Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-12-23
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE JOURNAL.
Letter from Philipsburg.
PHILPsBURG, Dee. II. / SIS.

year; III makes me 1eeIaS X the HIt4OI dCeluu-
ry had suddenly shifted off its mortal coil and
transported me back TO the enjoyment of a
merry Christmas. How natural 1t is for
mankind when they have attained that age
when man suspects himself fool, and per-
haps womankind, though | am not aware of
any definite age for woman suspectlng her
self fool but generally supposed to be, at
much later period In life than man, Tor the
scenes, occurrences, incidents and times
of former holidays TO come to their memory,
at the return Of them. years afterwards.
And how strange it seems, that we so much
more distinctly remember what occurred du-
ring the holidays, than at any other season
of the year At the return of Christmas,
the conversation is always where and what
each one was doing last Christmas All !
| what lonely day for the noble, brave and
true soldier as he sets wrapped in deep med
itatlon III his winter quarter" away down
on the banks OF the Rappahannock or tramps
his weary rounds Of sentinel The wind
Inoans around the corners and through the
chinks Of his winter quarters, his face is
| buried in his hands, and his elbows resting
on his knees One by one the scenes of his
once happy home rise up yisibly TO his i'm
| agination There sits Annie on the home
made rag carpet playing with the Christ
mas presents from her grandma be watch
es her closely, for when he first set out for
! the tented field, Annie had not made her de-
| b5d On this great stage of fools and cried
t tiIat she had come. Poor soldier, he al
most becomes jealous Of grandma 5 presents,
| for his darling little babe Is so deeply inter
ested with them that it takes no notice Of
this sea OF Mars. He concludes to change
his base there sits his better half, she has.
just gave the turkey look. 'Tis roasting
nicely she says, as she resumes her chair.
/
Annie, and falls back on the recital Of the
last battle (13th Dec '62) previous to his
being granted turlough. How many thou
sands of these brave and veteran soldiers Of
that great, grand, and victorious army of the
Potomac, will think fondly, affectionately
and lovingly of the dear ones at home, next
Thursday and Friday evenings. But alas
how many have ceased TO think that enjoy
ed that power 4 year age. See the moth
ers and children that only one short year
AGO, were in the enjoyment Of life No
thoughts then that their gay and fancy dress
es would, ere the return Of Christmas, be !
changed for the sable garb that too plainly
tells of the death Of him, who they fondly |
hoped would be at home this Christmas to |
enjoy the happiness of the family circle
But He that rules on high doeth all things |
we'll Though that Great and Renifcent |
God has seen fit to take from this world |
kind and loving husband, fond father, or
dear brother, His Swill be done. He that tenn
pers the wind to the shorn lamb, will also
temper the ways of adversely to YOU the
widow, the child or the sister And he for
whom you mourn has yielded up his life in
noble cause, for the support Of the best
government that ever existed beneath the
canopy of Heaven. Whether that life was
yielded up on the battle field amid the roar
OF cannon, the pealS Of musketrv and clash
OF steel, or OH the deck of a man-of-war or
IN his BERTH or in the hospital, It's all the
same, he died while in the service of his
country, died glorious and honorable DEATH
God grant that long ere another Christmas
comes its annual round, this war may be
ended, the Stars and Stri pes floating through
out the length and breadth of our wide do
main; peace, happiness, prosperity and the
hum OF industry resume its former great
ness: our Union restored and Americans
learn TO war no more
L am at long last enabled to indite to all
Cleartied and the rest of the wild cat dis
-rict' that the railroad has become per- I
nanent institution" to the growing me-
5ropols of this Ancient village, and we {
ire now within eight hours Of Philadelphia,
four of Harrisburg and six Of Pittsburgh. j
Ihe passenger train commenced running on
Is regular schedule to this place on Thurs
lay 18th inst. The freight trains do not t
,ome any farther than Sandy Ridge Station, {
lor will not, as | am creditably informed, q
before the opening of spring. There may |
,e some special freight trains come this far, 5
now and then, but none running on t
egular schedules. V
| am very glad to inform the travelling t
that the accommodating and t
rbane conductor Daniel d. Wood, is still !
n charge OF the passenger train. Dan is a I
7hole- -souled fellow, and just the man for
he place, as he was once an adopted citizen n
f the wilds of Clearield, and knows how to II
&c usefId Passengers desiring any informa- a
ion in regard to connecting of trains, will be r
lady informed by asking conductor Wood. o
hey need have no fear of being answered t
18th all the assumed dignity and gruffness b
7e used to receive from the conductors on d
he Penn'a r. r. [ procured from Mr.. b
Wood schedule of the passenger train as it y
ow runs. Leaves Tyrone s. 40 a, NJ, run Il
ing from Philadelphia and Baltimore Ex- {
ress trains west, and Fast Mail Train, g
,ast; arrive at Philipsburg IL. 10, a. NJ, il
ave at p. NJ, arriving at Tyrone at 4, 30 p
with mail Train West 65S 7. /
L., andIExpress Train East, 1913 2. NJ. C;
We are gradually getting out of the woods, W
nd we Philipsburgers can halloo for we are L
ut, but you Clearfelders must be content n
18th the Troys and Concords for sixteen p
liles yet few days. Wishing the read Il
IS of the journal Happy Christmas, and m
It's of good things, / remain your friend Il
LERoI 10
GOVERNMENT ARMs-The Government ~ ~
hich had not half a million muskets in all y,
lie armories at the commencement of the "
belion, now has in addition to the million =.