the entire period of the war cannot be overestimated. With loving hearts
and willing hands, they contributed their time, their labor, and their
money for the benefit of those who had gone forth to battle. The work of
some was of a public nature, and the deeds of these are recorded; but
the only record of hundreds who worked quietly in their own homes was
written on the grateful hearts of the soldiers for whom they labored.

On the 22d of April a meeting of the ladies was held at the town hall,
and a Soldiers' Aid Society was organized. The object was to perform
such work as was necessary for the comfort of the soldiers, and to
furnish articles of clothing, medicines, and delicacies for use in the
hospitals. Mrs. Maria L. Williams was elected president. That lady
subsequently resigned, and Mrs. Margaret Newhall became president, and
Mrs. Mary M. Oliver, secretary.

On the following day, eighteen ladies met at the Sewall Grammar
School-house, on Spring Street, and organized a committee to solicit
money for the benefit of the soldiers. The following are the names of
the ladies who composed this committee:--Miss Mary E. Graves,
_President_; Miss Mary A. Alley, _Secretary_; Miss Mary L.
Pitman, _Treasurer_; Mrs. Mary Glover, Mrs. Hannah Hidden, Miss
Harriet Newhall, Miss Tabitha Trefry, Mrs. Hannah J. Hathaway, Mrs. John
F. Harris, Miss Amy K. Prentiss, Miss Sarah E. Sparhawk, Miss Hannah J.
Woodfin, Miss Lizzie Cross, Miss Mary A. Cross, Mrs. Hannah Doak, Miss
Alicia H. Gilley, Miss Carrie Paine, Miss Mary E. Homan.

In less than one week from the time of their organization the ladies of
this committee had collected the sum of $508.17. The teachers of the
public schools generously contributed six per cent of their salaries for
the year in aid of the object; and there was a disposition manifested by
the people generally, to give _something_, however small the
amount.

Stirring reports were now received from the companies at the seat of
war. The blockading of the railroad to Baltimore by the Secessionists;
the seizure of the steamer Maryland; and the saving of the old frigate
Constitution, in which their fathers fought so valiantly, caused the
hearts of the people to swell with pride, as they related the story one
to another. The men of Captain Boardman's company were the first to
board "Old Ironsides," and a delegation of them helped to man her on
the voyage to New York. The sufferings of their soldier boys, who were
obl