ORATION. 31 services of women ; for all America has heard that when the youthful General lay stretched upon the field at Gettysburg, pierced by five ghastly wounds, not thought to be worth the trouble of paroling by his captors, given up for dead, then his faithful wife found him, with just enough of blood left in his veins to enable him to be nursed into a hero once more, — stood by him, and would not let him die, but gave him again to his country. And what she did on a conspicuous stage, a thousand women have done in the hospital, on the field of battle, in the soldiers’ homes, in ten "thousand busy circles of industry, — and thus woman has given whole regiments to do battle for the Union. Nor thus alone have women served their country’s cause. Loving wives have said to their husbands : “Go, fight for the heritage of our children;” and tender mothers have charged their sons: “ Make me proud of you by your death or by your life.” We have heard of the noble woman who said to her son: “ Take the commission. If you accept the command of a colored regiment, I shall feel as proud of you as if you had been shot.” He took the command, and died in glory, leading his brave men to battle. And the double wreath of pride was woven for that mother’s brow. We have heard of that truehearted girl who turned from the fresh grave of her brother, and such a brother, to say to the Governor:
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM4ODY=