| | 1 | Author: | Parsons
Emily Elizabeth
1824-1880 | Add | | | 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. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
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