South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1866-05-25

! Tic rCfEh OF his horse, which was tethcred
to 4 bough behind the ruin, and had escap-
cd my notice.
The falling rain and the rumble of the
thunder must have drowned the noise of my
approach; for the kncellng man remained
i'll the same posture, and perfectly notion
less, for at least quarter of an hour At
the end Of that time, the clatter of my sa-
brc, as it accidentally struck against fall
en- stone, attracted his ttention, and, slowly
rising, the stranger turned toward me.
lie was 4 man apparently about forty
years Of age, tall, gam. and awkward look,
ing. His beard and mustachc worn toler,
ably full, were of Il reddish brown, inclining
to black and his eyes were dark, piercing,
and with peculiar glitter in them. The
stranger wore plain gray uniform, entire
ly without decorations, and his forehead
was covered by the rim Of Il small ca,let-cap,
pulled low down, with the top trailing for
ward.
| The expression of the strangers $ countc-
nance WAS mild, benevolent, and modest
his smile, as lie greeted me with an air of
simple courtesy, very winning.
81 am afraid interrupted your devotions,
sir" l now said, "and l pray you will par
don me-"
~ had finished, or very nearly" was his
reply, i'll voice of peculiar abruptness, hut
unmistakabl& courtesey. ''This storm is
very violent, SIR"
ted"
"lcs," he said, smiling; "but there
seems great fitness in taking refuge in this
holy place"
I understand You mean that the
church is the best shelter from the storms
of life. l am not Christian myself, but
you will not find me differ with you upon
that point, sir
"1 am truly glad to hear it," was his
! simple reply, in the same brief voice "God
has prescribed but one refuge, and the chief
duty he inculcatcs is prayer"
There was something simple and noble
i'll the mans bearing as he spoke and his
words seemed the most rational and natu-
raj i'll the world-so little of the profession
al air of the preacher, SO to speak, did T
discern in them.
'.iou belong to the army, SIR" now
'"a'l GGlGTgaI"" w.J Pif,tr:'------>
MAY ask if you have ever served be-
fore ?"
"Ycs, in Mexico"
"Ah! in the last war; Then you must
have seen some hard fishting?'
81 was at Churubuseo, Chcpultcpcc, and
other battles
"You arc fortunate in having returned
safely" 1 said.
"Gol spared me-" was his reply, in the
same simple tone.
His eyes wandered az he spoke, and he
seemed to be thinking, as the thunder roar
cd above the ruin, Of those battles, which
hal rcscnblcd it.
81 was many times much exposed" he
added, but no man ever dies until his time
comes. 1t was the good pleasure of the
Almighty, sir, that should be spared for
another conflict
And you doubtless carry similar con-
victions into the present contest? l mean
the doctrine Of prcdcstination
"Ihat word is much abused, sir" repli-
cd the stranger gravely, "yct it expresses
| the only rational view of human life. Who
can tell when he will die! The bullet
which is to strike me down may now be
moulded, and may fall in the first skrm.
ish-or l may pass through a hundred
bloody battles untouched. If am to fall
now, am to fall-if years hence, not until
thcn-if never, never! If Providence has
drcrccd that | should die in my bed, surely
the enemy cannot harm me-"
You arc ight sir" ] said. not littl,
moved by the earnest tones of the speaker
IA! rational men believe in the doctrine
you assert. But do YOU entirely discard
| free will ~
"No, sir" by no mrans-I believe III
that, just as strongly But VIC touch upon
the Profoundcst OF all questions. 1t is bet
ter to obey than to question. 1t is easy to
understand the prcccpt, Glove one ano-
ihcr,' if the doctrines of free will and prc-
destination nrc diilicult.' ~
Glove one anotlcr.' I said "this is a
curious principle for soldier to adopt, Is
1t not SIR
al do not think So"
"And yet VIC are at the beginning of
long aud bloody war"
WAR IS not opposed to the will of
God. sir
"But it is terribly bloody"
80 Is The surgeons knife. 1t is disa-
grccable, but necessary
"lou, then, regard this war as just and
inevitable :"
81 do, sir. | would chccrfuily have laid
down my life to have prevented it; but |
believe that it could not be avoided
81 agree with you. Will it be long2-
When will it cndy'
IL know not-nor do l expect TO see
it end
~ as,