in. I hope she may be yet living and enjoying great
happiness. She was a true woman. I have not heard of her for many years,
however."

"She was a heroine sure," said Col. Bush; "her movements were of a most
important character, Uncle Daniel."

"Yes, Colonel, she was a true patriot, and loved her country for her
country's sake, and I hope the Lord has thrown fortune and pleasure in
her pathway. There were a great many patriotic and daring acts performed
by women during our war. God bless the good women. To our poor sick and
wounded soldiers they were like ministering angels, both in the camp and
hospitals."

CHAPTER XIV.

SERAINE WHITCOMB'S EXAMINATION OF THE REBEL PRISONS AND
HENRY LYON'S RELEASE.--MAN'S INHUMANITY.--SERAINE WHITCOMB
VISITS THE SOUTHERN PRISON PENS.--A SAD TALE OF WOE.--
GRAPHIC PICTURE OF SUFFERING, WRETCHEDNESS AND DEATH.

"Oh war, thou son of hell,
Whom angry heavens do make their ministers,
Throw in the frozen bosoms of our past,
Hot coals of vengeance."
--Shakespeare.

Uncle Daniel Lyon resumed his story by giving us a history of the
adventures of Miss Seraine Whitcomb, who, as had been discovered, was
the sister of James Whitcomb, now Aide-de-Camp to Gen. Anderson. He
continued by saying:

"Miss Seraine's journey to Richmond was accomplished by overcoming the
greatest of difficulties. The President's authority was good at every
point in and through the Union lines. But when she reached the rebel
pickets at or near the Rapidan she was placed under arrest as a spy, and
taken to the headquarters of the commander of the rebel army. She then
stated her case in a modest way, presenting the note given to her by our
President. Her story was so simple and reasonable that she was permitted
to enter Richmond in order to lay her case before President Davis.
At the same time the authorities at the rebel army headquarters had a
lurking suspicion of her on account of (as they thought) her pretended
perilous undertaking. Yet she was conducted to Richmond, and there took
lodgings at the Virginia Hotel, where she was subjected to a constant
watch over her every movement. She was in much doubt for several days
what course to pursue. There was great activity going on in making
preparations for some movement of the rebel army. She was not permitted
to leave her hotel.

"She finally wrote a note to President Davis, stating that she wished to
be permitted