The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-01-31
THE DYING SOLDIER.

The Watchman and Reflector, of Boston,
contains the following touching account
from chaplain, of the last hours of dy-
ing soldier. No one can read it without
emotion
The wards were full of wounded soldiers.
o that could bring to your mind, read
er, the full sadness of such scene! 1t
would do you no harm, though thrill after
thrill of horror might shake your frame. 1t
is not alone the gaping wounds, the heavy
groans, that would enlist your sympathy /;
but the sense of desolateness the poor sick
men must feel as they think of their homes,
and the dear ones they are never destined
to behold in life. There they lie, ranged
side by side, some of them Indifferent to all
that is taking place around them, others
with eyes brightly restless and watchful,
now gleomed with apprehension, now light.
ened with hope. Here is one, athletic,
handsome, youthful, whose arm lies shat
tered at bis side, the good right arm that
has so often been vie ded in useful deeds.
1t will never serve him more, for amputa.
ton has become the necessity, and death
may follow. Here is another whose face is
bandsged down to the pale outline of the
lips, and whose doom is inevitable blind,
ness, if his lite is spared. Here lies snoth-
er whose quivering mouth and muscles tell
the agony he has the fortitude to conceal,
but which the surgeons say will prove too
much for him. What wonder that the
nurses move about him with bsnched
cheeks and moistened eyes 1t is their
first experience, and some of them trem5le
as each body is brought in, for fear OF rec
ognizing son or a brother.
Quietly from bed to bed moves the chap
lain, siekened to the heart, but streDg thened
for his duty by the Hand that never tails.
To some he gives few words of sympathy,
reserving their cases for another day, for
they are only slightly wounded to others
he speaks gently of their situation, striving
to tell them with words from which sll hope
has departed, of their swift coming end.
To all be speaks of Jesus bids them in
the hour OF their extremity to lock up to
God, who is willing to accept them If they
will but put their trust in Him. Poor fell
lows, rude and rough though they may
have seemed, the quiveripg lip, shaking like
that of q child in its heaviest child sorrow,
the deep-heaved sob, that lifts the great
chest with almost convulsive tbroes, tell
that there is fountain in the heart that the
soft words of sympathy may stir.
The chaplain came at last to cot set
somewhat by itself outside the wards. Here,
reclining at full length, was a young man
whose face bore but slight traces of suffer,
ing. 1t was flushed with hue like that of
health; the eyes were undimmsa, and only
the position of his hands, which were
thrown over bis head and locked in almost
spasmodic tightness, told that be was in
pain. He was unusually noble in counte-
nance. His brow was broad and fair, and
the thick locks that clustered back from
his temple curled like the ringlets of boy.
He knew not why, but the chaplain expe
rienced an unusual and sudden sympathy
for this young man, struck down in bis
beauty; still be felt there was no immediate
danger in his case.
How is be wounded 2" he asked of the
surgeon, as the two approached the bed,
softly.
"In the right side, below the ribs" was
the reply.
is he in dapger?"
so! no /; that is, not at present. The
case may take had turn, to be sure but
it looks very we'll now. Charles" he adj
ded, addressing the sick man, Familiarity,
the chaplain is going the rounds; would
you like to see him?"
90, certainlyW exclaimed the young
man, smiling. II am very glad to see
him 5" and be held out his hand. His voice
was strong and ringing, as with the highest
health, his clasp was vigorous.
Il am sorry to find you wounded, my
friend" said the chaplain.
SO! only the casualty of war; we must
some of US expect it, you know"
ado you suffer much?"
"At times, sir, very severely; l feel so
well, only the distress here" and he pressed
his hand to his side.
"You will be up soon, I hope"