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The horrors of war threw into sharp relief the
beauty of the gardens, the countryside, and the kindhearted people with whom
Agnes worked. These pleasures claimed a prominent place in her letters. "It
is strange," she wrote, "how one can laugh in spite of everything. I don't
think we could live through it if it were not for the funny and foolish
things that happen." Her kitten provided no end of amusement, chasing dogs
and keeping Agnes company at night: "We call her 'Antoinette' after the
aeroplane, for she makes a noise like the aeroplane when she sings." |
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From
My Beloved Poilus
Photo courtesy of Carrie Special Collection
http://vlib.iue.it/carrie/
"Nurse quarters for two"
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At Christmas-time, Agnes and her team saw to it
that
"The men had a wonderful Christmas day. They were
like a happy lot of children. We decorated the wards with flags, holly,
mistletoe, and paper flowers that the men made, and a tree in each ward. You
cannot imagine how pretty they were. Each patient began the day with a sock that
was hung to the foot of their bed by the night nurses. In each was an orange, a
small bag of sweets, nuts and raisins, a handkerchief, pencil, tooth brush,
pocket comb and a small toy that pleased them almost more than anything else,
and which they at once passed on to their children. They had a fine dinner… We
are all dead tired, for we worked like nailers for the past two weeks; but it
was worth while, for we were able to make a great many people happy."
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From
My Beloved Poilus
Photo Courtesy of Carrie Special Collection
http://vlib.iue.it/carrie/
"My salle,
Christmas 1916" |
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