The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-11-13
Letter from William.
CENTRAL. IE.

EDIroRs CLARION: A deep feeling of
relief came upon me this morning, when l
road in the Galveston News that there had
been heavy frosts in Mississippi from Osyka
northward. Oh. the night Of death that
has fallen upon our glorious old State! The
nob,est sons OF comm on mother now sleep
beneath her sOil--herOes in struggle where
there is no glamor. no music, no shouting OF
cnntending hosts. no dreams OF glory to
animate, and no vision of rewards TO inspire
They fell in quiet hand to-hand contest
with death in IT'S most hideous form, eAcour-
AGED only by a sense of duty to their sur
ferinp fellow men. confronted by the fright
full black spectre that carried the wand OF
death, and with shadowy strokes beekoned
whom it would 10 the grave. On every
field of Mexico, Mississippi made her name
illustrious by tue deeds of her sons. In
the late war, the regiments of Mississippi
won for her imperishable renOwn. II, w.
Walter leaves name to his poor wife
and children which when tried in the
alembic of glory, shall be more beautiful
and fragrant than the name of Caesar.
Kialoch Falconer, the Christian gentleman
and soldier, the scholar and patriot, has
crowned his beautiful life with deserved
Immortality. Brass and stone cannot sur
yive the deeds these men nave done, out IN
grateful recognition of the rich treasure
that fine character o; such men bequeaths to
posterity, Holly Springs should erect
SHAFT of purest white, and inscribe upon 1t
the names of Walter and Falconer, and the
names of many heroes add heroines, that
the world does not know. They were there
and they grappled in secret and alone with
the same monster, animated by the same
spirit of benevolrnce and devotion that
nerved Walter, Falconer and Holland, to
meet duty in the presence of death. Life
is not the greatest boon; glorions death Is
mans highest achievement. To be true to
humanity in times of prosperity and gen
eral tranquility is well, but it does not re-
duire any great gifts or graces; but to be
true in the face of difficulties and death, is
the test of greatness. No applause can
reach "the dun, cold ear of death"
and no thanks from grateful hearts can
penetrate the gloom OF the grave. 1t may
be TIA ut i'm the chambers of that still house
in the ground-in the streets of that shad-
owy city, strains of melody from the shore
beyond may couch the Sensibilities and wake
UP and renew the manhood and womanhood
ing humanity.
| have felt, day after day, that no end
could be more coveted, no advent to the
spirit world could be more suspicious than
that which is found by the bed side of SUI
fering, and in clasping the hand and max
ing firm the footsteps of those who arc
going into the waves of the cold river. As
have read the telegraphic columns of my
daily paper with feelings OF this sort, l
have almost envied the issue of lives so
glorious.
Iabored in Mississippi as | can never
labor elsewhere; l spent all the flower of
my manhood there; my children were born
there: | guided the steps of thousands of
her children, and suffered too upon her
borders, and thought | loved her and her
people; but l never knew my feelings until
l saw the black cloud, charged with death
hanging over her fair land, and heard the
loud wall of her stricken cities and villages
and even the cry for mercy as the shadow
of death fell upon the country.
God is just, and overrules all things. He
will recompense the people of Mississippi
for all she has suffered in the loss of her
sons and daughters and in the terrible lac
Grafton of every sensbllity of their nature
Where the darkest night brooded longest;
when suffering fingered latest; when the
dark, death fiend stalked most boldly, spy
ing out his victims, then will sunshine and
melody and the genius of reli gIon and
truth come and invoke happiness and pros
perity from out of misfortune. aud the peo-
pie shall all see that it Is we'll. But for such
reflections the stroke OF Providence lately
laid upon our people would be intOlerable
Since writing the above, | have seed dis
patches announcing the death of Com pton
and Holland. Holly Springs is indeed well
stricken. Ii was enough to lose Walter
and Falconer. Now come Compton and
Holland. The one man of learning, of
great breadth of culture. of enlarged views
of science, and a heart that never erred in
its impulses. His errors were of alignment
In the course of his public life, he was the
recipient of applause and of censure. No
man who knew him ever doubted his broad !
and catholic generosity. though he NAV
have condemned his political life.
The other, Col Holland, gifted aud cul |
tivated gentleman. proved years before his |
death that he hero and the conclu- |
sion of his life is one that may well be en- |
rolled dpon the annals of martyrdom. |
Holland and Compton! At their graves |
chivalFy and humanity may meet and |
weep. In them was what valor and beauty |
worshipped, and more than that, what poor
wrecked and weeping humanity could love'
and trust The last of the martyrs, the
uoblest of men, the best of friends
My heart is full 10 overlooking, and |
bleeds for every household where the
scourge set its deadly foot. For the poor
orphans and disconsolate widows and
mourning ones, all over Mississippi, pray
God daily.
Bright skies are coming; the beautiful
fro and snow will herald the good days OF
she happy future.
| am 50 thankful that THE CLARION was
spared. and know it will join in the general
joy for such manifest good will and broth
erhood as the plague of 1873 evolved.
WIIItM