The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-06-25

Rxcellency, Minister Velasque2 dc Leon.
t --~b<p-----
Missionary Patriotism.
The following letter is from one Of our
esteemed missionaries in BurMah to his
son in this country, OF whose enlistment in
the army he had received intelligence, and
evinces the genuine spirit Of patriotism
The young man wal in tina battle of the
Wilderness, and was wounded in the shOul.
der, thus fully justifying the expectations
Of his distant parent, q fact of which the
latter is yet to be informed. How many
such cases Of parental patriotism and tilial
courage has this sad war to record!
kEMMENDINE, March 26, 1854.
| Ny DEAR BOY:-TwO weeks since your
mama's letter told me that you were about
| 10 enter the army. Icontess it greatly dis
tressed me, and it has taken some little
time TO reconcile me TO it, but il is all right.
/ leave you in the hands Of God, where, ]
trust, you feel yourself that it will be we'll
| with you, whatever you may be called to
| bear. do not blame your choice. Surely,
| were able, I should myself not hesitate
70 do the same, and am not unwilling
that you should share the dangers OF the
| battlefield with your fellow-cOuntrymen.
No man is lit for freeman who would not,
ii necessary, brave death for his country's
safety. Somebody must tight our battles,
and rejoice that three OF our own dear
boys are willing to join lhOsewhO give them
selves 10 that work. There is but one Uni
ted States of America in the world. No
other country can compare with 1t Tor It's
blessings OF all kinds. For that freedom We
| 50 higAly prize, our fathers fought and died,
and tie least we can do is sacrediy to de-
fend and cherish those dearly bought bless
lings. Every one who enters the army
stakes his life, but it is that, or give our
country TO destructson-it is that or moth
| ing more to hope for in our greatly favored
land. You see then my distress was not
tnat you might fall in the battle field.
had much rather you sh hould fall there than
that you should skulk in the hour of dan
ger, while brave men rushed to victory
through death. Nor have any objections
10 your joining the ranks-of course you
can fill none but a private's place-and
even were you qualified for office-all can
not be officers. Some OF our best men and
soldiers are still privates. At any rate,
every man should earn the right to be an
officer before he becomes one. I trust my
dear boy will earn that right, and then
never mind whether he gets it or not. II
you do your duty, God will take care of the
rest. He will give you all He sees to be
best for YOU. Strive then to be qualified
| for the most difficult post, but be willing 10
bide your time and cheerfully occupy the
lowest place, SO that you may faithfully
serve your country. Never forget that
ycu are in the army; cheerful respect to
officers and prompt obedience to orders,
are essential TO the existance Of an army
and TO its success. Possibly your officers
may not he worthy OF that respect, and you
may think the orders unreasonable: but
! that you know is none of your business, It
| is not for you to decide. You respect not
| the man but the Office, and you obey not =
mere man, but the office. And remember,
| true to your duty as soldier, you cannot
be degraded BY obeying you superior. ltis
4 - 11xArO 0v1s9i "a
obeythe Doitcheerfully, like little man
and Christian. To your fellow soldiers
| be cheerful companion in all that is COED,
I DO all you can to make others happy, don't
be selt5sh, that Ia mean and wicked, too.-
Never be ashamed to be an active, living
Christian. Keep your little Bible i next ,n3 70
turn OFF bullet, it will help you to shut
out what is much worse. Make up your
mind 70 be ready for death at any time,
and then like bravo boy, as trust you
are. 20 into battle without fear. God IL
there; do your duty in the fight fearlessly.
Should the enemy f:n into your n*nds. oe
ard to abuse fallen enemy. hope my
bow has too generous heart to do 90 mean
| q thing. Remember whose name you
bear on't disgrace it-remember above
] all the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for you,
! whose name, also, you bear; don't grieve
that 010N000 S0vlOVIs I0y OA4y U4s1xSC1 -
vour ioinine the army is your Youthful
mess. May God give you mature heart,
just where.you most need It. I wish yon,
10 pledge yourself thoroughly never until
YOU are discharged from the army. never
10 touch Intoxicating drink Of any any kind. ind.
az anv such game even for fun. Never
forget how many aTs daily praying for ycu
l-t6at the grace Of our Lord Jesus Christ
i NAV. be spmcient for you. Nay the
Lord bless thee, and keep thee: the Lord
make His face shine upon thee and p gra--
cious unto thee: the Lord Lift up His coun-
epanoe upon thee, and give thee peace"
I "A singular event has taken place in Tur-
key. Early in April, one Of the villages il
tns province Of Harpout was visited with
/ what was at first tho1ght to be shower oi
hail, which, however, proved 70 be : farm
aooous substance, with al the characterist-
lea Of grain. Samples Of this mama have
1 been received at Constan6AePae,