Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1862-08-15


here our dearest connections have been
formed. Here, too, above all, our religious
privileges are unrestricted and untramelled.
Here are no spiritual hierarchs to lord it
over our conscences, and to punish for non-
conformity. Here are the rth-places of
our souls, and here have we kept holy day
and walked to the house Of God in compa-
ny. Here are the graves Of our friends,
where we love to 60 and weep at the re-
membrancs of their virtues and here, after
having passed the happiest years Of our
lives, we look forward for our old age to
rest in peace. How can such land fail to
be dear to us 1t is not the fiction of the
declaimer il is not the mere utterance Of
thoughtless exaggeration when say the sun
never shone upon such land as our own.
Can we think with Indifference, and without
emotion, of the menaced welfare and ex-
stence of that country which has been the
mother, the nurse, the guardian Of us all f:
If the love of country is virtue to be
cherished at all times, especially should it
burn brightly in the day Of our countrys
gloom and disaster. We are shocked at
the child's neglect of its parents at any
time, but how doubly revolving such neglect
in the hour of sickness and sorrow. Our
country is now passing through scenes Of
overwhelming adversely, and deep gloom
Rebellion has reared its bloody standard.
and treason has put on the horrid front of
war;" Our national sky is enveloped in
black and portentous clouds, and the hearts
of the people are throbbing with unwonted
anxiety and fear. The lover of his coun-
try, and her precious and blood-bought in
stitutions, retires to sleepless pillow, to
give the leaden-winged hours, once devoted
to sweet repose, to the contemplation of his
counsry's sorrow and perils. Thousands Of
precious lives have been sacrificed, and
some of the choicest sons Of New England
have fallen before the artillery of the con-
spirators. Every day brings us tidings Of
fresh carnage and bloodshed. Our sons and
brothers, and neighbors and friends, are in
the tented field, or are reposing in the far.
off soldiers grave. All over the land may
be heard the startling cry, To arms p
Fond mothers clasp their sons in agonizine
sorrow, and with bedimmed eyes and fer
vent prayers 10 heaven, bid them 90 to the
call of their country. Fathers may be seer
everywhere embracing their wives and chill
daen, and with a hurried goodbye" ex
changing their quiet and happy homes TO
the soldiers tent and perils. IF we evel
cherish the love of our native land, tha
love should burn with AN unwonted glow il
this time of her danger and distress.
should feel to rejoice if l could convince al
present that it is a crime to fold our arm
in cold Indifference, in a time like this. w
: cannot desert our country in this tim
of her greatest need without incurring tn
guilt of parricidy.
Ny friends, we have assembled to-day t
do honor to the memory of youthful pat
riot. The call of his country, in this tim
of her distress and severe trial, found a
echo in his young and unsophIsticated heart
He has fallen victim to his ardent love G
country. When invited to be present her
to-day, there were obstacles in the way
but [ resolved to surmount them, anxiou
that l might bear some humble part in tn
offices of respect to the memory of thi
8 youthful soldier and patriot. He has falle
in holy cause. If ever nation coul
stand uncovered before the God of battle:
and appeal to bis Almighty arm to give vic
tory to the right, then | solemnly believ
VIC may, in this trying hour, challenge heaS
i. en- on our side. Our revolutionary sire
!, fought for holy cause, but ours is holier
= The trust committed to us is greater; tn
> responsibility TO our posterity is more feal
full. Had our fathers failed in their lon
4 struggle for independence, they might sti
have returned to their loyalty, and as COLI
4 nies of the mother country, might have az
vaneed in wealth and power. But If
. fail. where can we GO? For us to fail !
this tremendous crisis is national death, ar
+ social anarchy. All must have seen thi
Hence all party lines have been obliterateC
and the millions Of the north stana in soil
; phalanx, and appeal to the Almighty fc
the Righteousness of their cause. The caus
is one for which every patriot can feel ths
!, it is sweet to die. 1t is one for which ever
christian can plead before his Redeeme
and his God. 1t is one which every mil
:, ister of Jesus Christ can carry with him
i the pulpit and advocate with the sam
4 voice with which he proclaims the wonder
e of Redeeming grace.
All honor, then, to those who embark
:. so glorious a cause. There is no testimon
al of respect and gratitude which should
: withheld from those who fall in tn
h struggle for freedom and nationality. Th
q youthful hero, whose death we commem
rate to-day, has fallen in the same cause
II n.,uEar IIitl and