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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (April 1, 1888)
THE WEST SIIOUE. 193 ' And the sword shall devour, and it shall become sa tiate and made drunk with their blood.1 " " I suppose," said Amy, " this war is only fulfill ing one of the prophesies." " I think so, my dear; the book of Isaiah is full of prophesies concerning this dreadful war." Amy took leave of Mrs. Norwood with a lighter heart than she had bad for a long time. Her loog talk with Mrs. Norwood seemed to do her good. Tom's mother felt very much happier, now that she was assured of his safety. She eagerly looked for the letter from him, which she knew would come very soon. She did not have long to wait, for in a few days it arrived, filled with words of love for herself and little Mamie, also a glowing account of the battle, and how the men under him fought for the principles of human liberty, omitting the heroic part taken by himself, other than in a general way, and closing by saying: " Half of the brave men in my company were either killed or wounded. I received only a slight wound in my left arm, and will be all right in a few days. While I should like to see you and little Ma mie, I can not leave my command, while in front of the enemy, to gratify that desire. Kiss Mamie for brother, and tell her that he hopes to see her beforo long." As Mrs. Norwood finished reading the letter, Amy came in. " I was on my way home from Mrs. Gray's" said she, " and called in to see how you and Mamie are feeling to-day." " We are quite well, thanks," said Mrs. Norwood. " Mamie is over her cold, and I am feeling much bet ter. How are you getting on with the preparations for the fair?" " Ob, splendidly 1 I am assured of its entire suc cess. Would you believe it? Papa is enthusiastic about it and is giving considerable of his time to help us along." Mamie, who had gone from the room a few mo ments before Amy's arrival, returned, and seeing Amy, went up to her and said " We dot a letter from brover to-day, and him ain't tilled at all." " Yes," said Mrs. Norwood, " I received a letter from Thomas this morning, and if you caro to hear it I will read it to you." " Oh, certainly 1 I should like very much to hear it" As Mrs. Norwood finished reading, Amy said: " I think it real mean in them for not letting him come home, now that he is wounded." " Thomas could, I daro say, come homo if ho wished; but ho has patriotic notions about the duties of a soldier; he thinks a soldier's place is in the field with hU command, and not in the rear or at lorn wasting his time, Besides, ho has but recently been promoted to a captaia and does not want to leave- his company." " Ob, dear!" sighed Amy, "this war is dreadful! Dreadfuir " Yes," replied Mrs. Norwood, " war is a terriblo thing; but wo must submit with as much patience as we can, and hopo for its speedy termination." Amy soon took her leavo and returned Lome, whero she expected to meet somo young ladies to perfect ar rangements for the coming fair, to I o held in the town hall, for tho purpose of raising funds for tho Chris tian and Solitary Commissions, twin organizations for tho relief of sick and wounded soldiers in hospi tals and in the fit-Id. Theso institutions were con. ducted principally by tho loyal women of tho north. That they performed noble work, and by their timely aid saved tho lives of thousands of soldiers, is not necessary to say, for thero aro living, to-day, many who can testify to tho good deeds of the so noble, self, sacrificing women, who not only gave their titno and means, but in many instances their lives, in tho inter est of tho Union cause. Tho world very imerfectly knows tho part acted by tho loyal women of America in tho great war for tho preservation of our Union. Hut tho suffering loldiers, who lay in tho hospital, sick with burning fever or a terriblo wound, lingering between life and death-they can testify to the Sa maritan deeds of theso ministering angels, who wero ever found besido tho little, whito cot, on which lay tho wasted form of a soldier, always ready to attend his every want Nor wero their operations confined to the sick and disabled, but exteuled to tho loldier in tho field, whoso heart wss mado glad by tho receipt of warm underclothing and many littlo delicacies si.d knick-knacks. Many prayers anendul in lehalf of theso noblo women of tho North, who were ever striv ing to ameliorate the sufferings of tho soldiers. Tho fair, as was expected, proved a grand success. A handsomo sura of money was realized, which was forwarded to tho Sanitary and Christian Commis sions. Colonel Harrington took n active part in get ting up and conducting tlo fair, thereby insuring its success. In fact, he and his daughter were tho mov. ing spirits. Nothing wss done without first count ing ono or tho other of them. Tho colonel's spirit ero exbuberant He could bo seen in sll parts of tho hall, superintending tho various booths, snd allow, ing nothing to mar tho harmony of tho assembly. Mrs. Harrington, too, rerdeied valuable sitanco toward tho success of tho fair. Peoplo cam from far and near to contribute their rnito to tLo good cau and then went away well satisfied ith wLat they had done.