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1Author:  Parsons Emily Elizabeth 1824-1880Add
 Title:  Memoir of Emily Elizabeth Parsons  
 Published:  2003 
 Subjects:  University of Virginia Library, Modern English collection | UVA-LIB-Text 
 Description: NOTHING could be farther from the wishes, the tastes or habits of my daughter Emily, than an effort to magnify the events of her life into undue importance, or to found upon them claims for unusual regard. But she had some peculiar traits of character, and some unusual opportunities for usefulness, in connection with the civil war, of which this brief and simple record may be interesting to the friends for whom alone it is intended. Dear Mother,—This letter will not go till the middle of the week. I have the ward all ready for inspection,—Sunday afternoon being the day for that interesting ceremony. My surgeon told me this morning that six hundred wounded men were on their way here from Washington and the steamer was due to-day. He also said that this ward would be filled up; they may arrive any moment, or not till to-morrow. I want to have the poor men in bed comfortably. Just think of tossing about on the waves in a crowded steamer such a day as this, sick and wounded too. It was very cold here this morning, water froze in my room and I nearly froze too; we are promised small stoves in our rooms, some time. In the meantime we shiver. Dear Mother,—Colonel Frank Howe is very desirous I should be at work among the wounded, so is Dr. Harris, the inspector of hospitals here, and I believe in some other places. These two gentlemen have shown themselves very kind and friendly towards me. They expressed very earnestly, both to me and to others, their desire to put me in what they consider a suitable field of action, or, as they express it, where I shall be of most use. They really seem to consider me of some value; they are both trying together, and I leave the matter in their hands, as they are two men who can be trusted, with regard to their integrity, honor and a desire to serve the soldiers in the best and wisest manner; and they are very considerate also of me,—so you have reason to be satisfied. I have good, judicious friends around me on all sides. They can do what only officials can do and they spare me contact with red tape, for which I desire to be thankful. Dear Father,—I await the answer to a telegram which I sent you, asking your consent to my going to St. Louis. I feel bound to accept the position offered me. Mrs. Fremont and the people in St. Louis are holding this place open for me. The extreme distance will be an objection to you, but in the work to which I have pledged myself there can be no such limit as time or space. I received your letter relative to the agency this morning; it is out of the question my undertaking such a work,—I am not fitted for it. This St. Louis opportunity gives me what I can do, and wish to do, and I believe it to be my only chance for just what I could wish. My journey on will be cared for in every way. If in your telegraphic answer you have discouraged my going, or have not decided at all, I wish you would send me a message by telegraph at once, granting consent. St. Louis is very healthy. I am to see Mrs. Fremont this morning by appointment; she expresses herself to Captain Nichols as very desirous I should go. She says there are no experienced, trained nurses there, and there is a great want of them. From the time of the first settlement of Cambridge until the year 1865, there was no Hospital for this city, unless the Almshouse can be called such. There has been for a long time a growing need of such an institution. The hospitals of Boston had not room for all, or a large number, of the sick poor of Cambridge. Nor was it right that, with our means and advantages, we should be dependent upon another city for the care of our own citizens. It therefore seemed necessary that we should have a suitable Hospital of our own, where the sick and disabled poor of Cambridge could be cared for. Commonwealth of Massachusetts Miss Emily E. Parsons: Dear Madam,—The undersigned, in behalf of the Cambridge Hospital Corporation, in closing their official connection with you, desire to express their high appreciation of your valuable services in the establishment and management of this institution.
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