The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-12-04


over the precious lines. The husband gladly
open the letter bearing the well known super
scription of his wife. and deVOurs the contents,
dreamily thinking of home, as he reads the
last . God bless You my ever dear husband"
One has a letter from his sister. another from
brother a third from an old friend a teacher
or minister 81 feel better now. Chaslain, said
a MhTlier to me- s. / have q letter from my wife,
come in Chaplain and see her photograph.
think she is pretty good looking" and his eyes
mostened. Well. said l, Isuppose you would
be very glad to go home. Yes. wish the
war was over, but do not desire TO go home
until the rebellion is put down"
Chaplain" said one of our officers one day.
when the mail had come, II want 10 show you
photographs of an amiable excellent looking
lady and two beautiful little boys. DUST like
them, except that my wife is a little broken:
said he; "and, " he continued, "she is noble
woman. and writes encouraging"
One day, just after the mail had opened
German soldier came into my tent and said in
broken words. Chaplain mine wife write me
SO goot. it makes me yeel right so in mine
heart She tell me she pray for me- and must
be goot soldier; and the childer is veil, and
she never complains of any tings-all gOOt nit
hers" and the tears were flooding his eyes.
At Memphis, a few weeks since, was passing
through the wards of a hospital hunting for
elCk nIuIlCoOIl1Uo, WuCu l. was OICCLCQ W
couch wherein lay man, worn down by dis
ease to skeleton. l sat down on the side of
his bed and conversed with him little while,
bought daily paper from neWs-boy just pass
ing, and was reading the news to him, when
the mail came. He turned his head toward
the door, where the wardmaster was distribut-
ing letters / looked in that direction and be-
held what I wish you could all semen start
ed from their beds at the call of their names.
struggled to get up. rose and staggered toward
the warden, received the coveted prize, and
sank back exhausted on their cOuches, ind
with joy beaming from their sunken eyes, read
the precious messages. At last the name OF
the sick Minnesotian was called. He could
not get up, but he stretched his hands besseech-
ingly toward the kind warden, who quickly
crossed the room and handed him the letter.
He seized it with his bOny fingers, broke the
seal, saw it was from his wife, and then break
ing out into sobs, he drew the sheet of his bed
over his streaming eyes and wept like child.
At last wiping off his tears with the corner of
his sheet, he said, :. Excuse me, Chaplain, I
cannot help it." Have you any bad news!"
said l. 90 no; but II have not heard from
my family before in seven months. The news
is good but am so glad" And after glancing
again at the precious letter, he again broke
completely down. and we wept together.
. As cold water is to thirsty soul, 80 is
good news from a far country
Nothing SO Injuries and demoralizes our SOL
diers as the feeling that no one cares for them.
II you have friend or relative in the army, I
pray you do not neglect him. but cheer him by
writing often and kindly. This is one of the
best means OF saving the men who have nobly
consecrated themselves to the defence of our
religion and liberties. Write the dear boys,
o my friends, if you love them and love your
country. Next to this you can do good by
sending them reading matter,-lat papers or
periodicals or good books. By all means pos.
sible let us keep up the correspondence and
MAKE our soldiers feel that we leve them STILL
We ought to be humble penitent. deeply
cOntrite this day. Our sins are many and great
aud we ought earnestly to bewail our transgres-
slOns. While we pray and praise let us not forget
the widows, orphans, and stricken fathers and
mothers OF our land, but with cries for mercy,
beg Heaven to spare us and forgive US.
Our repentance should not be merely national
but individual. Our own sins are disgraceful
and injurious, and go to swell the aggregate
guilt of the nation, for which God justly pun
ishes us. We can best aid reform and en-
courage religion by giving our hearts to God,
who kindly asks the gift. We need not take
the trouble Of confessing the nations sins un-
less we are ready to confess our own and for
sake them. Again would we commend the
words that call us to prayer
"Let us with due humility and pentence
acknowledge our many national and individual
SINS and imploring forgiveness through the
infinite merits Of One "who was acquainted
with grief" let us pledge that our future walk
shall be closer with him."
Let each one say: 80 may my walk he
closer with GCd ;" and in that spirit of courage,
faith, humility and devotion let us be glad this
day:
Ring out old shapes Of foul disease,
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold
King out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace,
Ring in the valiant men and tree,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land.
Ring in the Christ that is to be-
And amid the joy while worship trenbles on
our lips, let us not forget that: ,
ITO worship rightly is to love each other,
Each smile hymn, each kindly deeda prayer"