contributions. She received also the most devoted and efficient
assistance from numerous ladies. Among these may be named, Mrs. Barnard,
Mrs. Oliver, during the whole time, Mrs. Brewster, Mrs. Dodge, Mrs.
Pomeroy, and many others, either constantly or at all practicable
periods. Young ladies, reared in luxury, and unaccustomed to perform any
laborious services in their own homes, would at the Sanitary Rooms sew
swiftly upon the coarsest work, and shrink from no toil. A few of this
class, during the second winter of the war manufactured thirty-one pairs
of soldiers' trowsers, and about fifty warm circular capes from remnants
of heavy cloth contributed for this use by Robert Pomeroy, Esq., a
wealthy manufacturer of Pittsfield. The stockings, mittens of yarn and
cloth, and hospital clothing of every variety, are too numerous to be
mentioned.
Meanwhile supplies of every kind and description poured in. All of these
Mrs. Fenn received, acknowledged, collected many of them by her own
personal efforts, and then with her own hands arranged, packed, and
forwarded them. During the war more than nine thousand five hundred
dollars' worth of supplies thus passed directly through her hands, and
of these nothing save one barrel of apples at David's Island, was ever
lost.
During the entire four years of the war, she devoted three days of the
week to this work, often all the days. But these three she called the
"soldiers' days," and caused it to be known among her friends that this
was not her time, and could not be devoted to personal work or pleasure.
The Sanitary Rooms were more than half a mile distant from her own home.
But on all these mornings, immediately after breakfast, she proceeded to
them, on foot, (for she kept no carriage), carrying with her, her lunch,
and at mid-day, making herself that old lady's solace, a cup of tea, and
remaining as long as she could see; busily at work, receiving letters,
supplies, acknowledging the same, packing and unpacking, buying needed
articles, cutting out and preparing work, and answering the numerous and
varied calls upon her time. After the fatiguing labors of such a day,
she would again return to her home on foot, unless, as was very
frequently the case, some friend took her up in the street, or was
thoughtful enough to come and fetch her in carriage or sleigh. When we
reflect that these tasks were undertaken in all weathers, and at all
seasons, by a lady past her sixtieth year, duri
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