The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1879-08-15
A TRUE INCIDENT.

L
fore my conversion was under deep
conviction.
was a surgeon in the Union Army
during the war, and after tho battle of
Gettysburg l had twenty seven or TWEEN
ty-eight soldiers in my. hospital, who
had been wounded in the battle and re-
quired amputatiOn-some their legs,
and some their arms.
Among these was a young man, who
refused to have the chlorof0rm admin
istored. When the steward told him it
was the doctors order he said ;l'Send the
doctor to me-"
When came up to his bedside he
took my hand in his, and looking me in
the face, he said: "Doctor, l have a
Saviour whom trust. He is my slim
ulant, and he will support me while
you are taking of my leg"
then asked him if he would permit
me to give him some brandy, as he had
lost large quantity of blood, and re-
quired something to stimulate him
while undergoing the painful operation.
Again he looked me in the face, say
ing: "Doctor, my father died drunk
ard, and when was three years old my
mother knclt by my sido every morn
ing, with her arm around my neck,
saying, Charley, am now praying to
Jesus 10 keep you from strong drink
| am now more than nineteen years old,
and do not know the taste of wine or
spirituous liquors. And now, as | am
about to go home to Jesus, would you
have me go with brandy on my stom-
ach, doctOrH
The look that boy gave me l shall
never forget. At that hour / hated
Jesus, but respected the boy; and
when l saw him loving and trusting his
Saviour to the last, there was something
touched my heart, and did what had
never done before for any soldier. l
said: "Charley, do you want to see
your chaplain?' go yes, sir!" he an
sworcd. sent for chaplain r., and
when ne came he knew the boy. Those
chaplains knew all the christian boys.
Taking the soldiers hand, the chap
lain asked: "Well, Charley, how is u"
al am all right, sir. The doctor wanted
to give me chloroform. l declined
that. Then he wanted to give me
brandy. l declined; and now can go
to Jesus with my full Senses"
"You may not die, Charley" said the
chaplain; "but if you do, is there any
thing that ! can do for you after you
are gomez"
Taking a small Bible from under his
pillow, and handing II to the chaplain,
Charley said: "Send this bible 10 my
mother, and tell her have never mis-
sed praying for her every day, and ask
ing God TO bless and keep her; in camp,
on the march, wherever | may be,
have always remembered to pray for
my mother"
sis there anything else my boyT"
Eyes. Write letter to the superin-
tendent of the Sands-strcet Sunday
school, and tell him that the kind words
and good advice which no gave me
haac never forgotten. The many pray
crs he has offered In my behalf have
followed me through all the dangers OF
battle; and now, in my dying moments,
| ask God TO bless him. That is all.
And now, doctor, am ready. Iprom-
Use you will not even groan if You will
not put me under the influence of chic
rOfOrm."
promised; but, my friends, l had
not the courage to take knife in my
hand to cut OIL that boys leg. was
obliged to go into the next room and
take a stimulant to nerve myself to
duty.
While was cutting through the flesh
Charley never gloaned, but when /
took the saw to separate the bone, he
took the corner of the pillow In his
mouth, and all L could hear him utter
was, go, Jesusp "Blessed Jesus"
l'LoyinR JesnsW but he never groaned.
] handed the leg TO the steward, and
told him to place two wardmasters be-
side the bed, anything Charley wanted
to give 1t TO him; and if he called for
me, no matter what time of night, to
let me know.
passed through the hospital at two
o'clock that night. Charley was sleep
ing sweetly.
Five days after he sent for me. |
saw that he was going fast. doctor"
he said, al am going to my Saviour
but before l go want to thank you for
year Kindness to me. Hou have been
very Sind, and nOw want you to stay
do not love my Jesus; but while Won
were cutting oil my leg l prayed to the
Lord TO convert your soul"
o how those words went 10 my heart
"While you were cutting of my leg
W 'ho i<Oiu " COIttTt your
souls" Rpt could not stay to see him
die. ! had not the courage TO stand andl
sec a Christian boy die, rejoicing in the
love Of jesus, whom | had been taught |
to hate. | left himI and Charley died. |
soon forgot all about my Christian |
soldieri but last year, while at a |
prayer-meeting. an old lady arose TO |
testify for Jesus; at the close of her ties. |
ilmony she said; 30 have soldier in |
heaven! lie was wounded at the battle
OF Gettysburg, and Jewish doctor
wanted to give him chlorotorm while
he took OF his leg. And my dear Char |
ley. was 2 soldier for Christ. lie beg
ged the doctor to Jet him go to Christ |
without any siimulanfs. And The chap |
lain wrote me that my boy prayed to |
God to convert tho Jewish doctor"
When ! beard this ! GOULD not Sit !
still. took the lady's hand In mine, |
and said: "God bless you, my dear
sister, your boys prayer has been an |
swcred. ! am that Jewish doctor, and
the Lord has converted me."-[Seleet-
ed.