Notes of hospital life from November, 1861, to August, 1863 — John Shaqi
Notes of hospital life from November, 1861, to August, 1863Anonymous
History
Notes of hospital life from November, 1861, to August, 1863
Anonymous
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Hospitals
Any one who seriously desires to ascertain the truth, (and to such only
do I address myself) will believe that these instances are not recorded
for the sake of retailing compliments, but as proofs of a far deeper
feeling, which, there can be little doubt, does exist in the hearts of
the men amongst whom we are appointed to minister.
OUR DAILY WORK.
AUGUST, 1862.
You ask me, dear C., the usual question, when our work at the hospital
is mentioned, “What can the ladies find to do all day?” I might give you
the stereotyped answer, “We receive and register the donations, give out
and oversee the clothing, make either delicacies or drinks for the men
who are ill, read to them, write for them, and try to make ourselves
generally useful.” This is the ordinary answer, but I think it would be
more agreeable to you to come and see for yourself; one day is a pretty
good specimen of every day, at least at present, so don your bonnet
and jump into the cars with me. What do you say? That the sun is too
scorching and the air too heavy for exertion? You think so here, but come
with me, and you will soon forget weather and self in more important
affairs; at least, so I find it. You agree? Well, then, here we are; why
don’t you acknowledge the guard’s salute as we enter? Shall we pause for
a moment in the wards, before we begin our work? I think we had better do
so, for in these days, when we once enter our room, there is no escape,
while the light lasts. There are several cases here which I should like
to point out to you as we pass along, though we cannot give much time to
them to-day. Do you see the man bending over that geranium plant in the
window? I think I have never seen a more real, true, deep love of flowers
in any one than in him. You see how lovingly he leans over that bush,
as though each leaf were a special pet and darling. I have often, this
summer, brought him a few roses--as much, I believe, for my own pleasure
as his--that I might watch his delight. He would sit often for nearly an
hour looking at them, holding them in his hands and lingering over them,
it seemed, with a feeling too deep for words.
I never could tell whether it was pure love of the flowers themselves,
or whether they brought home, with all its memories, before him; and as
he is very reserved, I content myself with giving the enjoyment without
being too critical as to its cause.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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