s were read over and
over to him; he earnestly listened to each promise and benediction, and
would at the low singing of hymns sleep gently for a few moments at a
time. Early in the morning his mother resumed her place of loving care.
In the afternoon she sent for two of the ladies to come over and sing to
Frank. The chaplain was there, and life was fast ebbing away. After
prayer, the hymn, "My heavenly home is bright and fair," was sung. As
the dying boy thanked the ladies, he said that there was a hymn about
"rest" that he would like to hear once more. "There is rest for the
weary" having been sung, he folded his wasted hands, and said: "This is
the last hymn I shall hear on earth. In a little while I shall know of
that rest." He breathed for a few hours longer, and then his spirit was
among the redeemed, "in the Christian's home in glory." The faithful,
trusting mother only said, in the depth of her affliction, "It is the
Lord; let Him do what seemeth Him best."

Dr. Vanderkeift mingled with the pride of a surgeon the utmost
kindliness toward each patient. He would, on examining a critical case,
immediately after amputation, bend in the most fatherly manner over the
man, and, patting him gently, would say, with his German accent: "Now,
my dear fellow, do please to live. I am doing all I can for you, and
will send you milk from my own Alderney every day."

Flowers were never more appreciated than in the hospital that summer. A
bunch of these bright little treasures would make a man happy for hours,
and would receive the most endearing care to preserve their beauty. On
going in to see a wounded man one day, the attention of one of the
ladies was attracted by a strange-looking object hanging from the tent.
Her curiosity being excited, she inquired, "What have you here, John?"
"Well, miss, it is a long while since I had seen any flowers before
those you brought me in yesterday, and it was so warm that I was afraid
water wouldn't keep them, and I hated to see them wither; so I got Evans
to make me this calico bag and put some earth in it, and I am in hopes
they will grow here by my side, if I keep them moist." Sure enough, when
this admiring florist was able to leave on crutches in a few weeks, he
carried these specimens of Maryland floriculture, all rooted and
growing, to his Western home.

For the sake of convenience, the ladies usually dressed in dark attire;
but when a light muslin appeared in the wards the effect w