“Then, I’ll have to take what I can get. Boys, roll out some of those bales of hay and cotton! They will make better beds than the ground.” “You must bring me an order, madam.” “I have no time to hunt up officers to get orders.” “But I am responsible for these supplies, and cannot let them go without proper orders.” The wagons were soon loaded up, and the bales of hay and cotton were soon at the hospital tents. An axe cut the hoops, and the hay went flying into the tents in long even rows with the help of ready hands. An armful of cotton made a good pillow. All night long the work went on. Some with lanterns were searching among the dead for the wounded and bringing them in; others dressing the wounds. No one was idle. The utmost of strength and energy must be put forth at such a time. But the quartermaster must make his accounts all right, and of course had to enter complaint against Mother Bickerdyke. She was summoned to meet the charge, which she did when she found time to go. “Mrs. Bickerdyke, you are charged with taking quartermaster’s stores without proper orders and over his protest.” “Who ordered the tents put up on the college grounds?” “I did.” “What were they put up for?” “To shelter the wounded men, of course.” “Did you expect these wounded men to lie on the ground?” “You should have obtained orders.” “I had no time to go for orders. Why didn’t you order in the hay and the cotton?” “I did not think of it.” “Well, I did, and used all I needed; and now all you have to do is to draw an order for them and give it to the quartermaster.” She bade the officers good-day and returned to her work, and no one thought of arresting her. Indeed, she had the best of the argument. Mrs. Mary A. Bickerdyke, or “Mother Bickerdyke” as the boys used to call her, was one of the most energetic and faithful workers of the war. Her fidelity to duty, and her untiring efforts for the comfort of the sick and wounded, have endeared her to her co-laborers and to the old soldiers whom she blessed. She now, 1894, lives in quiet and comfort with her son, Professor Bickerdyke, Russell, Kan. A FIGHTING EDITOR. In the spring of 1861, Dr. Charles Elliott edited _The Central Christian Advocate_, in the third story of a business block in St. Louis, Mo. _The Southern Christian Advocate_, which represented the views of the South, was at the time published in the second story of the same building. The two editors, who had always been personally friendly to each other, were wide apart on the great question of disunion, which was stirring the hearts of the people.