Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1867-04-18
Confederate Orphans.
address By the Tennessee Orphan
ASyIum-TOuching appeal in be-
half of a Noble Charity.

half of a Noble Charity.
To the People of Tennessee: Yo1
are now appealed to in behalf o.
the destitute orphans of the Con
federate soldiers who enlisted from
the State of Tennessee and offer
ed up their lives for the land they
loved so well.
There are two or three thou
sand of these destitute children
in the State-the sad heritage of
this cruel war. Their condition
is deplorable-they are the help
less victims of the most abject
suffering and want. Many of
them have already found an or.
phan's grave, and many more are
rapidly approaching worse fate
To just and honorable peo'
| pie this is q most shameful re-
proach. Shall we turn our backs
upon these helpless orphans
the offspring of our noble heroes,
whose honored death has made
their names immortal?--the plead
ings of those little ones must be
heard, and every true man will
answer Alright. Certainly no one
will plead the greatness of his
losses in the presence of these
fatherless orphans who have lost
SO much. Is not the land for
which the hero bleeds pledged to
give the hero's orphan a happy
home?
Will not a generous and brave
people ever feel it to be their high
est duty to provide for the desti-
tute orphans of their fallen SOL
diers? There is no escape from
this solemn duty. The soldiers
were assured again and again if
they would 60 forth and fight
the country's battles, their chill
dren would never suffer. An
honorable grave tells how gallant
ly and bravely they have done
their duty, and this whole people
are solemnly bound to provide
for their fatherless children. A
more sacred pledge never bound
the human heart, than binds the
people of this State to provide for
the destitute orphans of their fall
le.: soldiers. And no one who
has the proud breathings of a man
would ever wish to repudiate it.
The solemn pledge is as sacred
as the soldiers gravel Defenders
of the precious dead, shall we not
pour the earnest pleadings of these
tatherless children upon the pnb-
lie ear until these sacred pledges
are all redeemed, and our noble
State can proudly point to her
home, lifting up its splen-
did proportions on the fair banks
of the Cumberland, the pride and
glory of our land?
Fair daughters of Tennessee:
It has been your proud distinction
70 honor the brave! Your deli
cate hand alone can wreath the
;haplet for the soldiers brow!-
Your gentle voice alone could
,oothe when the stout and brave
we're stricken down! You softly |
wiped the cold sweat of death from |
he hero's brow-heard the last
vhisperings ofhis departing spirit,
md closed his eyes for the grave!
Noble women of our State! can
you be Indifferent to the helpless
orphans of these fallen soldiers,
hat are now begging for shelter
md bread in the land that has
,een made immortal by the bap-
ism of their fathers blood! In
his day of darkness and distress,
till be true to yourselves! Lay
ribute upon all that is yours, and
With a noble offering push on the |
acred enterprise that pleads so
'arnestly for your help.
In deeds of charity your tongue,
,our pen, your hands, have never
ound an equal! Lend these won.
Ierful energies to this righteous
ause, and the helpless orphan,
low sinking to the grave, will yet !
i've to bless you with its smiles of
ovel And who can tell but that !
he grateful spirit of the departed
ire may often whisper in your
.ars dreams as bright and fair as