LETTER XXVII.
Benton Barracks HOSPITAL,
July 4.
Dear Mother,—This is to go with my two other
sheets. This morning out came the ladies to see about
their dinner. The great rotunda by the side of the
amphitheatre was for the soldiers from a distance, from
other hospitals and camps; our own soldiers had their
dinner in the dining-rooms of their wards; the ladies
setting the tables and waiting upon them; each set of
ladies had a ward assigned to them. The tables were
very nicely set, flowers in the midst; one vase had a
great pyramidal spray of yucca; it took me straight
home. Oh! you cannot think what a longing comes
over me sometimes to go over the house and garden
and see you all. I cannot allow myself to dwell upon
it: it would unsettle me. I shall stay here while I am
wanted and can be of use. When that is no longer
the case, I will try to find work somewhere else. It
is not so much matter where you work, as
how you
work.
But to go back to the soldiers. Their tables were
covered with good things; there were hundreds and
hundreds of men fed at them, and all seemed pleased.
After dinner there was speaking from a stand in the
large grove, and singing. Finally the different detachments
formed into order and marched to their hospital
homes and camps. One man just off a bed of severe
sickness, told me he had never missed a Fourth of July
in his life and he must go. I told him I thought it
would do him good, and he went. One of our old
patients, a German, seemed very glad to see me; when
I bade him good-by he took my hand and kissed it.
I used to pay him a good deal of attention when he
was here. The old men and boys touch me the most.
I should like to have you see this place in early morning:
it is beautiful. Very hot, but I find I can survive
it very well. Everybody tried to frighten me, but I
do not approve of that kind of soldiering.
