Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1864-07-29
THE GOOD SAMARITAN.
From the San Francisco (Cai.) Golden


THE GOOD SAMARITAN.
From the San Francisco (Cal) Golden Era
Such benifcert power is there now
abroad on our battle fields. The Sanitary
Commission, good Samaritan, marches with
the army, pouring out both oil and wine for
the poor soldier whom we have sent out
against traitors, to "strike for our altars and
our fires" and who "sorely wounded" and
even stripped Of their raimrnt," are perish.
ing by the way. Behold the telegram which
comes winging its way over mountains and
plains, thrilling our very heart strings:
Three thousand soldiers saved by the
distribution Of stores from the Sanitary Com.
mission"
Three Thonsand! Think Of it, men who
safely and securely pursue your business,
lining your pockets with gold while the sol.
dier keeps anarchy and bloodshed from your
door. Think Of It, mothers, wives and sis.
tcrs, as you sit costly by your own fireside,
or come down to your parlors, richly attired,
peace crowned and happy, waiting anxiously
until, We shall come, and waiting net in
vain. Think, that in that other part of our
country across the seas, mothers, wives and
sisters are as tender, as loving, as dependent
as you, and yet but for the glorious offering
laid upon this altar. three thousand homes
would have been desolate, filed with pale,
sorrowfu ones to whom joy had died forever,
and echoing only tho sad minor tones Of
grief and la,nentation.
Think 1T, and laying aside these Yrivoli-
ties which may be legitimate when the De-
mon, War, does not stalk abroad more dc.
structivc than the Pcstence "that walketh
at noon day, y,"-think, and then bend every
energy to help this good work; for this mum
Der whose safety is telegraphed to night is
but n tthe of those whom the Sanitary Com.
mission, like tender mother, has lifted up
from fields numbered with the slain, has
gently laid in the easiest ambuances and 30
borne to couch of rcpose.
SANITARY WORK.
II has taken off the garments, dust and
battle stained, and having clad in linen pure
as the memories Of Home, has watched care.
fully and anxiously until that /" vital spark" a."
so nearly extinguished, has again kindled
into life. Its kindly ministrations have wooed
and won them back to life in its full fruition,
to stalwart manhood with all its strength
and hopes. Remember this; and then, dar-
ing to withhold your aid, your heart must
indeed be hard, your money precious. and
your soul small. There is not n generous
impulse, high aspiration, or noble longing
in our better natures, to which this call Cor
help does not appeal. Even our preudices
and political preferences must lie dumb and
unquestioning before it; FOR its equality" is
that mercy which droppeth down from
Heaven" The recipients OF its bounties walk
the earth living army, ready to do battle for
us, against foes without and traitors within
Even now their loyal shouts arc rising =
From the banks of those Virginian streams
which the shedding of much blood" has
made classic ground; fiom the turbid waters
Of the Mississippi; from the cotton and rice
folds of the sunny South, goes up the shout
mingling in the air and rising to Heaven
which the listening, patriotic ear, hears syl
| labed in the words with which Daniel Web
ste, once made the Senate Chamber ring:
The Union, now and forever, one and in
scpaIable--"
cry which would have lost It's most earnest
toncs-the voices Of those who have suffered
had not helpful hand staunched the blood
and stayed the spirit in its fight.
WEARY NOT IN WELL poINo.
How sorrowrul must be the last thought.
of soldier dying on the battle field--dyinl
not because he is wounded to the death. bu
because there is no help present-could h,
but know that those he has gone out to pro
tect are giving themselves up to rcvclry ant
mirth could he hear floating on the breez,
the gay sounds OF the dancer; could he feo
their .toryettutness, and know that rich met
and women, safely resting in their Luxurious
homes, sometimes refuse to give OF theil
abundance.
The Sanitary Commission is ono Of the
most unselfsh organizations ever instituted
for the distribution Of surplus wealth. Oul
country was a child in the arts Of war, ant
our defenders suffered the consequences 8
it's immaturity. To supply great lack, thi,
institution sprang, fully equipped, like Min
erva, from the brain OF few whose busnes.
it is "to 60 about doing good"
Renan says, in that life OF Jesus, wherein
he tries, and fails, to convince US that ",
have no Saviour, that =.
The human race offers an assemblage o.
low beings, selfish, and superior to the ami
mails only in that It's selfshness il more re-
Elective. From the midst OF this vulgar uni
formity, there are columns that rise toward
the sky and bear witness to a nobler Gcs
tiny" ......
They who have spent their time, means
and health for this cause, do indeed tower
like columns" above the Level. One, among
us, whose voice was like trumpet, has mol
only "risen toward the sky" but while oul
admiring eyes were lifted to watch his az
cent, he disappeared beyond its blue. But ir
his place above the spot where his ashes ars
urned, stands another, quite as devoted te
the cause, who calls upon the people of this
prodigal land to give Of their time and money
to those who give for them their lives. lie,
US heed tho call. f.. ..... ~.
A few evenings since, boy said to have
been wounded at the battle Of Fredericks
burg, asked for aims at the Metropolitan the
atre. He begged not vainly. Let our an
swer to the messengers sent from the East
be like that of the audience to the crippled
boy---for then the air cleaned with clouds
| of silver, and gold shone like stars between