Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1863-12-17
Z na For the REPUBLICAN.
Aid to Soldiers Families.

DIR CDlTOh.-We hsSe lateiy cOntflO-
uted literally to the welfare and comfort
Of our soldiers in the field. Now shall we
not remember their families at home?-
Winter with his armory Of clouds. winds
and SHOWS. is here. Most of us are
we'll protected against his ferccst as
saults. We have enough an! to spare
Now is it right for us to sit down to the
enjoyment of comfortable abundance whilst
the families of some of our brave men in
the field are deprived OF necessaries? These
men are sacrificing very much for US, and
their pay is small. Most of their families
will complain little before they suffer
much. Shall we wait till stern necessity
and bitter want torture from them cries of
distress? No; let us save them from this,
as we'll as the scarcely less painful humili-
alton of calling for help. Nor should we
limit our attention to the families of SOL
diers. but let all worthy objects be sought
out and supplied in whatever they may
need for their comfort and health.
We should be stimulated to this by the
example of other towns and communities.
In Laportc County. we learn. that a GER
tain neighborhood assembled recently with
teams loaded with wood, potatoes, flour,
meal, &C.. and went round to.the families
likely to be limited in the supply Of their
necessary wants. and left such as was need.
ed. AT Logansport one day last week
great many teams came in from the conn.
try. loaded with all such necessaries. and
uniting with those loaded by the citizens
of town, formed and moved in grand pro-
cession. headed by brass band. round the
city aud vicinity. supplying every destitute
family. They stopped at the door yard.
without Q note Of warning and unloaded
wood, -four or whatever was likely tc be
most in demand. This is sufficient to
show the manner in which others are
moving in this cause. Almost everywhere
the spirit of benevolence is manifesting
itself IS never before. 1t is a most happy
omen. Tom Corwin once said that "be-
nevolence was the lightning rod Of nation
turning aside the bolts of divine wrath"
Let our ears therefore and our hearts be
opened to the wants of all among us. and
let us cordially and heartily share our a.
bundance with the needy. Let us suggest
one item in which there is most likely to
ts need just now, viz: wood. Suppose we
appoint day for grand wood chopping
and hauling to supply the families of this
town. The occasion would afford a rare
opportunity for our business men Of all
branches. our Lawyers. Doctors and Min
listers to measure muscle. Or it may be
that some other plan more acceptable and
efficient can be suggested. BY systematic
and concerted action we can accomplish
much more than otherwise. Every neigh
borhood can thus adopt some plan for as
sisting the families among them. Come.
feIlow-citizens, let MS act upon this at once.
AS we. from our comfortable retreats, look
ont upon the dre.ry face of winter. let us
think how terrible that face looks to many
shivering and hungry form. let ms
help make this young Hoosier State SO re-
nowned already for valor and patriotism.
as renowned for the noble virtues OF be-
nevolence and gratitude. Let us flso thus
express our obligation to the giver Of oil
good. zea zas< s ~