Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-04-03

TIaE DINING SOhDiER.

| a chaplain furnishes the following aE
fccting account Of the last hours of dying
soldier. No one can read it without en-.
motion:
The wards were full Of wounded sol
diers 0 that ! could bring to youl
mind, reader, the full saduess Of such a
scenc 1t would doy 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 en-
list your sympathy, but the sense Of dcs-
olatcness the poor sick men must feel, as
they think Of their homes and the dear
ones they are never more to behold in
life.
There they lie, ranged side by side,
some of them Indifferent to all that is ta-
! king place around them, others with eyes
brightly restless and watch!ul, now
gloomcd with apprehension, now lighted
with hope. One, athletic, handsome,
youthful, whose arm lies shattered by his
sidc-thc good right arm that has SO Of.
ten been welded in useful deeds. 1t will
, never serve him more, for mputation ha,
become the necessity, and death may fol-
low. lIcrc is another whose face is ban
dagcl down to the pale outline of his lips
n and whose doom Is inevitable blindness
if his life is spared. Here lies anothc
whose quivCrng mouth and muscles tel
the agony he has !hc iortitude to conceal
= but which the surgeons say will provcto
d much for him What wonder that tn
# nurses move about him with blanche
., checks and moistcncd eyes? 1t is thei
o first experience, and some Of them trem
bic as each body is brought in for fear o
recognizing son or brother.
Quietly from bed to bed moves til
chaplain, sickcncd to the heart, bu
strengthened for his duty 10y the han,
that never fails 70 some he gives
= few words Of sympathy, reserying thei
cases for another day, for they are onl
slightly wounded; to others he spcal,
gently Of their situation, striving to tc
them with words from which all hop
has departed of their swilt-coming en-,
To all he speaks of Jesus; bids them
the hour Of their extremity to look up
God, who is willing to accept them
l, they will put their trust in Him.
Poor fellows, rudo and rough thong
they have seemed, the quivoIing lii
20 shaking like that Of child IN its hcayie
child-Sorrow, the deep-heavcd sob, tn
lifts the great chest with almost convu
y sivc throcs, tells tina: there is II founta
in the heart that the swift words of syn
pathy may stir.
The chaplain came at last to n cot s
somewhat by itself outside the wards
Here, reclining at full length, was your
man whose face bore but slight sullern
y, 1t was flushed with hue like that
health; his eyes were undlmmed, al
only tho position Of his hands, whi
were thrown over his head and locked
!, almost spasmodic tightness, told that
was in pain. He was unusually not
IN countenance, His brow was bro
and fair, and the thick locks that clu
tered back from his temples curlcd Ii
the ringlets of boy. lie knew not VIII
the chaplain experienced an unusual al
sudden sympathy for this young ma
struck down in his beauty still no i'
J, there was no immediate danger in his ca'
"llow is ho wounded?" he asked
the surgeon, as the two approached
be, bed softly.
Gin the right side below the ribs, ," W
the reply.
"ls he in danger?"
"Ol no; that is, not at present. 1
case may take bad turn, IT is true b
it looks very well now. Charles"
added, addressing the sick man. famillc
ly, "tho chaplain is going the round
-, would you like to see him?'
"Ol certainly" exclaimed the youl
Of man, smiling, 81 am very glad to s
him." And he held out his hand. II
voice was strong and ringing, as with t
highest health, and his clasp was vigo
- Gus.
Il am sorry to find you wounded, n
aud FRIEND" said the chaplain.
!. 80, ouly the casualty OF war