The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-02-19
THE CALEDONIAN.|-
A Chaplain's Story.


mock Station. my friend, DIR. R, of the
Sd division of our corps, came to me saying
that man in the hospital wished to see
chaplain. Accompanying him, l found a
young man of about twenty, a member OF
the 10th Massachusetts,, with his leg crushed
and manged by piece Of shell. The shock
had been so severe that amputation was USE
less, and he was sinking rapidly.
Expressing himself glad to see me, l en-
CURED his religious history. 1t was the old
story-a bright hope-active church member
ship-army life army irregularities, and the
abandonment of his profession. "And now"
said he, if there can be forgivness for such
a wanderer, pray for me-
| confess l felt more backwardness than
was rigat. There stood circle of coarse
soldiers surveying the solemn scene with
mere morbid curiosity. There stood another
group more educated and refned-a knot of
surgeons, some Of whom, l knew, had no
belief in God or eternity, and considered my
interview with the dying man as at best but
amiable uselessness. But there lay the sink
ing sufferer, and | wore the uniform of a
minister Of Christ, and bending over the ia
bic where he lay, l asked the Good Shepherd
to give assurance of pardon to the wandering
sheep. l dared not remind the boy that he
was dying the noblest death that mortal man
can die, but held up his case as merely that
of lost sinner, whose redemption must
come, not from that horrid shell-w ound, or
the blood that, for his country's sake was
trickling from that mangled limb, but from
the blood shed on Cavalry, and the wounds
Of slain Redeemer. Throughout the pray
er his murmured responses and fervent ejac-
ulations disclosed his own earnestness in
the petition, and the smothered hope revived
again and faint at first, but growing bright
er and brighter, there finally beamed in full
radiance on his soul that faith which supports
in the stern hour.
Meanwhile, there stood beside the table a
noble looking, young fellow little older than
the dying soldier, moistening his lips, and
affectionately smoothing his hair from his
brow, but s. perfectly calm and collect
ed, | supposed he was one of the hos
pital attendants. A remark of some one
present started my suspicion, and l asked,
Is this friend of yours?" Said he, 1T is
my younger brother" SO calm was his
voice and so composed his manner through
OFT The whole, that the thing seemed impos-
slble, except that often those who feel most
deeply, manifest it the least. Said he, IS
what shall tell mother for you?" "Tel
her died for my country" was the promp,
and noble reply. "Give me kiss for her,
said the brother, and the bronzed face bowed
down to the pale lips as tenderly as as if
they had been those of an infant. More
than one in the tent turned 10 hide bis tears
and the two brothers seemed most moved of
all.
The dying boy sank rapidly, but the cloud
vanished from his mind, and his faith grew
bright and strong. repeated, Il know tina
my Redeemer liveth )" The Lord is m,
Shepherd, | shall not WANT" "In my Fa
theirs house are many mansions )" etc., etc.
also the beautiful hymn:
Rock of Ages, cleft for me"
and those lines, especially dear when tn,
couch of dissolution was a rough board tabi,
in dark, cold tent With merely knapsacl
to rest the head upon
"Jesus can make diving bed
Feet soft as downy pillows are"
The hymns of Zion had been familiar t,
him at home, and he tried to repeat, {" Jesus
lover of my SOUL" That was always favor
lite hymn of mine, and repeated it to hin
entire. 1t seemed to give him great de;
of comfort, and to strengthen him even more
than the rest had done.
But his voice was already beginning tc
fail. Said be, " There's -silver-penci
-In-pocket"- He evidently wished te
send it to some one for keepsake, and i
was with the deepest sorrow We saw he wa:
unable to speak friendships last message
The was but one friend of whom he haC
power to speak now. He had lain for SOM
minutes perfectly motionless. I thought al
was over. But all at once he reused up anl
said, SO Jesus, lover of my SOUL Oh. re
peat that again" My voice choked u 81
that could hardly speak. With broken ut
terencss | once more went through with tn,