to their old masters, they should say-Aye. "The gentleman from Africa," perhaps for the first time in his life had a vote. He realized the solemnity of the moment. A dead silence fell

upon the crowd, and no voice was lifted in that important affirmative. "Very well, boys," again spoke the clear, kind voice of Mrs. Fenn. "Each of you who is glad to be free, proud to be a free soldier of his country, and ready for the struggles which freedom entails, will please to say Aye." Instantly, such a shout arose, as startled the sick in their beds in the farthest pavilion. No voice was silent. An irrepressible, exultant, enthusiastic cry answered her appeal, and told how the black man appreciated the treasure won by such blood and suffering.

As has been said before, the personal labors of Mrs. Fenn were unintermitted as long as a sick or wounded soldier remained in any hospital. After all the hospitals in the neighborhood of New York were closed, except that of David's Island, months after the suspension of hostilities, she continued to be the medium of sending to the men there the contributions of Berkshire, and the supplies her appeals drew from various sources.

The United Societies of Shakers, at Lebanon and Hauck, furnished her with many supplies-excellent fruit, cheese, eatables of various kinds, all of the best, cloth, linen new and old, towels, napkins, etc., etc., all of their own manufacture and freely offered. The Shakers are no less decided than the Quakers in their testimony against war, but they are also, as a body, patriotic to a degree, and full of kindly feelings which thus found expression.

At one time Mrs. Fenn with a desire of saving for its legitimate purpose even the small sum paid for rent, gave up the rooms she had hired, and for more than a year devoted the best parlor of her own handsome residence to the reception of goods contributed for the soldiers. Thousands of dollars' worth of sup

plies were there received and packed by her own hands.

Among other things accomplished by this indefatigable woman was the making of nearly one hundred gallons of blackberry

cordial. Most of the bandages sent from Pittsfield were made by her, and so nicely, that Mrs. Fenn's bandages became famed throughout the army and hospitals. In all, they amounted to many thousand yards. One box which accompanied Burnside's expedition, alone contained over four thousand yards of bandages, which she had prepared.

Though the bounties she so lavishly sent forth were in a very large measure devoted to the hospitals in the neighborhood of New York, to the Soldiers' Rest in Howard Street; New England Rooms, Central Park, Ladies' Home and Park Barracks, they were still diffused to all parts of the land. The Army of the Potomac, and of the Southwest, and scores of scattered companies and regiments shared them. The Massachusetts Regiments, whether at home or abroad, were always remembered with the tenderest care, and especially was the gallant Forty-ninth, raised almost entirely in Berkshire, the object of that helpful solicitude which never wearied of well-doing.

Almost decimated by disease in the deadly bayous of the Southwest, and in the fearful conflicts at Port Hudson and its neighborhood in the summer of 1863, the remnant at length returned to Berkshire to receive such a welcome and ovation at Pittsfield, on the 22d of August of that year, as has seldom been extended to our honored soldiery. About fifty of these men were at once taken to the hospital, and long lay ill, the constant recipients of unwearied kind attentions from Mrs. Fenn and her coadjutors.

Much as we have said of the excellent and extensive work performed by this most admirable woman, space fails us for the detail of the half. Her work was so various, and so thoroughly good in every department, both head and hands were so entirely at the service of these her suffering countrymen, that it would be impossible to tell the half. The close of the war has brought her a measure of repose, but for such as she there is no rest while human beings suffer and their cry ascends for help. Her chari

ties are large to the freedmen, and the refugees who at the present time so greatly need aid. She is also lending her efforts to the collection of the funds needful for the erection of a monument to her fallen soldiers which Pittsfield proposes to raise at an expense of several thousands of dollars contributed by the people.

At sixty-eight, Mrs. Fenn is still erect, active, and with a countenance beaming with animation and benevolence, bids fair to realize the wish which at sight of her involuntarily springs to all lips that her life may long be spared to the good words and works to which it is devoted. She has been the recipient of several handsome testimonials from her towns-people and from abroad, and many a token of the soldier's gratitude, inexpensive, but most valuable, in view of the laborious and painstaking care which formed them, has reached her hands and is placed with worthy pride among her treasures.

MRS. JAMES HARLAN,

HERE have been numerous instances of ladies of high social position, the wives and daughters of generals of high rank, and commanding large bodies of troops, of Governors of States, of Senators and Representatives in Congress, of Members of the Cabinet, or of other Government officials, who have felt it an honor to minister to the defenders of their country, or to aid in such ways as were possible the blessed work of relieving pain and suffering, of raising up the downtrodden, or of bringing the light of hope and intelligence back to the dull and glazed eyes of the loyal whites who escaped from cruel oppression and outrages worse than death to the Union lines. Among these will be readily recalled, Mrs. John C. Fremont, Mrs. General W. H. L. Wallace, Mrs. Harvey, Mrs. Governor Salomon, Mrs. William H. Seward, Mrs. Ira Harris, Mrs. Samuel C. Pomeroy, Mrs. L. E. Chittenden, Mrs. John S. Phelps, and, though last named, by no means the least efficient, Mrs. James Harlan.

Mrs. Harlan is a native of Kentucky, but removed to Indiana in her childhood. Here she became acquainted with Mr. Harlan to whom she was married in 1845 or 1846. In the rapid succession of positions of honor and trust to which her husband was elevated by the people, as Superintendent of Public Instruction, President of Mount Pleasant University, United States Senator, Secretary of the Interior, and again United States Senator, Mrs. Harlan proved herself worthy of a position by his side. Possess

ing great energy and resolution and a highly cultivated intellect, she acquitted herself at all times with dignity and honor. When the nominal became the actual war, and great battles were fought, she was among the first to go to the bloody battle-fields and minister to the wounded and dying. After the battle of Shiloh she was one of the first ladies on the field, and her labors were incessant and accomplished great good. Her position as the wife of a distinguished senator, and her energy and decision of character were used with effect, and she was enabled to wring from General Halleck the permission previously refused to all applicants to remove the wounded to hospitals at Mound City, St. Louis, Keokuk, and elsewhere, where their chances of recovery were greatly improved. At Washington where she subsequently spent much of her time, she devoted her energies first to caring for the Iowa soldiers, but she soon came to feel that all Union soldiers were her brothers, and she ministered to all without distinction of State lines. She lost during the war a lovely and beautiful daughter, Jessie Fremont Harlan, and the love which had been bestowed upon her overflowed after her death upon the soldiers of the Union. Her faithfulness, energy, and continuous labors in behalf of the soldiers, her earnestness in protecting them from wrongs or oppression, her quick sympathy with their sorrows, and her zealous efforts for their spiritual good, will be remembered by many thousands of them all over the country. Mrs. Harlan early advocated the mingling of religious effort with the distribution of physical comforts among the soldiers, and though she herself would probably shrink from claiming, as some of her enthusiastic friends have done for her, the honor of inaugurating the movement which culminated in the organization of the Christian Commission, its plan of operations was certainly fully in accordance with her own, and she was from the beginning one of its most active and efficient supporters.

Mrs. Harlan was accompanied in many of her visits to the army by Mrs. Almira Fales, of whom we have elsewhere given