The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-02-19
From the Christian Herald
SOLDIERS FAMILIES.

Six hundred thousand soldiers in our army'
Six hundred th usand mesmeric wires, eommu-
nicating With many times six hundred thousand
hearts, that wait, and long, ard love, and pray
For surely God has not left in the world one
heart so desolate "a to have none whom its in
terests affect. X makes vas, difference witt
US whether our soDs, or our brothers. or our
husbands, are in the brigade detached TOR this
or that dangerous service. But somebodss sons
and brothers and husbands are there; some
hearts must bear the suffocating burden Of sus
pense until they know the result, and perhaps
Till suspense deepen into anguished wailing for
the dead, or less supportable heart-yexrnng for
come poor prisoner or hospital sufferer. The
poor eoldiers." exclaims everybody and the
voice drops to a tone of tender pity. II is wsl !;
they need our sympathy. the poor iellows-but
not less their wives, mothers. and sisters Ii is
TO item We send forth our ;enderest New Years
greetings. Our mothers, our sisters have the,
become in new communion of suffering and
We bespeak for them every kindly care. ever,
thoughtful service, which ehail cav, I'VE share
this burden with you"
There is another class whose burdens are no'
of this kind precisely, but who thrk snxiously
through the Li chit huurs Of little upshod feet oi
the rew school books which the commencing
term has made necessary for the children, OF the
fast diminishing wood pile, OF the -four barrel
almost empty, of the coming taxes-Oa! there
are very many things which Uncle Sam can not
.hink OF, which we never thought OF before, and
which, We fear, are too little in our thoughts
nov. Perhaps some new experience of suffer
ing is reserved TO remind US of them. Bet We
bless Gcd that 40 many have learned by this sad
war a new application Of the Scripture, "He
setteth the solitary in families" Many families
have been enlarged by members adopted through
| the sympathy which this war has awakened. IL
is with new and tender emphasis that We say,
Our Father which is in Heaven" II il with
new fervor. because it is for our brothers and
our sisters, that We pra,, "Give VS. this day Our
daily bresd;" aud in the cup o! this new com
munion we find the b!essedness of mourning
with those who mourn, Of weeping with those
who weep.
"He keepeth the Holy Supper indeed,
In whatso he shareth another's need
For it IS not in what we give. but in wSat VI
partske with others. that We drink Of the tru.
cup of blessings, and enter into that communion
| wherein is revealed to us the mystery of ths
Divine incarnation and suffering.
There is ye, another class, above pecuniar,
| want perhaps, who need our sympathy-lone',
wives The walk to the evening PRAYER meeting
| is to them re solitary ore. They would hk,
to 60 the evening lecture. but they shrink iron
going alone. For time they are invited to litrl'
social gatherings. but there Is no one 10 90 vii!
them. and they gradually drop out and are for
| gotten and there are lorrelv fresdes where tn
heart preys upon ITSELF and where the tears fall
We can minister to such hearts; and by an
ministry OF love to others, We shall find our owl
hearts enriched hundred fo,d. Because suc
persons do not put on sorrOsful face. and ap
peal 20 our svmpathies bv complaints Of lone
ness, il is no sign they 30 not need shern. Tru
| need il modest and retiring ia expression. w
have opened lbe inner .eaves OF some sue
hearts, and have read sad lines there. A thou
| sand little attentions that win cost you nothin
but love, bot little thought, which, alter al
will do yon far the greater good, will dispense
great deal of happiness in such homes. Go
little out OF Your way 10 ask such vi!e TO e
with you TO the PRAYER meeting, the lecture. tn
concert, or the panorama; send such wife,
book yon have Jus. been reading with interes
accompanied by Ette note that shall tell b.
you thought Of her when you read it. Oh
there is nothing fruitful in simple devices !
dispense happiness as a loving hesrt-a hes
warm with the sympathy born OF the love th'
il born Of God