Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1868-10-16

The night scenes were sometimes
grand, indeed shells discharged
from the lend batteries traced their
beautiful, fiery paths high into the
air above the beleagured city, and
meeting there the missiles ascending
ON like errand from Commodore Por-
ter's fleet, crossed them I'm brilliant
curves, making the behoider almost
forgetful of the mission on which the
monsters were sent. One of these
brilliant nights, 1 came upon regi.
mental prayer meeting under u bluff,
within short range of the enemy's
works. Whenever there was dis.
charge from our batteries, the rebel
sharpshooters along their lines
would reply by n shower of balls
which cut the leaves over our heads,
aud occasionally glanced down to
the ground at our feet. BY order OF
the brigade commander, tn prevent
drawing tho attention, and perhaps
the fire of the enemy, the hymns
were sung In low muffied voice.
but loud enough to make melody I'm
our hearts. The meeting was led by
one of the captains of the regiment.
There was something genuine aud
manly In the piety of the leader,
which seemed to win the affection
and attention of the soldiers. was
so much struck with IL that | could
not fOrhear seeking his acquaintance;
aud on invitation, meeting him next
day, we walked over to the Colonel's q
tent.
As the custom was, we were cour.
teously offered drink from the ubi.
quitous bottle, Az the single glass
passed round the circle, nearing me
every moment, l questioned I'm nv
own mind what terms / should use
In declining; but was yet more In
terested to see what course my Chris
tian Captain would take. When the
Colonel called upon him, he declip.
ed, was invited again and agnin decll-
ned and the third time did IL 20 de,
cidediy aud yet respectfully, as not
to give otfcnse, nor To be further i'm.
portuned. ] said to him afterward--
Captain do you always do that?'
Yes said he.
DO you mean you have never Ia
ken any Intoxicating liquor"
Yes, just that
What, not even to correct this
fazoo water:'
Never
You must have belonged to the
cold water army In your bOyhood p
Yes, but / learned something bet
tor than that. My mother taught
me this one thing-'what Is right, Is
right aud coming To Mississippi
don't make any difference. Itwouid
not be right for me to accept an invi-
tation to drink at home, I don't be-
lieve II Is right here-thcrefore don't
drink
A few weeks afterwards, passing
upthe Mississippi river, l addressed n
Sabbath evening cong regation. AT.
ter the service, lady came to- inquire
about her boy--foolishly she said. for
1t was not likely that In an army ol
40 900 men had seen her boy but
still she wanted 10 ask me IL | had
met him. She told me of her ankle
W Tor his wcifare-how she feared
that the bad Influences of the camp
would lead him astray.
lie promised that he would do
well, said she, ''and I've no reason
to think he doesn't do well; but IL /
could only see somebody who could
tell me from actual knowledge how
he Is doing, 1t would be such q relief.
She told me his name aud regi-
ment. / assured her that there was
hardly ground for all the fear moth
ers were exercising for their absent
boys; that very many soldiers were
actually becoming better men, grow
ing strong under trial. Aud then, to
illustrate, | told her, without men.
tioning names, of my Captain, of the
prayer meeting, and of the scene I'm
the Colonel's tont.
"Oh," said she, 'that IL beautiful.
His mother must be proud of him. y
Yes" said |, THAT she ought
and you are his mother"
never shall forget the 10y that
leaped into her face, aud how SHE
sprang across the carpet, and catch
ing my hand In both of hers, wet II
with grateful tears.
us that my boy-sis that Will? II
Is just like him; / knew he would
do so. He always was good boy
he told me he always would bean,
| knew he would.n