Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-05-04

The CAMP BEFORE SEBAsToPoL.-Rev. C. n.
Society, is now at the seat of war and writes
home interesting accounts of his labors. We
copy some pleasing incidents from recent
letter from him
As we were trudging along through the
mud half knee deep, Gt is impossible to
conceive the state of the roads which the
heavy rains and artillery wagons have made, y
| saw the wife of soldier, in the midst of
the din and confusion of the scene, stopping
to rest by the wayside, and her interesting
countenance attracted my attention. | step
ped forward, spoke n pleasant word to her.
asked her if she had Bible or testament in
her tent. Oh, no. she said, we have just
come from Varna, and if you could give me
one I should he very thankful : and an old
soldier coming up said IF you could give
Inc one, too, sir, | would think very much of
it. belong to Captain Frazer's battery and
we have no Bible there. So | gave them
each one
Thus encouraged set out by moonlight to
walk around our little cluster of tents, COM
prising one division only, while the whole
encampment stretches fifteen miles along the
hill sides, and through the ravines around.
In the first tent entered there were three
soldiers. and when inquired If they were
all supplied with Bibles and Testaments one
poor fellow living on the damp ground wrap
ped in his blanket, raising himself up. said,
would like very much to have one, sir =
then the others expressed the same desire
and as gave them each a Testament they
thanked me with heartfelt gratitude for COM
ing so far to give the w ord of Life and would
not let Inc go without receiving some gifts of
nuts and almonds from them in return.
In the next tent found three others, and
one of them shivering with the ague and
upon repeating the same question: he reused
up, and said, 4 would like very much to
have Bible Z; had one when I left Eng
land but lost it at the battle of Alma and
$ nee then I have had nothing but q prayer
book, which plundered from the knapsack
of dead comrade at Inkerman.' accord
ingly offered him Bible, remarking that it
was our custom to sell to those who were
able to buy, and give freely to those who
were not 4 have money said he, and
would gladly pay for it should value it
the more. How much shall give y said,
Whatever you choose. He handed Inc at
once IS. Cd. sterling, or seven shillings. in
our money. l gave him back twenty-five
soldier to pay. oh no. said he, keep it
all give it all as a free will Offering to
the American Bible Society
gave the other Testaments, and as left
they pronounced many blessings on my head ,
for bringing them the Word Of God, saying,
| 4 the last thing they would throw away
again on their march would be the Bible. -
In the next tent met with like reception
One soldier said he wished to have a Bible,
and said he, rather think will take two
for | am quite sure my brother, who is out
-.
one also : and he handed me out As. or one
dollar of our money, saying he was very
thankful to receive them for that and one
sitting beside him politely took off his cap
to me, and said, Now | can enjoy the Word
of God too for though | cannot read myself
| can hear it from this man, and 1t will do
me as much good as him. We have been in
all the battles together, and, thank God, we
have both been preserved. But can you not
! come tomorrow night, when the others will
be in from the pickets | am sure they
would all like to get Bibles of you. Oh, sir,
| if We could only have the like OF you to come
| and see us in our tents, and speak kind
word to us, how thankful we would be =
was pleased, too, to notice the respectful
ness as we'll as kindness with which they
received me, a stranger. bearing to them the
| Bible. | remarked, The medals voted by
| Parliament for those engaged at Alma and
lnkerman are coming SOON Yes said
they, and we will be glad to get them but
We would rather have your Bibles. said
Then hope you will read and treasure
them, as the Word Of God, which maketh us
wise unto everlasting salvation. Never
fear that, says one, 4 have sister at home
who Sc DIS me q good tract every time she
writes me and have read and kept them
every one, and now have the Bible, which
is better than all As my little stock was
thus so soon exhausted, I returned to my
tent, rejoiced that had been privileged to
distribute Bibles and testaments to those
noble soldiers in camp on the field of lnker-
man and prayed that God would abu dainty
bless His Word to their spiritual good.