The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-11-07

thought that you had helped q fellow cree
er IN his need will make ysur own deaf
bour easier when it comes"
II will go with yon willingly" sale
land will do what | can for your friant
though that Tn Afraid will very little.
We soon reached the tent where the sic
man lay-a miserable fly, no protectio
against wind nor rain. In one corner Al
attenuated figure lay stretched On a boo
pallet of leaves with one thin worn blanke
spread over it, and another for his aol
covering. As L bent over him, / saw tina
me features wasted, as they were by tn
fierce fever that consumed him and skar
ipfned BY the near. approach Of the grea
change, had yet refined traces Of consid
erable beatty. His long fair hair wa
thrown back, matted by long neglect am
damp with the death dews that gathpre,
thick and fast on his,face. His large blu.
eyes w"re bright with unnatural lustre, an,
his wan cheek looked smooth and tender d
a girls. "a '1'-- ~ ''gs 9as.i s'i,<l
His wrigh comrade approached. and tool
his hand with almost the gentlepess Of ,
woman.
Give brought . preacher to see you
Jimmy" he said, softly-ahd winked al
me not to contradict him." ga good ma,
who will talk to yoa aid pray with you i
you want him to, and hope twill ga {
your mind. poorboy! No accounting f.,
sch folkes' fancies,"' he continued, sotie
voce. "Don't seem to me I'd die any
easier if / had whole cowpen fall o
preachers staudin'. by me-. What's the
good of other folks prayers I wonder:
Each ones got to hoe Lila own row in tina,
m alter / reckon; and when once the devils
got his grip on you all the preachers th,,
ever smashed q Bible cant make him lei
loose." (" Be quiet, Harvey hats good
fellow" said the sick boy family; Their
turned his glittering eyes full on my face
and seemed to read my very soul with their
searching glancey.
Are you Minister :" he, asked sud-
denly, .a ? y-,. a. s,.,.
II am mott / said Z" but I am an elder
IN Baptist Church and have license to
'xh 'rt sinners to repentance, and to prey
With and for those VII are truly penitent. "
That Is what want" said he, eagerly -
Somebody to pray with me--somebody
!" speak comforting words to me-to talk
10 me OF religion. heaye,, and all holy
things. Oh he cried ont; with burt If
energy strange to witness in one so near
heath, ait is frarfnl to die in such place
Is this-nobody to nurse me--nohody to
ARE whether live or die-nobody to speak
% me of God or Judgment or!eternity-
nothing 10 my ears all day but oaths and
obscene words and vulgar songsLno chance
% prepare for death and Judgment, Oh
ak to me of salvation --of repentance
AVE much to repent of--much "
He shuddered, and was silent. \ spoka
o him soothihg7y, I told him as we'll a.
vas able Of the rich promises Of Christ, of
lod's love and mercy unto all. of forgive.
ess of sins and a blissful eternity for al
rue penitents. 4
Suddenly he interrupted me with
What's that the. Bible says about for.
ivenpss Of enemies 2"
repeated the words-"But / say unto
on, love your enemies bless them that
ate you, and pray for them that despite.
My Csc and prosecute you" . q s4A''-
BE ihterposed impatien,ly. II cant do
hat! Love the fiends who have made
ny life desolate-my home ruin-my
anne ably word and reproach!j cannon
o it-not to purchase heaven! Listen to
ne. ] left Missouri, my native State, to
pin the Southern ARMY firmly convinced
hat in doing sd was but performing my
oanden duty to my country, left it
'ithout one hostile or embittered feeling
Or one living soul W thin its borders in
'nding only to do my devoir as a soldier
lanfully fighting against men and hoping
when this cruel war. was over 10 return to
ONE, friends, and happiness once more
was absent year, during which time /
IN tra'y say never took an unfair advan-
'ge OF Il foeJ never insulted woman, nor
|olested non-combatant. At the end of
lie year Shelby entered Missouri was
ith him-our band passed near my home
of course ! went there overjoyed atsthe
rospnct Of seeing home, mother, sister
nee again. > 3'.5t3f
He paused-overcome with weakness
I'd emotion. Harvey mixed little rum
I'd water in tin cup and held it to hi,
,s. tThe3draught, anpalatabIe as it must
i've been, seemed to revive him; or per-
'psis was but the intensity Of his hate
I'd determination to tell his wrongs which
,held him to the last. What do you
ink found? Ny home was a smoking
zap of ruins-my mother, houseless, and
brggar inner old age, had found refuge in
g poor house--my sister, my young pure
'ter, had fallen victim to the brutal
sts OF Federal soldiers, and had died
wing maniac. DO you wonder that !
rned away from that spot changed be.
81? That I made and registered there a
ably VOW Of vengeance which have kept
NJ IN v,u fh;nl. 7 M >, ,,o,, GOV, Io,,I