and wounded of a
single division, or at most of a small army corps, when not engaged in
any great battles; the providing for some hundreds of refugees, the care
of some of the freedmen, and the assistance of the families of the
soldiers. Whatever it undertook to do it did well. Its semi-annual
reports consisted largely of letters from its absent secretary, letters
full of pathos and simple eloquence, and these widely circulated,
produced a deep impression, and stirred the sympathies of those who
read, to more abundant contributions.

As an instance of the spirit which actuated the members of this society
we state the following incident of which we were personally cognizant;
one of the officers of the society soon after the commencement of the
war had contributed so largely to its funds that she felt that only by
some self-denial could she give more. Considering for a time where the
retrenchment should begin, she said to the members of her family; "these
soldiers who have gone to fight our battles have been willing to hazard
their lives for us, and we certainly cannot do too much for them. Now, I
propose, if you all consent, to devote a daily sum to the relief of the
army while the war lasts, and that we all go without some accustomed
luxury to procure that sum. Suppose we dispense with our dessert during
the war?" Her family consented, and the cost of the dessert was duly
paid over to the society as an additional donation throughout the war.

The society received and expended during the four years ending April 30,
1865, twenty-four thousand dollars in money, beside five hundred and
fifty dollars for soldiers' families, and seven hundred dollars with
accumulated interest for aiding disabled soldiers to reach their homes.
The supplies distributed were worth not far from one hundred and
twenty-five thousand dollars, aside from those sent directly to Mrs.
Harris from individuals and societies, which were estimated at fully two
hundred thousand dollars.

* * * * *

In this connection it may be well to say something of two other
associations of ladies in Philadelphia for aiding the soldiers, which
remained independent of the Sanitary or Christian Commissions through
the war, and which accomplished much good.

THE PENN RELIEF ASSOCIATION was organized early in 1862, first by the
Hicksite Friends, to demonstrate the falsity of the commonly received
report that the "Friends," being opposed to