Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-09-03
It's just Like HIm-A Vicksburg Incl
sf 4l-~fsl dent. " Z stHI-

The night scene was sometimes grand, In
deed; SHELLS discharged from the land batte-
ries traced their beautiful, fiery paths. high
into the air above the beleagured city, and
meeting there the missiles ascending on the
same errand from Commodore Porter's fleet,
crossed them in brilliant curves, making the
beholder almost forgetful of the mission on
which the monsters were sent. On one OF
these brillant-nights, came upon regimen
tai prayer-meeiing under a bluff within short
range of the enemys works. Whenever
there was discharge from our batteries, the
rebel sharpshooters along their lines would
reply by shower of mimic balls, which cut
the leaves over our heads, and occasionally
glanced down to the ground at our feet BY
order of the brigade commander, to prevent
drawing The attention, and perhaps the fire
of the enemy, the hymns were sung in low,
muffled voice, but, loud enough to make
melody in our hearts," The meeting was led
by one of the captains of the iregment.-
There was something genuine and manly IN
the piety of the leader, which seemed to win
the affection and attention of the soldiers
/ was SO much struck with it that / could
not forbear seeking his acquaintance; and,
| on invitation, meeting him the. next day, we
walked over to the. colonel's tent. st,,.
| As the custom was, we were courteously
| offered drink from the ubiquitous BIO ues--
nearing me every moment, / questioned in
my own mind what terms should uso in
declining but was yet more interested to
| see what course my Christian captain would
take. When the colone, called upon him,
he declined; was invited again and declined,
and the third time did it so decidedly and
yet respectfully, as not to give offense, nor
to be further importuned. said to him af-
I terward-
"Capiain. do you always do thata" aa
| Yes" said he. .l.o .ls ..lt. a. ~ = u
"Do you mean you haye never taken any
intoxicating liquor?" ,..
"Whai, not even to correct this,Ysaab
water ?" :.
"Never.' 4.4Lrll. ma a4
"You must have belonged to the cold
water army in your boyhood 2" s,.t. I.
eyes; but / learned something better
than that my mother taught me this one
thing-'what is right, is right and coming
1t would not be right for me TO accept an in
vitation to drink at home; don't believe
it's right here-therefore don't drink.
A few weeks afterwards passing cup The
Mississippi river, / addressed a Sabbath
evening congregation. After the service, "a
lady came to inquire about her boy-"fool-
ishly," she said, for it was not likely that in
an army oil 4O,O0U men snOuiQ nave Heen
her boy but still she wanted to ask me If /
had met him. She told me Of her anxiety
for his welfare-how she feared that the bad
influences of the camp would lead him as
tray. s...t-tl..ys...
s'He promised that he would do well,"
said she, s'and have no reason to think he
doesn't do well but if l could only see
somebody who could tell me from actual
knowledge how he is doing,i would be such
: relief" -
She told me his name and regiment. l
assured her that there WAS hardly ground
for all the fear mothers were exercising foI
their absent boys that very many soldiers
were actually becoming better men, growing
strong under trial. And then, to illustrate,] ]
told her, without mentioning names, of my
captain, of the prayer-meeting, and Of the
scene in the colonels tent. "
ooh" said she, "that's beautiful-that's
beautiful his mother must be proud of him.
-" Yes" said 8 that she ought-and you
are the mother y ..,.,......s -.
l never shall forget the joy that iesped in.
to her face, and how she sprang across.iht
= carpet, and catching my handllin bothA d
. hers, wet It with greatful tears. M a. 4. .
Is that my boy, ,--is that VIII It's jus
like him; knew he would do go. He al
; ways was good boy; he told me he slway
would be, ,-and ! knew he weuld.' ''i-odliq
u... ..ifit4 ~ .,r 4 ntl. s|I.I. o.. la.