Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1865-03-16
.The Don't Write to me Now"

1.-THE DON'T WrlCe 10 me NoW.
We have recently met with several cases
of dissipation among our soldiers which
were calculated to elicit our sympathy, and
lead ,us to an earnest self.examination,-
When these persons left home their habits
were good, their hopes high, and their en-.
ergies active and vigorous. For time
they struggled manfully and successfully
with the temptations peculiar to camp life:
But they were removed from home, with all
its hallowed, happy associations from near
~ alf socTisl and religious Influences; with
no watchful mot6ers eye upon them, no
father near to admonish by. his counsels;
and temptations Of various kinds presented
themselves, such as only can be known to
those who have been in camp. When they
first entered the army, letters from home
came With due regularity, kut their friends
became careless and negligent, and letters
we're omitted. They very naturally conclu-
ded that they were, neglected, ifnot forgot.
ten, and with sad heart and detected coun.
tenance they would exclaim, HThey don't
write to me now" And entertaining the
feeling that no one cared for them, they
began to lose their aelf.respect, and:not to
care for themselves; and then commenced
their career of sin and dissipation.
Had their friends at home kept up reg
ular correspondence, had they reminded
them that they continued to be objects of
interest aud solicitude, the memories of
home and friends would have exercised q
most salutary influence, aud encouraged
their hearts and strengthened their arms for
the spiritual and bodily conflict in which
they were engaged, and would in all proba-
bility have checked them in the downward
course, and saved them from disgrace and
final destruction 49,. =.
In this connection We would state that
too many of our churches are sadly at fault
in this respect; they do not write to these
absent members. Said brother to me
few days since, 81 can endure the rpriya-
tons and fatigue Of camp;I don't mind
them, but when I think Of the negligence
Of my brethren at home, I am almost ready
to give up. / love my church, and remem-
Der, when first volunteered, how my heart
was aoftened by the many expressions OF
interest and solieitude for my future vel
fare, uttered by my brethren; but they
don't write, to me, now, and I fear they have
lost all interest ID my behalf" p - ~
! This brother, occupies the position and
icxpressesthe sentiments of thousands of our
devoted soldiers, and if they yield to temp
tation and fall, the church collectively, as
we'll as individually, will be in a measure
accountable for their sin and dounfall. We.
have great faith in the power Of a letter,
and when judiciously written and generous
ily intended, there is an indescribable infu.
ence and magic for good. We have seen
SONS from home and soldiers in camp linger
repeatedly and for hours over some frsg-
ments ofa letter which they have preserved,
and valued as something more precious
than gold. To the sick, the dispirited or
the unfortunate, whan can be more soothing
than expressions oflove andsolicitude from
home. a letter may revive q Thousand
"reminiscences, change the purposes, and
thus reauimate and restore. tits, more
over, such an easy thing to write; q few
minutes devoted each month to this labor
ofloya, and who can estimate and inaginei
the consequences,2 We all know how sym
.pathy lightsns the load how friendly conn,
tenances illumine the darkness how friend
Ey bands impart, as it were, fresh courage
and hope. We all know the value of sym
pathy, but alas! how little true sympathy
is exhibited in this jostling, covetous, sell
fish world; how many friendships have been
broken; how. many brave hearts have been
crushed how many noble forms have been
cast down and destroyed by the vices of iu-
difference and. neglect. !.
r. J., KNAPP.