parcel, therefore, handing him at the same time some tea, white sugar, a lemon, two onions, and a little pepper. He was amazed!

'Is that all for me?' he asked. 'Yes,' I nodded; at which he covered his face with his hands-too thin to hide the tears; and I, almost crying myself, laid my hand on his shoulder, and said: 'Why do you weep?' 'God bless the women!' he ejaculated. 'I've seen nothing like this since I left father's farm, where we knew nothing but plenty. I've been sick for three months; you must excuse me, but to see a woman's face, to hear her voice, unmans me. But don't think I rue my bargain, for I don't; I'd go through all the suffering again, and more too, for the sake of the old Flag.' 'Perhaps,' I answered, 'these very things came from the Society to which your mother belongs-who knows?' 'I shouldn't wonder. She writes that nothing ever keeps her from the meetings; she's packed many a box for the Commission. What would become of us poor fellows,' he added, 'if you good people didn't take care of us?' As he left me, he paused at the doorway, saying: 'I believe I've turned the corner; I haven't felt so well for months;' and when he reached the landing I still heard his voice, calling: 'Farewell! God bless you!'

"After the assaults of the 19th and 22d of May, I again visited the ranks, and was making my way through the entrenchments, escorted by a Missouri officer, when a strange, sweet sound greeted us, of soldiers singing a hymn. As they began the second verse I sang with them, when they turned, and

would have stopped, but perceiving that I contin ued the strain, they took it up again. At the close they exclaimed, with emotion: 'Why, madam, did you drop from heaven into these rifle-pits? We never saw a lady here before.' 'I have come from your friends, and bring you messages of love and praise,' I answered; 'I have come to bring you the comforts we owe you, and love to give.'

think so much of us?' cried the men.

Do they 'We' can

'Yes,

fight another year on that, can't we, boys?' yes,' said some, brushing away the tears. 'Why, boys,' I continued, we women think of little else now-a-days but you soldiers. If we meet to sew, it is for you; if to have a good time, 'tis to raise money for the Commission; if to pray, we pray for you. Even the children, lisping their prayers, say, God bless the soldiers.' By this time an eager crowd had come forth from its hiding places, like a flock of birds from the rocks, and an occasional sob broke the silence. What cheers, tears, thanks, and reverence have not the words home, wife, mother, evoked from the long lines of our ranks! I believe the earth was never trod by a more honorable, brave, tender, enduring race of men than these Union soldiers. As the group closed about me, each eager to show his picture of some absent woman or child, I lingered, loth to end a visit which seemed so rare and precious to them. was much work to be done. Hand

But there after hand

grasped mine as I bid farewell, and told them that when I returned I should have to speak of men who never flinched in battle; who sang hymns of praise in the rifle-pits; of eyes that never wept for their own suffering, yet overflowed at the name of home, or at the pictures of wife and child. I told them that the people would be more than ever assured that such men could not be vanquished, and that too much could not be done for them. They followed me, with cheer upon cheer, while my companion, the officer, begged for a visit to his men next day, saying that "twould be worth a victory to them. They will talk of you afterward,' he added, 'around their fires, on the march; they will recall your looks and voice, and all will agree that you were like an angel, or exactly like each man's beloved one at home.' Such reverence have our men for women. Down in the valley lay my son's regiment; I had known most of its members personally, and was saddened, therefore, at sight of its thinned ranks, wherein I sought in vain for faces once familiar. The boys gathered about me, asking many an eager question of home; and as we talked I recalled to them the scene in Chicago, at the presentation of their flag. 'I heard your colonel pledge to bring the colors home,' I said, 'or cover them with blood as well as with glory. Will you let me see them now-if after all your battles they are still preserved ?' The sergeant hastened

to unfold the banner from wrappings, but it was so soiled and tattered that I should not have recognized it, and told the men so. 'It is spoiled by smoke and balls,' said the man. 'Ah, yes, you have covered it with glory then; I hope that it has not required the shedding of blood, too! No one answered for a moment; then a soldier said: 'Two were killed defending it, and two are lying in the hospital below suffering for it.' 'Ah, you have been true to your pledge, boys,' said I. Now sing 'Rally Round the Flag' for me.' And they sang; their voices echoing through the valley, while we stood in sight of the turf, reddened with blood of men who had fallen while holding the flag aloft. Since that day the song has been a sacred one to my ears; it rings with freedom to the captive, with hope for the world; let us not profane it with thoughtless or frivolous utterance.”

The group of listeners said but little over the reading of these incidents; yet at the evening prayer every heart responded its Amen to the blessing invoked upon the armies in the field. If the rank and file cherished the memory of women at home, they in their turn honored and loved the soldiers as the noblest men in the world.