Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1865-07-15

T.
veal or woe, in war or peace, sick, sul-
feing, manned, o diving. she would love
std cling to me sill" loved my Eoline,
ifIt oaly for TIE sweet lovelIness OF her
f5ee, ani'. the purity OF her mind and
hssr.t bat almost worshipPed her for The
b4l'r and nobler spIfil oil nrJ fnafhond OF
which she is The inspiration, and which
SIZE first taughl me TO aspire after as lhat
Which makes men peerless among men.
HSeenf that nothing unhoIy or dehasing
3cfhii hVe IN her presence, ard almost IN
Tl>lbly 10 myself the "better spirit
Frlue for her sake, and then for It's own.
+ Ard during the uioalhs Of our separation
4 AL her letters breathing the pureSt and
Giosl enduring affection, were also sull Of
IS @eet encouragement for me TO pcrsevere
"a all The noble aspirations Of men. and
5e lTbe to my manhood. And D ! how
those precious written words cheered and
assisted me amid all The temptations, toll
and hardships Of soldiers life And
then, o God .he blow fell upon me. AT
-tie time | seemed to love hef the most,
aud earth was brightest, there came an
other letter, from hands for which did
not care, and told me that my Eoline
had died-died while | was far away
Suddenly, as flower is blighted by the
frozen lips ofthe snowspirit, she droop-
ed her lovely head. and passed from earth
10 Heaven.
Oh EoIine, my beautiful, my bride,
you bade them tel me thatif buried ones
coad return TO earth, you would never
leave nor forsake NE; and know that on
the hard toiliug march. amid burning
sends, or on frozen plains and The tented
field, your gentle spirit will follow, and
lead me in the paths Of usefulness and
duty. But--God forgive mel | have
lsometimes, in the dreadful carnage Of the
battle, prayed that the bursting bomb, or
whstling bullet, might smite me dead
upon the earth--it would be so sweet to
die for my country. and in defence of the
soil that holds her precious remains, and
then 60 bone TO God, and with my
Eolne sit down TO rest forever beneath
Elhe blessed bowers of Paradise. But il
was rot thus she cOunselIed me in her
last message, in which she bade me i've
for my country, for home and for friends,
and endeavor to be useful, happy man,
and en- honor TO the beautiful !dni thst
gave me birth. UnselGsh 10 the last,
with her peary feet already laved by the
lpAe waters Of Deaths river, her dying
Hips urged me TO remember, and live the
sweet, grand truths Of life, of which we
had go often talked beneath the stars,
with her lltls hand clasPed in mine, and
her eyes, like "silent homes of prayer" ,"
Ilifted TO the blue heavens above us.
From her lips first learned how grand
and noble j! is for man in l'fe's great bat
tie, 10 have his armor made of honor, in
tegrity and iustice-to wear the star Of
: truth on his breast, the Jewels of tender
ness and mercy on his honest hands, and
have his form roSed in the garments of
righteousness. know soldiers lite is
one open TO many temptations, and he
secs SO much cruel suffering, he is often
driven to desperation, or his heart becomes
hardened and indifferent 10 comrades
wants. Bat when first went into the
service Of my country, and ! woold some
, ti.res be tempted TO put the inebfi1ting
, cap to my lips, The litle white hand ol
Ho!ine seemed 10 be thru-t forward and
dashed il TO the earth The madGeuing
dice box would fall from my hands when
, Il thought of the "armor" with which she
, would have my manhood girded and If
came across sick or hel piess Comrade in
! arms. and would sec her with her pity.
5 ing blue eyes open before me, and point
G ing 10 the Jewels which she had put
/ upon my fingers and ! could never fail
T to turn TO the suffering soldier, babe his
aching brow, gently lift his weary head,
] and soothe him with the tenderness of a
e woman. knew ii was grand and noble
e 10 do so; | knew my Eoine, far away in
her rose. embowered hcme. would bave
e me act thus: and soon temptation, often
e and manfully resisted ceased 10 assail me
D and learned 10 love deeds of mercy and
. kindness for their own sake, and they new
g er failed 10 bring their reward in the thrill
II. of delcioes pleasure that warmed all my
= heart with The consciousness Of doing good
e and The murmured words, or looks of deep
, gratitude from The poor soldicr-brave and
: ,tue man as any--even though his form
J was clad ia soiled and lallered garments.
$ And oh fellow soldier, wherever you
4 be. believe me that TO keep your heart
puss and unsianed by vice. yoar ar'nor
e bright with honor and truth, and your
: hands full Of mercy and kindness, il will
3 only make you better aud tuer soldier