Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1864-03-08
W .
For the snactetor.

1t is not pleasant to be the bearer of bad news,
but / have a sad tale to tell yon this time, my
dear Julia. Our young friend, Oliver, has gone
to the Yankees 'sWoe worth the day." say
you, "What could have possessed him 30 do SO
foolish and wicked thing 2" NOBODY knows.
He was oYerpersuaded. How much Will those
who enticed him away have to answer forS
1t pains me to the heart to think of It, sach 9
fine fellow as be was, and go young tco. Oh,
could have been there when his decision vras
made, would not have beeough5 him on mJ
knees rot thus to. disgrace himself and hetT@s
his country
lou saw the recent account per5ans .s IS = ,,,s1
Creole down South, who gave Cd all Ls bad
rather than take the oath of allegisnee TO the
U. 5. Government. First the Yankees took OF
his cattle and horses then bis 500 negroes
house servants and all, then his crop Of sugar,
1900 hogsheads. He made no complaint, on
ly wished he had eight sons instead of four in
the rebel army. | wish ho had eSQEteea.-
Wasn't he noble mans What contrast to
these pusillanimous fellows that run to t!i eYan.
KEGS in such hurry for fear Of having to make
some sacrifices.
Suppose the acquisitions of Government had
been unjust, was that reason why they should
betray and forsake their country,
"Like summer dried fountains,
Wnen need Is the sol est g.
Let them go on in the path of duty, trusting
| Providence to right their wrongs, and to supply
| all their need, as He Lss promised to do for al
who truly confide in Him. Oh, my dear Julia
won't they rue the day they ever seS foot ir
| Yankeedom Bat do rot wish them any evil
What do wish is, that they may be brought
to see the error of their ways and to return to
their duty like the prodigal son, before their
treason is fully consumma ifsueh thing were
possible. Often bis image rises before me. and
/ feel as though / conld not have him TINS sac
riff ,e himself "But signs and tears, how vain u
.sWhen this cruel war is over" we eaunot meet
as we would have done under other circum-
stances.
NY niece, Emma, often wishes she was boy,
that she might fight the Yankees. But | have
no ambition of that sort. 1t never seemed to
me that killing people would be 3 very pleasant
employment, nor that it would be SO very agree
able to stand up SO mark TO be shot at. Pray
ing is more appropriate for our sex than light
ing, and the country may thus be served quite
as effsctuslly. But some say, the Yankees pray
as well as we. What if they do? Who hae
cause to fear their prayers when accompanied
with such works. 1t Is true we have mean
people toe f; no doubt there are plenty In both
nations with souls no bigger than whortleber-
ries. who would sell their country for q shilling
and themselves toe. But we nave not uRoer-
taken to snbiugate the North, and have moi
| treated them with all manner of atrocities, al
they have us. We only ask them TO letus alone
and therefore we can commit our cause to th'
righteous Ruler of the Universe, and confidently
| trust that he will appear for us in due time, !
we seek Him in sincerity.
could write all day, but will not tax you
patienoe longer. Yours affectionately,
Valley of Va, Feb. Is, 1864. LEILA.