The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-12-26

longs for-what7 Not TO return to that
nome and those dear friends, for he liz
| aware that it is impossible for him to do so
for three years or during the war; Not
| for something to appease his craving apne-
ute; not Tor a short respite from his ardu-
Gus uutles IN camp or in field: but for O
letter. Yea, mere letter from HOME: il
tls naught but q line, that line will relieve
his mind of that irrepressible feeling that
WIZ constantly intrude upon it. Yes, that
little mlsslve-eompliment of love and aE
lection. God speed it! il there be one en-
route for US. If the recipient be in the hos
pital on bed Of sickness, it will effect
more towards his recovery than dose of
quinine, morphine, or other (poisonousl
medicine. 1t is in the hospital that he is
most In danger of losing that ambition
which patient should possess to buoy up
his spirits while enduring his painful and
lonely sufierings. 1t is there that he ia
most likely to giveupall hope-to become
dissatisfied and discouraged, and to become
wholly absorbed in the single wish to get
home. And, be assured, when he is brot
to that state, his case is critical. If succor
does not soon reach him-if something ia
not done to reinstate buoyant and hone
full tone of mind-his case is hopeless. A
very large per cent. of the deaths in our
hospitals are caused by pure genuine
home sickness. 1t is startling fact. And
oh, how easy it would be to dissipate it,
How simple the remedy if only used in
time. Reader, fancy yourself in the hos
pital. Look at that patient on your left
the one whose pale, haggard and express
slonleSS face denotes an extended sickness.
He is a married man. See how listless he
seems to what is passing around him. Go,
hand him this letter. IT'S from his wife,
Note the change;that will pass over those
features. Ha! that cold, expressionless
face is suddenly, quickly changed to one of
intense qualification and joy. His eyes, so
lately void of lustre, now sparkle with de-
light. That pale, colorless cheek has now
assumed a heightened color. He seems a
new man. All! he has received the long
looked for, wished-for letter, the balm that
will effect his cure.
Z Come with us to Camp. Look into that
tent. In there, on the cold damp ground
laysa man, cold, shivering, shaking man,
but in vain-"to warm OUT the chill that
is on him. But, bark! mail has arrived.
Come up and draw your rations Of let
ters!' is echoed from all parts of the camp.
And, as sure as live, that shaking, shiv-
ering, quiyering, quaking, Suffering chat
tering, piece of human flesh has thrown
aside his blanket, and gone out into the
cold piercing, icy air to ''draw his rations,"
All! my friend, mysterious influence, an
unseen magnetic influence, is propelling
him on, an undefinable something tells
him there is letter awaiting him.
The soldier, whether in the field, camp
or hospital, requires now and then, a kind
word of encouragement ito drive dull care
and gloomy thoughts away" And that
kind word is most effective when it enan-
ateS from those we love.
And now, fathers, mothers, wives sis
ters and sweethearts, beware. Accept a
kind word ofadvice. Write to the absent
one-lay down the sewing, the knitting,
The book orthe. village paper; quit whatever
you may he engaged at, and write him u
good, loving, cheerful, patriotic and en-
couraging letter; and at proper intervals
repeat the dose. By SO doing you will con-
tribute as much towards alleviating the
sutferings ofyour friends in the hospital,
and the Improvement Of the health of those
without, as our very commendablc Iowa
Sanitary Commission dare to afford.
Young lady, he whom you love, and in
the coming future expect 10 honor, cherish
and obey, is at this moment, perhaps,
thinking of you, or anticipating ''by the
morrOw's MALI that answer so long since
due. You surely cannot know the supreme
JOY and pleasure your letters afford him,
or you would not, could not, be so dilatory.
Don't fail to improve every opportunity to
assure him by "A kind word, that the love
he holds so dear is interchangeable. P.