ays easy to find faithful willing agents to
distribute supplies among those who had nothing left to repair but their
stomachs, and no material for this.

At Point Coupee the Mississippi sends out a false branch of thirty miles
in length, forming an island, and again joining the main river at
Hermitage. These are known as False River and Island. The government
boats had not entered False River, and there was great want among both
people and cattle.

All the way down we were besought to hold something back for this point.
At Hermitage we found the one business man, owner of the boat which
plied the thirty miles of river, its warehouse and all. He, of course,
was the only man who could take charge of and distribute relief around
the island; and Captain Trudeau was sought. He was a young, active man,
full of business, just pulling out of his own disaster, and did not know
how to attend to it. "Guessed the trouble was most over up there; hadn't
heard much about it lately." We knew better and felt discouraged that
persons could not be found of sufficient humanity to distribute relief
when brought to them.

I was sitting heart sore and perplexed in my stateroom trying to think
out a way when two rather young women of prepossessing appearance
entered with a bouquet of early flowers for me, introducing themselves
as Mrs. and Miss Trudeau, wife and sister of the captain. I scarcely
felt gracious, but those fair womanly faces were strong to win, and I
entered into conversation asking Mrs. Trudeau what she thought of the
condition of the people of the island. Her face grew sad as she said in
touching tones, "Indeed, I cannot say, Miss Barton; my husband's boat
runs around twice a week and I tried to go on it for a while, but the
sight of such destitution and those starving cattle, mules, cows, horses
and sheep were beyond my endurance. I had nothing to give them, and I
could not see it, and so left off going."

"Would you ladies take the agency of the Red Cross to deliver supplies
to these people?"

I shall not forget the ap