Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1862-08-04
5Nisttllane0ns.
FoR TINE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.
The Letter from Home

DMLIOH III NCdAA hOhS
the army. When they left home their
habits were good, their hopes were high,
and their energies were active and vigo-
rous. For a time, too, they struggled
manlully and successfully, and promised
to fulfil their country's and their parents
hopes. But they were away from friends
and home {; no watchful mothers eye was
upon them, no father was present, to re-
strain or admouish by his gentle ~counsels,
and temptations of various kinds presented
themselves. The letters that came at first
from home with due regularity by every
mail, were omitted, or did not reach them;
they fancied that they were neglected, if
not forgotten, and they rushed wildly on
in a career Of excitement and dissipation.
Had their friends at home kept up a cor
respondence--had they reminded them
only once a week, that they continued to
be objects Of interest and affection, that in.
te.ligencc was looked for from them con-
stantly and ~anxiously, the MEMORIES and
the associations of home would have eker-
cised a ~salutary restraint-would have in-
duced many an hour of refection-wonld
have checked their progress of reckless
ness and inebriety-wouId, in all proba-
bility, have saved them from a premature
death.
We have i'll our minds eye a noble young
Captain. who shall serve to illustrate our
point. He had just burst into manhood, was
full Of lite and enterprise, entered eagerly
into the service, and took bis departure
in a cheerful and buoyant spirit. A few
hours, however, before leaving, his father,
who confded in and upon him, and for
whom he entertained the most profound
respect and affection, called him aside,
spoke to him kindly and feelingIy, and
placing II letter in his hands, begged him
to read it attentively and ponder upon its
truths calmly and thoaghtfully, inamedi-
Gtely before has landing on the p~erilous
field TO aOhich'he scas destined! He prom
ised SO to do, deposited the letter in a
spot of the utmost security, and at the
time designated he opened and perused
1T. 1t was long, kind, confidential and
truthful. The father himself had been in
the army, understood all the destinations
and temptations that were presented there,
had seen many young men fall before
them, aud he was unwilling to subject his
son to SO fiery an ordeal, without stating
the facts to him wildly and graphically
and appealing to his reason, his conscience.
most the virtues of temperance, self-denial
and selfcontrolf The effect upon the
mind of the young man was of the most
decided character. In the letter that he
had SO carefully cherished, he saw, as it
were, the heart of his father, and he heard
his voice echoing in the midst Of blood
and carnage He had quietly but sol.
emily resolved to abide by tho counsel
there given.
He was soon invited to participate in
4 scene of dissipation, exactly such as his
father had dcscribed-a scene, too, which
dozens of others Of the same age and sim
ilarly circumstance, were about to enjoy,
but he declined promptly, courtsously, yet
firmly and unequivocally One or two of
his companions laughed at his scruples,
and endeavored to persuade him that he
was unnecessarily cautious. But to all
such he had only one reply-HIs FATHERS
LETTER! 1t served as a monitor and a
shield, and while it protected him from
the dangers, the vices and the excuses
which he soon discovered were destroying
many others, it constituted a lesson OF
thoughtful kindness and generous conf
dence, that he remembered with gratitude
for the rest of his days.
And yet, how often is this duty, this
solemn duty of writing to the young, the
ardent and impulsive, when away from
home, and especially in the army, either
partially or wholly neglected-and how
often are the consequences, as in the cases
above averted to, of the most painful char
acter! We have great faith in the power
of a letter, when aptly written, judiciously
toned, and generously intended! There
is All indescribable magic in an epistlc OF
this kind. We have known mothers to
linger for hours over some hasty scrswl Of
a truant boy in a far land, while we have
seen children grasp as at something far
more precious than goId-the tattered
fragments Of some fnger-worn letter that
was written years and years before, and
that nevertheless embodied some priceless
sentiment of love.
To our fricn3s in the army, an occasion
al letter is indispensable. Without some.
thing Of the kind, HOME, kindred and their
hallowed associations, will, to a certain cx'
tent, be forgotten, dangerous habits will b.
formed, and fearful consequences will be the
result. To the sick, the suffering, the dis
p'rted or the unfortunate-what could be
more soothing, more encouraging thar
voices from homei A letter, a kind let
tar NAV nnrnnl Il e. - IL