Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1866-05-12


heard the neigh Of his horse, which was
,eihcred to a boush behind the ruin, and
had escaped my notice.
The falling rain and the rumble Of the
thunder must have drowned the noise Of
my approach; for the kneellng man re-
manned in the same posture, and perfectly
mn,ionless. for at least quarter of an
hour. At the end Of that time, the clsiter
Of my sabre, as it accidentally struck a.
gainsi fallen stone, attracted his a,ten-
ton. and. slowly rising, the stranger turn
ed toward me.
He was man apparently about forty
years of age, tall, gaunl and awkward
looking. His beard and musiache worn
iolerabIy full. were of reddish brown,
inclnlDp to black and his eyes were
dark. piercing. and with peculiar glitter
in them. The stranger wore plain gray
uniform. entirely without decorations, and
his forehead was covered by the rim OF a
small cadstcap. pulled low down. with
the top trailing forward.
The expression of the strangers coun-
,enance was mild. benevolent. and modest
Ills smile. as he greeted me with an air
of simple courtesy. very winning.
Il am afraid interrupted your devo
lions. SIR now said, "and pray you
will pardon me-"
~ had finished, or very nearly" was
his reply, in voice Of peculiar abrupt
ness, but unm'stakable courtesy. "Ihis
storm is very violent, sir"
"And our place Of refuge very dilapida'
led."
"Yes." he said. smiling; "but there
seems great fitness in taking refuge in this
holy place"
II understand. You mean that the
church is the best shelter from the storms
of life. | am not Christian myself, bu>
you will no, find me differ with you upon
!ha! point, sir"
~ am truly glad to hear it," was his
simple reply, in The same brief voice.
i"God has prescribed bat one refuge, and
lhe chief duty he incuIcales is prayer"
| There was something simple and noble
in the mans bearing as he spoke; and hls
words seemed the mos, rational and nate
raj IN The world-so lille OF the proles.
sional air Of ,hs preacher, so TO speak, did
discern in them.
"Y ou belong TO the army, sir 7" now
said, glsncing at bis Uniform.
"Yes, sir" was his reply.
"Msy ask if you have ever served
before 2"
"Yes, in Mexico"
"Ah in The last war! Then you mus
have seen some bard 6ghling!"
IL was at Churubusco, Chepultepec
and other battles.
You are fortunate in having returned
SAFELY said.
"God spared me-" was bis reply, in
the ame simple tone.
His eye wandered as he spoke, and he
seemed 10 be thinking, az the thunder rosr'
ed above The ruin, oil those battles, which
had resemhled it.
81 was many times much exposed he
added, but no men ever dies until his
line comes. 1t was the good p leasure OF
the Almighty, sir. that | should be spared
for another conflict
"And you doubtless carry similar con-
victons into the present contest mean
the doctrine of predesllnailon.
"Tha, word is much abused, sir re-
Piled the stranger grsvely, "ye, il expires.
ses the only rational view of human life.
Who can tell when he will die !! The
bullet which is 10 strike me down may
now be moulded. and may fall in the
first skirmish-or | may pass through a
hundred bloody battles untouched. If ]
am to fa'l now, | am to fall-if years
hence, not until ihen-if never, never
IL Providence has decreed iha. shall die
in my bed, surely the enemy cannot harm
me-"
lyon are right SIR" said. not little
moved by he earnest tones of the speak.
er. "AlI rational men believe in the doc
rine you assert. But do you enIiIely
discard free will 2
"No, sir, by no means-I believe in
that, just as strongly. But we touch upon
the proloundesl of all questions. 1t is
better to obey than 10 question. 1t is easy
to understand the precep,. "Love one an
other" if The doctrines Of Tree will and
predes,ira,ion are difficult !
"Love one anolher!' said; ",his is
curious principle for soldier 10 adopt, is
i, not sir!"
Il do not think so.'
"And vet we are at the beginning of
long and bloody war"
WAR is no, opposed 10 The will OF
God. sir"
but il is terribly bloody"