The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-05-29
q! & WILLIE.

"Our Willie has gone to the war" said
the fatter with manly pride that ne had a
son tc give.
"Oar Willie has gone 1, the war said the
mother in L low Whisper, ner he.it almost
breaking.
"Our Willie has gone to the war" cried
Harry, wishing he had soldier sword too.
"OCr Willie has gone to the war;, said
Mary, missing him 50.
After Willie left. lis room was kept Just as
he left il. On the shelf was a small brig.
which he made and riggel when little boy
Some hookshelves hung on the wall, his own
handiuork also. Willie had a genius ;0r such
things. There were the books which he sue
cessflly poured over, from Robert Dawson
up to Cicero and Cambridge mathematics
On the table was the last book he read in the
morning he left, Lectures TO Young Men,
open TO a chapter on Responsibility. lr-
wings Life of Washington was Fear il. a book
Willie had studied chapter after chapter. OF
ten atfording pleasant dish Of talk with lis
father at meal-times.
Willie had graduated with respectable rank
and was on the point of entering his fathers
law office when the war broke ont. He was a
youth OF large promise, people said, sound al
the core, the worthy son OF most worthy par
ents lie was the child of PRAYER and Of
Christian nurture, and the mother kept hid in
her heart the blades and shoots Of h:s early
piety. sacred memory. As he grew to man
hood he said less. but the roots were striking
deeper, she hoped.
When the terrible rebellion came, Willie S
soul was aslow. Father. mother. shall |
not go" go, my son." said the father,
the fire Of patriotism, burning Ou; every other
thought Could mother say, "Go?- God
do with YOU as seemeth to him good. Willie. =
she said, her voice quivering under the strain
of the costly sacrifice.
. Willie went, and his home. Ike so many
other homes, vibrated with the 1pe and fears
of a son and brother plunged into tie peril
ous vicissitudes of war. The first though; in
the morning and the last thought of night, in
father and mothers bosom, was, Willie
Willie" Willie and the country was The
burden of their prayer. Willie and the coun.
Try were one, garnered up in the agonizine
supplication of how many souls
Letters came every week. At first fresh
with the novelties of soldiers life, full o
ardor and exultation. Then more tendei
AMI earnest tone stole into the pages.
40 mother, forgive me all the sorrow anC
anxiety have ever caused YOU and father
feel that l have not been as good son as
ought to have been"
dear parents. feel Your PRAYERS arount
me. am sure that God will forgive ant
bless me for your sakes. War is pretty seri
Gus business.
"Dear father and mother, and Mary an,
Harry, if We should never meet here, | trus
: We shall he united family in heaven. tr
to make my parents Saviour my Saviour
Make up your mind for the chances of Wa,
father, and help mother TO-. But hope 70
r the best This great and noble country
worth spllling ones blood for. never for
y moment was sorroy 1 came, only l should iik
I to see You all once more"
n This was Willies last letter bat one. ii
t was killed at the battle of Fair Oaks. Will
e dead. God help his family o, how man
d" Willie's" are spilling their young, precior
d blood on the battle-felds of the land, that OF