made no large demands. They asked for but
little--the smallest possible amount, and were always fearful lest they
might absorb the bounty to which others had a better claim.

After this communication was opened, Mrs. Marsh found a delightful task
in preparing the boxes which in great numbers were constantly being sent
forward to the prisons. It was a part of her duty, also, to inspect the
letters which went and came between the prisons and the outside world.

The pathos of many of these was far beyond description. Touching appeals
constantly came to her from distant Northern homes for some tidings of
the sons, brothers, fathers of whose captivity they had heard, but whose
further existence had been a blank. Where are they? and how are they?
were constantly recurring questions, which alas! it was far too often
her sad duty to answer in a way to destroy all hope.

And the letters of the prisoners, filled to the uttermost, not with
complaints, but with the pervading sadness that could not for one moment
be banished from their horrible lives! No words can describe them, they
were simply heart-breaking! Just as the horror of the prison-pens is
beyond the power of words to fitly tell, so are the griefs which grew
out of them.

Mrs. Marsh continued busily employed in this work of mercy until it was
suddenly suspended. Some formality had not been complied with, and the
privilege of communication was discontinued; and all their friends
disappointed and disheartened. This we can easily imagine, but not what
the suspension was to the suffering prisoners who had for a short season
enjoyed this one gleam of light from the outer world, and were now
plunged into a rayless hopeless night. When the time of deliverance
came, as we all know, many of them were past the power of rejoicing in
it.

Dr. Marsh was for a long time detained at Folly and Morris Islands. The
force at Beaufort was quite inadequate, and exceedingly onerous and
absorbing duties fell to the share of Mrs. Marsh. Communication was
difficult. Dr. Marsh at times could not reach his home. Vessels which
had been running between New York and Port Royal and Hilton Head were
detained at the North. The receipt and transmission of sanitary stores,
and the immense correspondence growing out of it; the general oversight
of the needs of the hospitals, and the monthly reports of the same all
fell heavily upon one brain and one pair of hands.

It was at just such an emergency th