Page:The Story of Aunt Becky's Army-Life .djvu/70

40 helped me cook, and do the work of the hospital, and I learned to rely greatly on his thoroughness and ability, and will always remember his kindness of heart to all who needed his assistance.

We were at Falls Church three months, when the Second District Volunteers were ordered into our places, and we were again to move.

My youngest brother was brought in on the eve of our departure, prostrate with lung disease, and as I could not leave him to the care of strangers, Dr. French left me a man, Private Haywood, to help me take care of him. Procuring rooms at Mrs. Chapel's I had him moved there, and staid to my lonely task.

The Dr. had little hope of his recovery, but I could not give him up without a desperate struggle. I saw the ambulances move away with our patients, and felt how desolate it was to be alone with strangers, fearing the approach of death to one who was as dear as my own child to my heart, for I had tended him in infancy as a mother tends her babe.

Five days of unremitting watchfulness over him, and Dr. Woodbury gave him up to die before the morning dawned again.

Haywood was stricken with the same disease, and with delirium and the prospect of speedy death I grew almost wild in my exertions to save him. I had slept none for three weeks only by snatches, while my brother slept, and but for the kindness of the women of the house my heart would have sunk entirely.

But the disease was arrested in its progress, and