human
(a mixture of mud and snow). I must confess that the freezing mornings chilled my patriotism a little, but just because it _was_ so cold the sick needed closer attention. One comfort never failed me: it was the watchful devotion of a soldier whom I had nursed in Gainesville, Alabama, and who, by his own request, was now permanently attached to my special corps of
gpt
No matter how cold the morning or how stormy, I never opened my door but there was
human
Old Peter waiting to attend me. When the blinding storms of winter made the roads almost impassable by night, Peter would await my departure from the hospital with his lantern, and generally on very stormy nights with an old horse which he borrowed for the occasion, savagely cutting short my remonstrances with a cross
gpt
Faith, is it now or in the mornin' ye'll be lavin'? He would limp beside me quite to the door of my room, and with a rough
human
Be aisy, now,
gpt
I know not is he far or near, or that he lives, or is he dead, _only this_, that my dreams of the past are often haunted by the presence of this brave soldier and humble, loyal friend. I seem to see again the lined and rugged face (
human
others thought, wearing always for me a smile which reminded me of the sunlight brightening an old gray ruin,) and the toil-hardened hands which yet served _me_ so tenderly. I seem to hear once more the rich Irish brogue which gave character and emphasis to all he said, a _naughty_ character and a most _unpleasant_ emphasis sometimes, I must admit, fully appreciated by any who chanced to displease him, but to me always as sweet and pleasant as the zephyrs blowing from
gpt
Peter was an Alabama soldier. On the first day of my installation as matron of Buckner Hospital, located then at Gainesville, Alabama, after the battle of Shiloh, I found him lying in one of the wards badly wounded, and suffering, as were many others, from scurvy. He had been morose and fierce to all who approached him. At first I fared no better.
human
Sure, what wad a lady be wantin' in a place like this? said he, crossly.
gpt
Why, comrade, I replied,
human
I thought you would like to have a lady to nurse you ?
gpt
Divil a wan,