Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-01-17

lance from Memphis, remained at his post |
and died of the yellow fever. Communica-
tion had been cut Off, and his friends had
not heard from him. When the fever was
over it was found that he had died. In
looking over his trunks the following let
ter was found. which few will be able to
read without emotion:
SoMERvILLE. Tenn,
M Dear, Seoeet Motfsf-As am walk
ing in the midst of the dead and dying
every day, | cannot but think that there
is a reasonable prospect of my icing taken
down any hour; and should L be taken.
there is every probability against my re-
covery, for, up to this time, only one aault
male patient has recovered. seat my
self, precious mother, with pes f7ct COM
posture. to write you letter which l VIII
carefully lock ap in my trunk with an.
other to my angel wife. In the event OF
my death these letters will be inund, ana
WILL / am sure, be great comfort to you
both. [ wrote wife's letter Yesterday.
Once when she thought she would prob
ably be taken from me. and leave to my
care q tender infant, our first-born, our
golden-hair Mamie. she Was thoughtful
enough to write me most G mfortlng
letter for my perusaI after her iecease. LII
pleased God to spare her, but | have her
precious letter. have now reciprocated1
and written her a letter which, she Will
prize whether live or die
Dear mother, il has occurred co me that
you, too, ought to be remembered in this
way. [ cannot forget how you grleVed
that you had not a word or lire from my
dear brother, who fell in battle. 1t shall
not be so in my case. pen these lines
to testify my passionate love and tender
devotion to her who bore me- Mother.
this letter will. of course, Cause you to
shed tears. but thank God. there IS a
sense in which they will not be bl5ter tears.
[ bless>my God, standing as 1t were, lace
to face with the grim monster, Death, That
1 can triumphantly exclalm, so death,
where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy
victory?" l thank Gid for giving me such
a mother. Oh, how blessed have been
your teachings Precious mother, often.
alas! your teachings have been disregard
ed, but in the main they have been kept
| followed where you pointed, and was
brought to the cross of Jesus. l have to
confess, with sorrow, that l he Va been un-
dutiful and ungrateful, but your dear
heart fOrgives all that without the ask
ing.
do not write this letter because have
given up and am, by despair, inviting dis
ease and death. Not at all. write slmp
ly because look ali the facts Ill the lace
and am bound to admit that ali the prob
abilities are against ms, without q dlfeci
interposition of the hand of. God. My
faith is strong, and I feel that God has
heard our prayers; but then. ee always
pray, "Thy will be done :" Now it may be
Gods will to take me. The few who re-
manned in Somerville are daily falling, and
it is plain that unless help comes soon from
abroad there will be not only none left TO
wait upon the sick, but even t. bury the
dead. My friend, Mr.. S., with whom L
have been roomirg for several weeks, is
down, and his recovery is very doubtful.
He died.. | am nursing him. and, al
though now feel we'll, knos that l am
liable to be taken down at any hour. |
have prepared me a bed at home, and II l
am taken 1 shall try to get to 1T. You
know that the G. family refugees from
Memphis] are III my house. Mr.. q. died a
few nights ago. Mrs. e. is still down.
The rest Of the family have had the fever
and recovered. If die in their hands L
will direct them to give you and my dear
wife an account Of my last ,urs. You
have no conception of the nslignity of
this disease. 1t hurries people rapidly into
eternity.
Iwish to say that have no fears of death.
Jesus has robbed it of all it's terrors. In
deed, it seems to me that it will be sweet
TO die But want to live to serve God
and comfort my family and you all. Ii
God spares me, | shall never cease to bless
His name for all the unSpaakable things
! that he has taught me in all these scenes
| through which am passing. l will be a
better man, and a more efficient minister.
Oh have felt how very delightful it is
to do good to others. go on my rounds
and the faces of Gods dear afflicted peo-
pie just light up at my coming. L am en-
gagged daily in smoothing dying pillows,
comforting aching hearts aud officiating
at the graves Of Gods saints. 1t is glo-
rious and blessed work.
could write on and on. but must has
ten to conclude. Nv dear, deer old father
l must say word to you. Soa never low
ed father more. You have been SO gooo
and kind to me. You love our blessed
Saviour, and you will enter into heaven by
his blood. To my dear sister, NJ; to my
equally dear sisters, A, and r.. and to
''baby 1da,' I send messages OF the fond
est aud deepest affection. They all love
Jesus, and are precious, precious to my
heart. We will all be one united family
in heaven. l have prayed for this. II
was not too much to ask, and am sure it
has been granted. If God takes me away
by this pestilence will meet you all, one
by one, at the gates. You will all help D.
to take care of those two angel children,
Mamie and Frank. How sWeeG their
names are to me! Did God ever make
sweeter children? I commit you all to
God. Farewell until we meet in heaven!
Your own, most devoted son and brother,
f. M. HOWELL.