RELIEF CAME AT LAST.

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Up sprang the maimed from their cots, and reached for their rough crutches. Up slowly crept the feeble who had thought themselves done with life, and had turned their faces heavenward. Men who could

not walk were led along between those who were stronger, or sometimes borne on the backs of the strongest. And as they saw the long, loaded train halt in their midst, they went wild with joy. They cheered the railroad- the train-the North-the food that had come- the barrels of "Boston crackers," speedily unheaded for them. They patted the giant locomotive, and caressed it as though it were a pet horse. And when three times three cheers were proposed for home, men who were dying, and whose last breath exhaled from their lips a few minutes later, threw up their white wasted hands, and their lips moved in wordless sympathy with the great roar of shouts from manly throats.

CHAPTER XXVII.

STORY OF MOTHER BICKERDYKE CONCLUDED-FOLLOWING THE FLAG IN THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN-HER MOTHERLY MINISTRATIONS IN THE MIDST OF BATTLE-HER LIFE AND CAREER SINCE THE WAR.

Mother Bickerdyke makes an eloquent Speech-Disregards Sherman's Orders, and calls on him. Obtains the Favor she seeks-Six Months in the Rear of Battles-Death of General McPherson - Sherman begins his March to the Sea-Mother Bickerdyke packs all Hospital Supplies, and sends to Nashville- Goes to meet Sherman, with a Steamer loaded with Supplies, as he directed-They are not needed, and she cares for the Andersonville Prisoners-The War ends, and she returns to Louisville - Her Life since the War-The Government grants a pension to her- The Soldiers do not forget her- Her Effort to keep a Hotel in Kansas not a Success - Unsectarian, but ChristianHer present Home.

OW for the first time, and the only time, Mother Bickerdyke broke down. The hardships through which she had passed, her labors, her fastings, her anxieties, had been sufficient to kill a dozen women. She was greatly reduced by them; and as soon as her place could be supplied by another matron, she came North, a mere shadow of her former self.

The same efforts were made to honor her as on a previous visit; but, as before, she put aside all invitations. She had rendered great service to the Wisconsin regiments in the Western army; and the people of Milwaukee, who were just then holding a

ELOQUENT SPEECH IN MILWAUKEE.

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fair for the relief of sick and wounded soldiers, would not be denied the pleasure of a visit from her. I accompanied her, for she refused to go anywhere to be lionized unless some one was with her, "to bear the brunt of the nonsense," as she phrased it. She was overwhelmed with attentions. The Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce had made an appropriation of twelve hundred dollars a month for hospital relief, to be continued until the end of the war. And she was invited to their handsome hall, to receive from them a formal expression of gratitude for her care of Wisconsin soldiers. Ladies were invited to occupy the gallery, which they packed to the utmost. A very felicitous address was made her by the President of the Board of Trade, in behalf of the state of Wisconsin, and she was eloquently thanked for her patriotic labors, and informed of the recent pledge of the Board. A reply was expected of her, which I feared she would decline to make; but she answered briefly, simply, and with great power.

"I am much obliged to you, gentlemen," she answered, "for the kind things you have said. I haven't done much, no more than I ought; neither have you. I am glad you are going to give twelve hundred dollars a month for the poor fellows in the hospitals; for it's no more than you ought to do, and it isn't half as much as the soldiers in the hospitals have given for you. Suppose, gentlemen, you had got to give to-night one thousand dollars or your right leg, would it take long to decide which to surrender? Two thousand dollars or your right arm; five thousand dollars or both your eyes; all that you are worth or your life?

"But I have got eighteen hundred boys in my hos

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"GIVEN AN ARM, A LEG, AN EYE!"

pital at Chattanooga who have given one arm, and one leg, and some have given both; and yet they don't seem to think they have done a great deal for their country. And the graveyard behind the hospital, and the battle-field a little farther off, contain the bodies of thousands who have freely given their lives to save you and your homes and your country from ruin. Oh, gentlemen of Milwaukee, don't let us be telling of what we have given, and what we have done! We have done nothing, and given nothing, in comparison with them! And it's our duty to keep on giving and doing just as long as there's a soldier down South fighting or suffering for us."

It would not be easy to match the pathos and eloquence of this untutored speech.

As soon as she had regained health and strength, Mother Bickerdyke returned to her post. General Sherman was pouring supplies, provender, and ammunition into Chattanooga; for it was to be his base of supplies for the Atlanta campaign. He had issued an order absolutely forbidding agents of sanitary stores, or agents of any description, to go over the road from Nashville to Chattanooga. He alleged as the reason for this prohibition that he wished the entire ability of the railroad devoted to strictly active military operations. There was great distress in the hospitals below Nashville, in consequence of this stringent order, and uneasiness and anxiety at the North, because of its seemingly needless inhumanity. Mother Bickerdyke found Nashville full of worried agents, and of sanitary stores that were needed down the road, and spoiling for lack of transportation. Her pass from General Grant would take her to Chattanooga despite General Sherman's prohibition.

"GUESS HE WILL SEE ME."

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Before starting, her fertility of invention manifested itself in a characteristic act. Ambulances with mules in harness were being sent to various points, against the day of need. No barrels were allowed in these ambulances; but all the bags they could hold could be crowded in. Getting such help as she could muster, they made bags, which were filled with dried apples, peaches, potatoes, and any other sanitary articles that could be sent in them as well as in barrels; and the ambulances went away packed with articles for the hospitals. Forty such left for Huntsville, Ala., thirty for Bridgeport, and several for other points. Then Mother Bickerdyke, despite remonstrance and opposition, took the next train for Chattanooga, and made her unexpected début at General Sherman's headquarters.

"Halloo! Why, how did you get down here? asked one of the General's staff officers, as he saw her enter Sherman's headquarters.

There's no

"Came down in the cars, of course. other way of getting down here that I know of," replied the matter-of-fact woman. "I want to see General Sherman."

"He is in there, writing," said the officer, pointing to an inner room; "but I guess he won't see you." "Guess he will!" and she pushed into the apartment. "Good morning, General! I want to speak to you a moment. May I come in?"

"I should think you had got in!" answered the General, barely looking up, in great annoyance. "What's up now?”

"Why, General," said the earnest matron, in a perfect torrent of words, "we can't stand this last order of yours, nohow. You'll have to change it, as sure