Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-03-24
4 Mothers Influence.

The following incident. related by AN agent
Of the Christian Commissions who was for
short time ou duty before the city Of Vicks-
burgh, shows the lasting impressions Of
mothers early teachings. and that, If you
tram up child iu the way he should go. he
will not depart from IT,
During the siege of this ill.mtcl city the
incident narrated that, at times, the night
scenes were, indeed, exceedingly grand that
shells discharged from the land batteries trac-
ing their beautiful fiery paths high into the
air above the bcleagured city, and meeting
there the missiles ascending ON the same cr-
a d from Commodore Portcrs fleet, would
cross each other in brilliant curves, making
the beholdcr almost iorgetul of the mission
on which they We're sent On one OF these
brilliant nights, came upon a regimeutal
prayer-meeting under bluff within short
muskct range OF the eneny's works. When
ever there was % discharge from our baite-
ries, the cncmys sharpshooters, along their
lines, would reply by "a shower of minnie
balls which would cut the leaves over our
heads, and occasionally glanced down to the
ground at our feet Ia order to- prevent
drawing the attention. aud perhaps the fire of
the enemy, the brigade commander ordered
that the hymns should be sung in low, mut-
fed voice but loud enough to make melody
IN our hearts" The meeting was led by one
of the captains Of the regiment There was
something genuine and manly IN the piety OF
the leader which seemed 20 win the ailoc-
tion aud attention of the soldiers. | was so
much struck with IL that could not iorbcar
seeking his acquaintance and, meeting him
the next day. by invitation, we walked over
to the Colonel'- tent
A. the custom was, we were courtcously
offered a drink lrom the ubiquitous bottle
And the single glass passed round the cir
Gle, nearing me every moment ] questioned
I in my own mind what terms should use in
declining but | was yet more anxious to sec
what course my Christian captain would take
And, when the colonel called upon him, he
declined He was again invited and again
declined, and, the third time even, his refusal
/ was so respectful as not to give oHense, yet s,
decided, as 10 save him from being further
importuncd said to him aferward
Captain. do YOU always do thatY
Yes, sir, he replied.
DO you mean to say that you have never
taken any Intoxicating liquor 3'
"Ye.. sir. lust that"
What, not even to correct this Yazo,
water ?n
Never. sir."
You must have belonged to the cold
water army ia your boyhood ?"
" Yes. sir, but lcarael something better
than that-my mother taught me this on,
thing that what is right, is right, and tn,
coming to Mississippi does not make any diE
ference 1t would not be right for me to ac
cept am invitation to drink at home and l dc
not believe that it would be right here
therefore ! do not drink"
4 few weeks aherward, passing up the
Mississippi river, addressed, ON a Sabbuti
evening, a congregation After the service
was over lady came to inquire Of me abou
her boy" ioolishly," She said, for it wa
not likely that, in an army Of forty thousau,
men, had seen her boy but still She want
ed to ask me if ! had met him. She TOLD
me of her anxiety for his weliare-how sh'
feared that the bad influence of the caml
would lead him astray,
" He promised that he would do we'll an,
have no reason she said, to think tina