The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1863-05-14
Published by request. !
CAMP NEAR sOMEnsEr, KeHrUcKY.

@Ne SSSSs j
Christian .Ruglr-Dsar sir-I. know
how lutte any words OI SstraDgsr can do
toSsfds assuaging lie grief ID parents
heart for tn lss of aSon. yet / feel that
ought 10 write something 10 you. that,
if possible, will comfort ) Ou 10 your grsA!
sfl ctjopas .laYF gs5gA
Your son Thomas was warm friend
Of mine. The lebt he occupied was near
mine, snd7I saw him p-arly every day.
and in every svarie y of ciieumstances. l
always found him kind. anebtivs to bis
duties, mos, moral and correct iu all his
habits. lie was "a good boy" no, only
ID ID my opinion, but 10 that Of his msss.
mates and every one who observed his
course. "s s--f .ff
Blu, from what I have heard Of you,
you are one Who putting your trust in the
Lord Jesus Chris, for salvation, desire
that all whom you love shall share the
same faith, and hoping as do, that
Thomas. before his death had found that
eterual,life which the grave only lipprates
instead Of ending. | mus. say something
more. a la ~.Jy
One Sabbath evening while we were at
London, preached 10 the open air. Ii
Wa beautiful moonlight night, and a
deep feeling of solemni'y seemed to per.
wade the minds of those who were presp ut.
| could see by their countenances the
workings OF t heir hearts. AT tie close
of the meeting | observed your son and
another Young m@u apparently waiting
at the corner Of the tint, as il they wish
ed 10 speak 10 m. just then one Or two
others came Up aud began a conversation
with me which lasted several minutes.
Ion looking round | saw that Thomas
was sill standing where had first no
iiced him. though the Others had gone
Going up 10 him asked if lie was going
to his quarters. He replied that he w.s,
aud we started together After a wor
or two on gener ] subjects. | asked him
whether he thought lie had ever exps.
rienced tho love God through Jrsus
Chris the snbjrct of the evenings dis
course. He stopped f'r moment. aud
answered -"l'm afraid not, hut oil, " lsh
| couldW | talked with him for some
lime. trying to direct him 10 The Saviour
He was mnch affected, ia k.d freely Of the
difficulties in his way, aud rromised me
t, pray constantly for h Up from on high.
He came frequently 10 my tent afterwards.
and though h. never seemed to feel tnat
his mind was p rferlly clear on the sub
iect, 1t was evident the Holy Sprit Of
God was working within him. don't
believe the matter was ever long absent
from his thoughts --
Or New Years day met and asked him
if he was spending happy New Year.
He answered that he was snjo, ing him
self, but had very severe headache,
asked HIM II be was still thinking of
what he and had talked about, "Y-s in
desd l am" in reply and the brighten
ihg Of his cohntenance showed ne betu r
'han words could have done. that he was
finding light. do not think saw him
again till last Sabbath evening. He had
sent for me the day before, but the mes
seng-r had forgntleu to tell me of it. aud
| had not heard OF his illness. 90 gong
down l found him with high fever.
had no time 10 converse with lin on the
all impo laut subj Ct, before the physi.
clans Ga Of in, and hndihg that l could
not talk with him then / went 10 church.
E.rIy the next morning went 10 see
HIM. He was then slight ly delirious, and
could t4lG with graf difficulty. read
and prayed with him and he seemed to bs
fecalIed dni soothed. I did M, consid.
rr him then as being dangerously i'll,
Il did not ,alk with him as freely | now
wish. | had dime. lie appeared to b..
comfortable in his mind and soul. be was
willing that God should, do with him a.
seemed goo to HIM. At loon |, was in.
formed that he was in raging jelirinm,
ana so he con inued ill his death. was
not by him when he tisd. but those whn
wre told ME tha, HE last moments ap
peared free from pam. He passed away
suddenly 10 ,ha. world where az l hope
aud blieve hs will be happy forever,
through the grace Of our merciful Ra.
deemer. Putting togethsr all that have
seen Of III m aud all that hA has said 10
me-. | feel the sweet assurance that he had
not 10 vain light the Lord, and that BIZ
has found that plac which is far better
tl,an the most avnrrd life here cha be.
Do no mourn for him my dear frieod.
He died in good cause. the cause of
duty. AID with the full knowledge and
accep'ane Of he stil higher obligations
lie was under to God W. cannot tell
what passed between him ard God during
the hours when bis body was so racked
by tevyr. that his mind could not act
through the broken sehs6s, hut though
he could not kEow those who stood by
his bedside. / feel that he could know
his Saviour and found great JOY III his
pfessbce.
We all miss hin, = But t hope that to
Us hid friends here, and to you his nearer
friends at h0me, yhe separation viii not
he a5ong one May God b ess and COM
fort you. Yours very sincerely.
A L FULLERTON.
Chaplain 17th Reg. o. '.
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