The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1865-01-12

Letter from Our Soldiers.
,srrER FROM CO. C, 2o9TH P. v.-THE HoLI-
DAYS IN cAMP-soMETHINa WRONG WITH THE
OUGHT TO BE, &C. &C.
Correspondence of The Alleghanian.
MEADE's STA, Va, Jan. 3, 1865.
Well, the holidays have come and gone.
Previous to Christmas, the weather was
cod, but the day itself was pleasant. The
sun shone bright, the air was mild, and
one could easily fancy that the rigors of
winter were abated out Of Difference to
that day on which, either correctly or in
correctly, is placed the birth of Him who
lied that we might live. But the out
,oing of the old and the incoming of the
new year were different. The last day of
The expiring year was full of driving,
bowling, chilling wind, filled at times
either with rain, snow or sleet. As night
came on apace, the fury of the storm rath-
sr than being diminished, was increased.
There was no quiet, modest retirement Of
the old, nor gentle advance of the new
year, as though the dying fingered awhile
to welcome the newly born. Nay, the
one, as if 10th to go, and full of envy at
is successor, seemed anxious to combat
its entrance to life by all the fury of a
Finter storm. Meanwhile the moon hid
hsr face, the stars refused to behold the
strife, aud all nature robed herself in
darkest darkness, till it seemed as if she
had clad herself in the ha5iliments of
nourning. But as the soldier in his tent
thanked his stars that he was not soldier
on picket, and looked in the glowing fire
before him, he could see, or at least he
would think he could see, in its blazing
brightness of hope that bade him rejoice
in the raging storm without. It was fan
ey-of course it was only fancy-but that
fancy seemed to whisper in the tones of
prophesying angel that the fury the old
year was spending in its dying agonies was
OllY to show US the wrath, as foolish as it
is mighty, of an expiring treason against
Liberty.
| havs word to say about letters, let
er-writers, and the mails. There is an
impression, deep and strong, that there is
something wrong with the mails; but
where, or with whom, it is not my prov
nee to say. To be sure, soldier will
Towl, and if he fails to growl at one thing,
il is only because he has fixed his atten-
ton on something else; but when he ex-
eTcises his growing prerogative at the
mails, he does SO with apparent good rea-
con. as there large mail to-day % is a
common inquiry. nNone from Ebens-
burr" is common answer. Then there
comes, "What's the matter with the
mails Z" "There must be something wrong
With the mail 2" '.Why don't we get our
letters ?" &C., &c. Poor soldier who
wonders that he growls? Consider the
case of man who has dutltu! wIte's
assurance that she writes him twice or
thrice week, while he gets not more than
one letter out of three. But that's only
one case. Poor soldier! oughtn't be to
groWl? All, Mr. Delinquent Mailman,
Try come up to time hereafter.
But, seriously, what is soldiers letter?
Or, if you prefer, what ought it 60 be r
That boy wearing his country's uniform
Vas as we'll rearad 40 aEy. LIE looks
'ough just now, for he has rough work to
10, but among the comfortable homes OF
New England, or amid the hills of Penn
sylyania, is spot about which is enshri-
ned all that human memory holds sacred,
and that spot is that Boys home. When
! letter sent thence reaches him, new
Ire lights up the eye, new vigor starts
he blood to quicker action, the soul re-
'slVes new life, and JOY fills the heart, as
ae seal is broken. A soldiers letter car
les him back to the scenes of home and
''eside. 1t carries the boy to the paren-
"a roof, and the father 10 that circle OF
Which he is head It is read, not once, but
''er and over again, and ere he lays down
@rest, it is read still another time In
~enight, when the mind revels in dreams,
lese dreams take shape in accordance
With the influence potently tho silently
1erted by the letter from home. Does
Drlng bodings of Ill, and does it wear
~ Ill