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Show 314 ROEBUCK. could not be ad mUted to see hin1 'vithout a s'peci~1 ot•- der fr01n hio-hcr nuthority. As to the prisoner's health, he dhi d not know much, except t h at "l1 e seemed to be pretty bad," but he referred thc1n to tho surgeon. Inquiring 'vhcre the snrgc~n '~as to bo found, and receiving a very vague. d1rect1on, ~hey started in search of that officer. Be. H.lcs the anxwty of Julia to ascertain her f:1ther·s trne condition after receiving the uncertain but aln.nning infonn:ttion ,vhich she had just heard, 1\Irs. West suggested that a certificate fron1 the surgeon 1night protnote the snc .. cess of their application to be acln1 it ted in to the prison. But it "\V:ts several hours before they fonncl the surgeon. lie replied to their inquiries "\\rith civility, ana. ·when he knew thnt Jnlia "\vas the daughter of the pnsoner, he looked at her 'vith compassion, for he "\Vas a 1nan of great benevolence. In tenderness to her he sof~cncd the report which he gave of her father's conclttion as much as truth permitted, and he soothed her ·with general expressions of hope. But, by the usc of a little dexterity, he contrived to infonn 1\Irs. vV est, aside, that Colonel Fairfax could not li vc many clays, if he remained in prison. At her request, he slipped into her hanJ a certificate to that effect. This "\Yas an arr ificc of kindness to save the daughter from dis~ tress 'vhich as they feared n1iO'ht overcon1e her, bnt ' ' b 1\[rs. \Vest afterwards <liscovered that Julia had in~ fcrred from the cautious conversation of the snrgeon the actual danger to her father's life. Reserve could no longer be useful, and the certificate \Vas shown to her soon after they parted \vith tho surgeon. They then endeavored to procure the ncccsH:try order for admittance into the prison, bnt official hours 'vere over, and another day closed ·with disappoint1nent. ROEBUCK. 315 Such delays 'vould have been painful nuder any oircnmstanceR, but, \Vith the knowledge ·which they Jwd acquiretl, Julia spent the followiug night in angni~ h. \V earisoinc to the ladies, and "\Vorse than \Vearisomo to the prisoner's daughter, "\Vcre the next few d:ly!;; for so long "\Vas it before Julia obtained permis~ion to see her f:tthcr. Those \Vho have had experience in pressing an application, however trivial and unobjectionable, though official routine, can understand how a 'vho1c clay may be ~pent 'vithont any progress in snch nffitirs. \Vhen the applicants \Vere women, seeking favor for a rebel from tho servants of the offended govcrnn1cnt, it may be imagined that delays and obstacles 'vcre n1ultiplieJ. Bnt l\lrs. \Vest was never di heartened. She had been through snch trials of patience before. She wa. one of those won1on who habitunlly assuaged the rniserios of the 'var by charities to the unfortunate. To relieve them, she l1aJ passed through scenes "\vhich \vcre often repulsive, and somcti1ncs revolting to a lady. With officials, her gentle in1portunity, now pathetic and then laughing, would not be denied. Be ides, she had acquirc<l much knowledge of the secret springs of influence at W nshington. Finally, \vith the usc of tho surgeon's certificate, and of her own energy and adroitness, sho succeeded in procuring, not only permission for Jnlia to vil:iit her father in prison, but an order for his discharge. lie 'vas to be set free, ho,vever, only upon condition that he 'vould first take an oath of allegiance to the Federal government in a prescribed fonu. |
