Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-03-13

hiCl iOpOltOQ US III lilG SudTu-lUuSGs ne DSlu
them tor moment in his hand, and then laid
them aside with his own letters.
''Let me see you in half an hour" he said
to the orderly. "We must do something to
reform this man. There is good in him if we
only discover the way to make it active"
The orderly retired and the officer became
occupied with his letters. After getting thro'
with them word was passed to have Rogers
brought before him. He came, under guard,
but the guard was dismissed, and the man was
alone with the officer, who regarded him more
in pity than anger. The soldier was Young
man not over twenty years of age; of slender
form, but compactly built and muscular. Even
under disgrace there was manly self oise
about him that did not escape the officers
notice.
"Under arrest again! What have you to
say for yourself" The officer tried to be
stern and to speak with severity.
The soldier did not answer; but look,
half-dogged, half-detiant, was visible in his
face.
81 shall have to order severer punishment"
There was no reply; only a slight change in
attitude and expression of countenance that
indicated Il bracng of mind and nerve tor
more endurance.
"When did you hear from homer" asked
| the officer, who did not remember to have seen
letter addressed to Rogers until the receipt
of that days mail.
''Not for a long time" was answered. and
with apparent surprise at so unexpected
| question.
''Here are two letters to your address," And
the officer, who had the letters in his hand,
held them toward the soldier, who started with
strange look of surprise and bewilderment,
| and received them with hand that trembled
visibly.
''Sit down and read them," said the officer,
pointing to camp-stool. The man sat down,
showing considerable excitement, and, after
looking curiously at the delicately written SUI
| prescriptions, opened one Of the letters and
glanced it through hurriedly. The officers
gaze was on him, and he read in his counte-
nance the rapid play of various emotions
Then he opened the second letter, which was
read twice. As he finished it, he drew his
hand hastily across his eyes.
''From home" queried the officer.
The young soldier stood up, giving the
usual sign of respect, as he answered in the
affirmative. The officer noticed thai his face
was graver and paler; and that all the late
look of logged defiance had faded out
'And now, Rogers, what have you to say
for yourself? VIII you drive US to severer
punishment? You know, as well as do, that
discipline must be enforced" There was re-
monstrance, not anger. in the officers voice.
''Only this" answered the soldier, humbly,
| yet in firm voice 81 have done wrong, and
am sorry. Forgive me AID if L break a rule
of the service again, shoot me-
''Spoken like man and soldierl | will
trust you, Rogers" said the officer; and, dis
missing the guard, he sent him to duty"
Two days afterward came that overwhelm-
iuU assault nj orb Nrnr and IN tbo
next day the terrible conflict at Gaines Mills.
Among the coolest and bravest in all the
fierce battles that followed, and among the
most enduring in the long lights of retreat,
was young Rogers. He was with that body of
infantry which lay at the bottom Of Malvern
Hill, under our death dealing batteries, the
fire from which staggered, and then drove
back the rebel masses, whose desperate cour-
age in that maddest OF all assaults, was worthy
of Il better cause. Twice during this series
of battles, as once at Williamsburg, had Roy
ers, riSking his own life, saved that of his
captain; and in several of the conflicts he
had shown such GOODNESS and courage, that
| positions were saved, which but for tile ntu-
| sion OF his spirit into his comrades would have
| been lost.
One day, about three weeks after the let
| tiers were written to Thomas Rogers, the
young lady, whom we have called Annie, re-
ceived a reply from the soldier, dated, "In
| Camp, near Harrison's Landing" 1t ran
| thus =
"A good angel must have put it into
your heart to send me that letter, for it came
just in time to save me. was in the guard
house for neglect of duty and disobedience of
orders. | was reckless and desperate. All
my comrades were getting word from home
| letters came to them by every mail-Dut no
one wrote to me or seemed to care for me- So
| | lost respect for myself, grew sour, unhappy,
and indifferent to duty. But your kind words
your talk about the past time when you were
my teacher-your strong appeal to my better
nature-your calm, true, sweet sentences,
dear lady stirred my heart with new feel
ings, and filled my eyes with tears. l was be-
fore my captain, in disgrace, when your letter
was placed in my hands. He waited for me
to read it, saw that | was touched, and, like
true man as he is, tOrgave my offence. Then
and there | resolved to die sooner than
swerve hars's- breadth from duty. l have
been in fearful battles since, but God has kept
me from harm. To-day, for bravery and
faithful service in these battles, have been
made a second lieutenant. Thanks, thanks to
you, kind, good friend! You have saved one
who came nigh being lost"
Fair reader is there not, in some far away
camp, soldier who would be made better or
happier through letter from your hand?
Think If there is, write to him. Brothers,
sisters, fathers, mothers, write often to the
soldiers who have gone out from your homes.
They are in the midst of temptations, trials,
sutferings, and privations, and your words of
love, your tenderly manifested interest, your
exhortatiOns to courage and duty, cannot fail
to do them good.