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Authors: Glimpses of Louisa (v2.1)
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spell of
hospital, and I'd lay easier if I knew mother and Lucindy warn't frettin' about
me."
He must have been suffering terribly, but he thought of the women who loved him
before himself, and, busy as I was, I snatched a moment to send a few words of
hope to the old mother. Then I left him " layin' easy," though the prospect of some months of wearing pain would have
daunted most men. If I had needed anything to increase my regard for Joe, it
would have been the courage with which he bore a very bad quarter of an hour
with the surgeons; for his arm was in a dangerous state, the wound in the head
feverish for want of care; and a heavy cold on the lungs suggested pneumonia as
an added trial to his list of ills.
"He will have a hard time of it, but I think he will pull through, as he
is a temperate fellow, with a splendid constitution," was the doctor's
verdict, as he left us for the next man, who was past help, with a bullet
through his lungs.
"I don'no as I hanker to live, and be a burden. If Jim was able to do for
mother, I feel as if I wouldn't mind steppin' out now I'm so fur along. As he
ain't, I s'pose I must brace up, and do the best I can," said Joe, as I
wiped the drops from his forehead, and tried to look as if his prospect was a
bright one.
"You will have Lucindy to help you, you know; and that will make things
easier for all."
"Think so ? ' Pears to me I couldn't ask her to
take care of three invalids for my sake. She ain't no folks of her own, nor much means, and ought to marry a man who can make things
easy for her. Guess I'll have to wait a spell longer before I say anything to
Lucindy about marryin' now;" and a look of resolute resignation settled on
Joe's haggard face as he gave up his dearest hope.
"I think Lucindy will have something to say, if she is like most women,
and you will find the burdens much lighter, for sharing them between you. Don't
worry about that, but get well, and go home as soon as you can."
"All right, ma'am;" and Joe proved himself a good soldier by obeying
orders, and falling asleep like a tired child, as the first step toward
recovery.
For two months I saw Joe daily, and learned to like him very much, he was so
honest, genuine, and kind-hearted. So did his mates, for he made friends with
them all by sharing such small luxuries as came to him, for he was a favorite;
and, better still, he made sunshine in that sad place by the brave patience
with which he bore his own troubles, the cheerful consolation he always gave to
others. A droll fellow was Joe at times, for under his sobriety lay much humor;
and I soon discovered that a visit from him was more efficacious than other
cordials in cases of despondency and discontent. Roars of laughter sometimes
greeted me as I went into his ward, and Joe's jokes were passed round as
eagerly as the water-pitcher.
Yet he had much to try him, not only in the ills that vexed his flesh, but the
cares that tried his spirit, and the future that lay before him, full of
anxieties and responsibilities which seemed so heavy now when the strong right arm, that had cleared all obstacles away before, was gone.
The letters I wrote for him, and those he received, told the little story very plainly; for he read them to me, and found much
comfort in talking over his affairs, as most men do when illness makes them
dependent on a woman. Jim was evidently sick and selfish. Lucindy, to judge
from the photograph cherished so tenderly under Joe's pillow, was a pretty,
weak sort of a girl, with little character or courage to help poor Joe with
hospital, and I'd lay easier if I knew mother and Lucindy warn't frettin' about
me."
He must have been suffering terribly, but he thought of the women who loved him
before himself, and, busy as I was, I snatched a moment to send a few words of
hope to the old mother. Then I left him " layin' easy," though the prospect of some months of wearing pain would have
daunted most men. If I had needed anything to increase my regard for Joe, it
would have been the courage with which he bore a very bad quarter of an hour
with the surgeons; for his arm was in a dangerous state, the wound in the head
feverish for want of care; and a heavy cold on the lungs suggested pneumonia as
an added trial to his list of ills.
"He will have a hard time of it, but I think he will pull through, as he
is a temperate fellow, with a splendid constitution," was the doctor's
verdict, as he left us for the next man, who was past help, with a bullet
through his lungs.
"I don'no as I hanker to live, and be a burden. If Jim was able to do for
mother, I feel as if I wouldn't mind steppin' out now I'm so fur along. As he
ain't, I s'pose I must brace up, and do the best I can," said Joe, as I
wiped the drops from his forehead, and tried to look as if his prospect was a
bright one.
"You will have Lucindy to help you, you know; and that will make things
easier for all."
"Think so ? ' Pears to me I couldn't ask her to
take care of three invalids for my sake. She ain't no folks of her own, nor much means, and ought to marry a man who can make things
easy for her. Guess I'll have to wait a spell longer before I say anything to
Lucindy about marryin' now;" and a look of resolute resignation settled on
Joe's haggard face as he gave up his dearest hope.
"I think Lucindy will have something to say, if she is like most women,
and you will find the burdens much lighter, for sharing them between you. Don't
worry about that, but get well, and go home as soon as you can."
"All right, ma'am;" and Joe proved himself a good soldier by obeying
orders, and falling asleep like a tired child, as the first step toward
recovery.
For two months I saw Joe daily, and learned to like him very much, he was so
honest, genuine, and kind-hearted. So did his mates, for he made friends with
them all by sharing such small luxuries as came to him, for he was a favorite;
and, better still, he made sunshine in that sad place by the brave patience
with which he bore his own troubles, the cheerful consolation he always gave to
others. A droll fellow was Joe at times, for under his sobriety lay much humor;
and I soon discovered that a visit from him was more efficacious than other
cordials in cases of despondency and discontent. Roars of laughter sometimes
greeted me as I went into his ward, and Joe's jokes were passed round as
eagerly as the water-pitcher.
Yet he had much to try him, not only in the ills that vexed his flesh, but the
cares that tried his spirit, and the future that lay before him, full of
anxieties and responsibilities which seemed so heavy now when the strong right arm, that had cleared all obstacles away before, was gone.
The letters I wrote for him, and those he received, told the little story very plainly; for he read them to me, and found much
comfort in talking over his affairs, as most men do when illness makes them
dependent on a woman. Jim was evidently sick and selfish. Lucindy, to judge
from the photograph cherished so tenderly under Joe's pillow, was a pretty,
weak sort of a girl, with little character or courage to help poor Joe with
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