The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-02-13
Courage.
BY GAIL HAMILTON.

w nat W VIC CiNlllous Iledn Ut ldlhlliS
about being discouraged If the army were
so, We might perhaps not be surprised
Home loving men, long away from home, and
repea edly disappointed in every prospee: Of
a speedy return: peace-loving men, seeing
no termination of the war; quiet and COM
fort-loving men, exposed to repeated and Sc
we're hardships'; intellectual and intelligent
men, cut of from the pursuits of literature
and lie who would have any right TO Won
der or reproach if they should, in the bitter
ness of heart engendered of repeated repul-
ses, delays and disappointments, be occasion
ally and momentarily almost willing to give
up everything for the sake of peace aid
home once more? But when We, able-bo-
died men and women, who have not, as vet.
made single sacrifice of personal comfort
for the war; who have never, for one single
moment. gone cold, or hungry, or thirsty for
country's sake; when We sit comfortable over
our registers and BY our "McGees," in our
rocking chairs, with newspapers and new
books, and a turkey for Christmas in the
kitchen, and talk about being disheartened, |
think We play the fool. Let US tear up our
carpets to make blankets for the soldiers. as
the rebels have done LET US turn our houses
and churches into hospitals; let US contine
ourselves to two meals day, and one course
at a meal, and no butter to our bread; let Us
wear old shoes clouted upon our feet, and
old garments, and only linsey woolsey for
new let US shiver little, and famish lit
tie, and be little shabby, before we begin to
give the rein TO our dependency. Let US he
quite sure tina: We have done something for
national honor before We talk about being
discouraged from doing more.
And without waiting TO make sacrifices, |
do wish people would stop talking dolefully
and never begin again. Lacon says it is
easier to bear our misfortunes than the COM
ments of our friends upon them. Electricity
never hurts anything so long as cloud sails
on quietly alone; bu. the moment it bump
against another cloud, out leaps the light
ming, and does mischief. If.when people fee
low spirits coming on, they would take a
walk. or go down cellar and stay, or put
themselves out of sight somewhere, and keep
out of sight till the fit is over. | think they
would 10 great good TO their country.
have not the slightest respect for the patriot,
ism that shows itself by detected counte
nance. Of course temperament has much tC
do in this thing. One person will be deepl,
depressed where another will be calm anC
cheerful. But call it temperament. Don
call it patriotism, or superior sensibility.-
And If You have hard fight to be cheerful
rejoice that you can have the battle by YOU
own hearth-stone, and show there that YOU
do not shrink from conflict. Diseouragemen
will melt away if it is not pampered; but i
YOU 60 with melancholy face TO somebody
his face will answer to yours, YOU viii pu
YOUR burdens together, and roll up such
load as is dismal to think of. | believe III
late affair at Fredericksburg derived half it
gloom-ditfusing power from the peoples tell
ing each other how dreadful it was. Neye
say things look very dark, unless YOU hav
good reason to suppose your saving 50 WI
Tighten them a shade or two.
can understand that very ignorant AtLe
lists should be hopeless regarding this wal
But people who have a knowledge of ihi
worlds history on the one side, or of Go
on the other. are without excuse. T-ut
leaders NAV be incompetent, generals ma
blunder, avarice. jealousy. greed, and ali man
ner of sel:ishness. may seem TO push on
caus. on to certain ship~reek but do yo
suppose that the Lord God Almighty is @
ing to be stopped in his course by The non
arrival of a pontoon bridge? | am aston
ished at the amount of practical inidellt
developed among Christians. From iii
: manner in which many talk and look
would seem as If God was not in all lhei
thoughts. Nobody expects ;ime-ssrvers L
look higher than Tammany for machiner
and results; but people who profess tc VOL
ship God, the Father. Almighty, Maker {
heaven and earth. might be expected 10 pc:
. sess their sous in patience. L: seems 20 u
that the God whom many of US worship
after our own image and likeness Go,
sufficient in peace, while everything goe
smoothly, but rather taken aback by a sud
den outburst Of war-a God adequate TO IN
government of the world in ordinary time.
but quite out of his reckoning in these IL
multuous days We can trust him TO Civ
us day by day our daily bread. but We hav
. not the least confidence in his ability to cop
with StUnewali Jackson and Gen Lee.
know that God works by means, and if OF
generals should say, "God will take care ,
/ their cause" and should therefore not po.
pickets, or watch the enemy, they woul
deny the faith, and be worse than Infdel:
or if We should say it, and therefore cease
: pray and to work in every possible way 70
the cause, We should be the same; but l, an
most of those who read this paper, have
} more influence over the management
troops at Vicksburg, the disposition OF force
in Virginia, the furnishing Of plans or mats
rial anywhere, than Daniel had over tn
lions. We have the same call for trust j
"a ,La, be had THINGS u0doT h.a1l,- lnnl