Maryland free press., 1866-05-24

|
see the spring grass dyed with blood. '.
My horses were fresh, and expected to reach
the neighborhood of Iiarpers Ferry before even
ing, but, when in the vicinity of Chailestown,
found the sky, which had long been threatening,
suddenly indicate the approach Of storm.
huge bank Of black cloud, against which, from
time to time, vivid flashes of lightning shone,
like fiery crack in the dark mass, admonishcd
mo of the wcttng which awaited me unless
found shelter; and very soon those heavy drops
which are the skirmishers thrown out by an adj
rancing tempest, began to patter OH the leaves.
looked round for some shelter, but saw no
house anywhere. In u clump Of trees, however,
II few hundred yards from the road, rose the rti-
ins of an old church; and to this hastened, dis
mounting and taking refuge within, just rs the
storm burst. The ruin was almost roofess; but
IL projection over the alter-place furnished some
protection from the rain; and to this spot hur-
ricd.
All at once stopped. A man was kneeling
there, with his forehead buried IL his lial ds AMI
at the same moment heard the neigh of his hose
which was tethered TO bough behind the ruin,
and had escaped my notice.
The falling rain aud the rumble of the thunder
must have drowned the noise of my approach;
for the knceling man remained in the same pos
ture, and perfectly motionlcss for at least quar-
ter of an hour. AT the end of that time, THE clut-
ter of my sabre as it accidentally struck against
IL fallen, ,stone attracted his attention, and, slow
ly rising the stranger turned toward me. e
He was n man apparently about forty years of
age, tall, gaunt and awkward looking. His
beard aud mustachc worn tocrably full, were of
a reddish brown inclining to be black; and his
eyes were dark, piercing, and with peculiar gilt
ter in them. The stranger wore plain gray
uniform, entirely without decorations, and his
forehead was covered by the rim of a small cadet
cap, pulled low down, with the top trailing for
ward.
The expression of the strangers countenance
was mild, benevolent and modest-his smile, as
he greeted me with an air uf simple courtesy,
very winning
81 am afraid interrupted your devotions,
sir, D." lnow said, "and pray you will pardon
me.". D.. ..tt t. - ..'' '.--.
81 had finished, or ve-yGpcarly." was his reply,
in a voice of peculiar u6ruptness, but unmis-
takcable courtesy. "This storm is very violent,
SIR ... .... ... . '..
"And our place of refuge very dilapidated."
eyes" he said, smiling; ''but there seems
great fitness in taking refuge in this holy place"
81 understand. You mean that the church is
the best shelter from the storms of life am not
Christian myself but you will not find me diff
fer with YOU upon that point, SIR"
II am truly glad to hear it, was his simple
reply, in the same brief voice. ''God has pres
cribed but one refuge, and The chief duty he in
culcatcs is prayer
There was something simple and noble in the
mans bearing as he spoke; and his words seemed
the most rational and natural in the world-so
little Of the professional air of the preacher so to
speak, did discern in them. l,.-
'!iou belong to the army, sir ?'' | now said,
glancing at his uniform .,
':Yes, SIR" was his reply
MAY ask if you have ever served before ?"
eyes in Mcxico.'
"Ah in the last war Then you must have
seen some hard fghting? ,.'..
al was at Chorubusco; Chepultepcc, and other
battles"
'You are fortunate in having returned safely"
said.
God spared me, was his reply, in the same
simple tone
His eye wandered as he spoke and he seemed
TO be thinking, us the thunder roarcd above the
ruin Of those battles, which had rcsembled it.
81 was many times much exposed, he added,
''but no man ever dies until his time comes. II
was the good pleasure of the Almighty, sir, that
| should be spared for another conflict
"And you doubtless carry similar convictions
into the present contest? mean the doctrine of
| predeSiination.
''That word is much abused, SIR" replied the
stranger gr,vely, ''yet it expresses the only ra-
tional view of human life. Who can tell when
he will die! The bullet which is to strike M ,
down may now be moulded, and may fall in
the first skirmisl-or may pass through hum
drcd bloody battles untouched. If am to fall
now, am to fall-if years hence, not until then
if never, never! If Providence has declared
that shall die in my bed, surely the enemy can
not harm me-
"lou are right sir,'' said, not little moved
by the earnest tones of the speaker. GAN ra-
tiona men believe in the doctrine you assert
But do you entirely discard free will p
NO, Slf, DE no nlestnS--l Dcllefe IN tnat, JUST
us strongly. But we touch upon the profound
est of all questions. II is better to obey than TO
question. 1t is easy TO understand the precclt,
''Love one another, if the doctrines of free will
and prcdcstnaion are difficult -
'Lovc one another!' | said; 'this isl curl
Gus principle for soldier to adopt, is it not sir
| Il DO not think So"
| "And yet we are at the beginning of a long
and bloody war;"
''War is not opposed to the will of God, SIR"
''But it is terribly bloody"
$50 is the surgeons knife 1t is disagrccable,
but necessary" e.. f...
"You, then, regard this war as just and incvi
tablet
Il do, sir. would chccrfully have laid down
my life to have prevented it, but believe that it
could not he avoided"
~ agree with you. Will itbc long? When
i will it end ~
II know not-nor do expect to see it end"
"You expect TO fall p ... Do