The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1880-08-26
SUNDAY SCENES.

SUNDAY SCENES.
July l7th.--The Sabbath is the saddest
and dullest of days we have. Naturally it
is full of suggestions of "auld lang syne,"
of happier Sabbaths when life was not so
full of stern aud tragic realities:
l haveseen men go Nt to wash 10 the
ditches--stript to the skin from the w~aistup,
and with only a very dirty pair of drawers for
the rest of their attire but it didn't frigh-
ten the pettlcoated spectators anything to
speak of!
Not that any large number of the prison
ers are so wanting in delicacy. There are
hundreds of well bred gentlemen whom no
degree of privation or suffering could reduce
from the high courtesy and g~entility that
was their birth right. Often has this fact
been suggested to me by the tones and re-
marks of my barrack mates while arranging
their touches in the darkness, or in talking,
after lying down for the night. On one
side would be heard the rough uncouth, or
light and vapid, voice of some officer without
either birth, breeding or intelligence,-a
mere waif of the war, elected to Office be-
cause willing to be hail fellow, well met
with the wilder elements of the command,
or because the latter expected to profit by
his Ignorance and good nature. This voice
would sound like a COW bell in comparison
with the clear enunciatien and gentle tone
of the opposite bunk-mate. As for in
stance, the rough voice might growl-"How
IN hell can q teller see to .hc his bed tricks ~
To which the modulated voice replies cour-
me to assist you.' But the grunt replies
"Reckin' KIN help myself"
Among the wounded on the bloody field
of Groveton in August, 1862, [ heard a
voice so gentle and yet firm, [ shall ever re-
gTet not asking the mans name. He lay
near the fence, down which Ira Harris cav
airy had made their wild and unattended
dash into our lines. After the repulse, and
when our brig ga :e was ordered back to renew
the alignment, beyond which we had mis-
takenly advanced, | came near to stepping
directly in the shadow of the fence. Think
ing | had trodden upon him | said, Beg
pardon, | didn't see you are you wound
ed?' You did not hurt me, said the
voice-"but | would be obliged to you for
a little water" [ gaze him my canteen,
and went on; for the regiment was already
vanishing in the darkness, and | was both
barefooted and hungry-therefore must
keep near the command until it bivouacked,
or starve next day. But as | walked on [
recalled the singular purity and sweetness
VI Ii COuCo vi liz uhuO" WIlO
[ think [ should recognise by his voice, if
he survived the night.
Well, I've said nothing of our Sunday
services. We have religious exercises every
Sabbath, in either one of the barracks. or
in the open air in the middle Of the pen.
; There are several 'local ministers of the
+ Methodist and Baptist denominations among
the officers but we have also a Doctor OF
Divinity, a venerable and celebrated Presby-
, terrain clergyman. the Rev. DR.. Isaac w.
K. Handy, formerly of Norfolk, but when
o arrested, L believe, upon a visit to his Origi.
! nal parishioners at a village in Delaware MOI
o far here-from. His arrest is said to have
: been an atrOcious act as he had given nc
trouble and manifested no hostility to the
! Federal government /; but merely confessed
when privately Intercepted by treacherou:
~neighbors, that his sympathies were with
the South, where he had one or more son:
;. IN service.
After drawing from DR.. Handy a candle
$ acknowledgment of his feelings and sympa
thies, the traitorous guests made haste tt
come, like Judas with a party of soldiers
). who arrested the venerable pastor, (despitt
his military permit from the Federal com
mandant at Portsmouth, and bore him t
prison, with many indignities which [ shall
+ not trust myself to relate here lest [ seem t
g exaggerate.
! Suffice it the venerable clergyman wa
q thrust into this bleak prison pen, among
. the military prisoners, and subject to tn
same rough life, and malevolent treatment
d He, however, was in no degree dismayed
but accepted his situation as a call to worl
among the prisoners, and has zealously en-
# tered upon the field. A class OF ''divinit.
students" and a weekly bible Glass;" hav
a been organized under his Instructions an
also q daily PRAYER meeting at twelve O'Clock
which is held in the yard when the weathe
will permit.
~ It would be hard to match the scene pre-
~ sented When this mountaineering is i
nrogress. DR.. Handy being a small man
d uses a stool. or box. or tub, for a pulpit
He resolved not to cut his hair while Ill
" Justly confined. therefore his long whit
n locks hang all around his shoulders like
lions name. The congregation squat i