Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1864-01-27
THE MINISTRY OF THE WAR.
BY REV. R. H. HOWARD.
SECOND PAPER.


our present crucial experiences, none may
be regarded as more beautiful or choice
than those personal and civic virtues,
which seem to be blossoming so naturally
and beautifully under the stress of our
great trial.
The halcyon days of ease in the past
days of our apparent prosperity-were
in reality days of our greatest PERIL
maturing our degeneracy, enervating the
national character, undermining our old
timed Puritan misunderstanding the op-
Grafton of those self-same causes,--covet.
BUSINESS on the one hand, prodigality and
sensuality on the other,-that are said to
have sapped the foundations of Roman
character and the Roman commonwealth,
long before ambitions and all-conquering
Caesar led his legions across the Rubicon.
But this mighty blast of war, though
somewhat rudely is yet efectually awak-
ening US to nobler, sterner manhood !;
giving us nobler passions, infusing into
our nature grander energies, lifting US
from the mire and rot Of prosperity,
deepening and intensifying our love of
principle, of duty. of manliness and true
glory. In word, it is teaching us there
is something higher to live for than sim
lply to eat and drink and sleep and dress
that there is something better deserv-
ing the occupation of our powers than
merely selfish qualification, or the indul-
gencc of an inglorious ease, with the pos
sibility of once more becoming heroic, we
have become sensible of the fact that to
sufe,-to die even, if necessary for a
good cause, were infinitely more desirable
than that peace or prosperity purchas ased
only at the expense Of our manliness and
self-respect to'he enjoyed only at the ex-
pense of national disintegration and ma
tional dishoner As Achilles, on hearing
the bugle-blast at once stripped from him
self the female garments in which he
was disguised, and 10 obedience to tbe
manly spirit beating within, him, seized
the arlnor laying beside him, so we, re-
sponsive to this rude fierce, terrible blast
of war, have promptly put aside our for.
pishness, extravgance and etfeminacy, and
in obedience to that manly spirit, not yet
by any means, extinct in our bosoms, are
learning to act the noble part of men,
"--high-mlnded men,
Men who know their DUTIES, but who know
Their RIGHTS, and knowing DARE MAINTAIN u
Admit, if you please, that hitherto we
have been somewhat boyish, braggart and
fast,-a folly that cannot but be regarded
as venial, when it is remembered that as a
nation, we are as yet hardly out Of oul
teens. Ceasing, however, at length to be
children, it is gratifying to feel that We
have not been slow to show the world
that we know, very well, how to "put
away childish things" Disciplined into
manhood, we are beginning to exhibit
the essential characteristics or attributes
Of manhood.
Nor are these results Of which | am
speaking, by any means confined to the
male sex alone.
1.-The MAID who binds her warrior sash
With smiles that well her pain dissembles,
The while beneath her dropping lash ..
One starry teardrop hangs and trembles,
Though heaven alone records the tear.
And Fame may never know her story,
Her heart has shed drop as dear
As ever dewed the field oil glory.
The WIPE who girds the husbands sword
Mid little ones that weep and wonder,
And braVely speaks the cheering word, 81
What though her heart be rent asunder,
Doomed nightly in her dreams to hear
| The bolts Of war around him rattle,
Hath shed as sacred blood as Ger
Iop5 Was poured upon the field Of battle.
The MOTHER who conceals her grief
/ guWhile on her breast her son she presses
Then breathes q few brave words and brief,
4, Kissing the patriot-brow she blesses,
With no one but her secret God
To know the pain that weighs upon her
Sheds holy blood as e'er the sod
Lp Receives on freedoms field oi honor.
y, And how many noble maid, heroic
wife. an | faithful patriot mother have
these few years of trial, Of suffering and
selfsacrifce disclosed. Said the noble