Wisconsin Women In The War Between The States

              WISCONSIN  WOMEN   IN   THE  WAR
"No, but I believe this idea of Northern hospitals is a great humbug, and I am tired of hearing about it." He spoke im¬ patiently. I replied, "I regret to add a feather's weight to your already overwhelming care and responsibility. I would rather have stayed at home." With a kind of half smile, he said, "I wish you bad." I answered him as though he bad not smiled, "Nothing would have given me greater pleasure; but a keen sense of duty to this Government, justice and mercy to its most loyal supporters, and regard for your honor and position made me come. The people cannot understand why their friends are left to die, when with proper care they might live and do good service for their country.  *  *   *
"Many on their cots, faint, sick and dying say, "We would gladly do more, but suppose that it is all right' I know that the majority of them would live and be strong men again, If they could be sent North. I say, I know, because I was sick among them last spring; surrounded by every comfort, with tbe best of care, and determined to get well. I grew weaker, day by day, until not being under military law, my friends brought me North. I recovered entirely, simply by breathing the North¬ ern air."
While I was speaking the expression of Mr. Lincoln's face bad changed many times. He bad never taken his eyes from me. Now every muscle of his face seemed to contract, and then sud¬ denly expand. As he opened his mouth, you could almost hear them snap, as he said, "You assume to know more than I do," and closed his mouth as though he never expected to open it again, sort of slammed it to; I could scarcely reply. I was hurt and thought the tears would come, but rallied in a moment and said, "You must pardon me, Mr. President, I intend no dis¬ respect, but it Is because of this knowledge—^because I do know, what you do not know, that I come to you. If you knew what I do, and had not ordered what I ask for, I should know that an appeal to you would be vain; but I believe that tbe people have not trusted you for naught. The question only is, whether you believe me or not.  If you believe me, you will give me hospitals;
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