Though a wife and mother, she was yet in girlhood's years, very soft and fair; had been "lapped in luxury," with a maid for herself, a nurse for her boy, a servant to do this, that, or the other thing, for her. She thus describes her first essay at the family wash. There was a fine well in her yard, and men came to get water. A big-hearted Irishman caught the little lady struggling over soap-suds. It looked as if she would never get those clothes clean. For one thing, when she tried to wring them, they were streaked with blood from her arms and hands; she had peculiarly fine and tender skin. "Faith an' be jabbers!" said Pat, "an' what is it that you're thryin' to do?" "Go away, and let me alone!" "Faith, an' if ye don't lave off clanin' thim garmints, they'll be that doirty--" "Go 'way!" "Sure, me choild, an' if ye'll jis' step to the other soide of the tub without puttin' me to the inconvaniance--" He was about to pick her up in his mighty hands. She moved and dropped down, swallowing a sob. "Sure, an' it's as good a washerwoman as ivver wore breeches I am," said Pat. "An' that's what I've larned in the army." In short order, he had all the clothes hanging snow-white on the line; before he left, he cut enough wood for her ironing. "I'm your Bridget ivery wash-day that comes 'roun'," he said as he swung himself off. He was good as his word. This brother-man did her wash every week. "Sure, an' it's a shame it is," he would say, "the Government fadin' the lazy nagurs an' God an' the divvil can't make 'em wur-r-k." Through Tony, her son, another link was formed 'twixt late enemies. It was hard for mothers busy at housework to keep track of young children; without fences for definement of yard-limits, and with all old landmarks wiped out, it was easy for children to wander beyond bearings. A lost child was no rarity. One day General and Mrs. Saxton drove up in their carriage, bringing Tony. Tony had lost himself; fright, confusion, lack of food, had made him ill; he had been brought to the attention of the general and his wife, who, instead of sending the child home by a subordinate, came with him themselves, the lady holding the pale little fellow in her arms, comforting and soothing him. Thus began friendship between Mrs. S. and Mrs. Saxton; not only small Tony was now pressed to take airings with Yankees, but his mother. The general did all he could to make life easier for her; had wood hauled and cut for her. The Southern woman's reduction to poverty and menial tasks mortified him, as they mortified many another manly blue-coat, witness of the reduction. "It is pitiable and it is all wrong," said one officer to Mrs. S. "Our people up North simply don't know how things are down here." A lady friend of Mrs. S.'s tells me that she knew a Northern officer--(giving his name)--who resigned his commission because he found himself unable to witness the sufferings of Southern women and children, and have a hand in imposing them.