Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-01-21
A STORY OF THE WAR.
NELLIE PETERS OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
AND WHAT IT SAW.


a most attractive building, handsomely |
furnished, and although somewhat
Confederate" in style, would compare
favorably with most churches built in
the DAYS OF peace and prosperity. The |
church was destroyed by fire in "the
burning of Atlanta" But two funerals
ever took place in st. Luke's, the one
that of Stephen Elliott, infant son of
Richard Peters, Esq, and that of Bishop
Polk, godfather of little Stephen FL
lott. So much for history. The story
entitled Nellie Peters Pocket-Hand-
kerchiei," was published in the child
rens column of the Church Intelli-
gencer 1t is as follows:
Ny dear children have story to
tell you, kind of history of myself,
and / shall tell it my own way. l am
not very old, hardly half grown, but l
have seen a great many things-some
joyous and some bad.
My mistress has always taken very
great care of me; and when she did
not need my company, has provided
me very comfortable quarters in very
pretty box, with a number of COM
panions about my own size
The first event of importance which
recollect was the baptism of Nellie's
little brother. He was bright, beau
tifuI child, only two months old. The
bishop was visiting the family, and as
the little babe was to receive his name,
he baptised him. 1t was a very pleasant
sight All the children of the family
were present and several friends, among
them a clergyman of the church and
bishop, who was both soldier OF the
cross and of his country.
He was a man of noble presence,
=, and / saw from his look and action that
he was very much in earnest. He was
one of the sponsors, and during the
service ! could see that his whole soul
was ia it. l loved to look in his face,
it was so full of goodness and truth.
Nellie's mother held the little one In
her arms
'.She stood mp in the meekness of a heart
Resting on God, and held her fair young
child
Upon her bosom, with its gentle eyes
Folded in sleep, as if its soul had gone
To whisper the baptismal VOW In heaven
After the little one was baptised, and
so made a member of Christ, a child
of God, and an inheritor of the King
dom of Heaven, an angel, who l had
not observed before, bent down and
kissed the newborn Christian, and
said, with "still small voice" that was
very musical, Take heed that We des-
pise not one of these little ones; for
say unto you that in heaven their
angels do always behold the face of my
Father which is in heaven" and then
/ knew that this was little Stephens
guardian angel, and that he had just
now begun his appointed work. 1t
was all very pleasant The service was
over and the two bishops kissed the
regenerated child, and there was a song
as OF angels rejoicing and praising God
because He had vouchsafed to receive
the sweet babe for His own child by
adoption and to incorporate him into
His holy church.
After this came the beautiful spring
time, and the birds sang in the trees,
which little by little put forth foliage
of living green. The flowers opened,
and all nature was glowing with life.
/ heard a great deal about the war, but
did not give it much heed. / frequently
accompanied Nellie TO St Luke's
Church. She was very regular in her
attendance, both at Sunday school and
Mt the morning and evening services
Her minister was always glad to ask
her questions. when the children gath
cred around the chancel, because he
was sure to get prompt and proper
answer.
One evening Nellie came to her room
in great distress. She was crying, and
the big tears rolled down her cheek
She took me out of my box, and went
down to the sitting-rOOm. All the
family were gathered there, and all
seemed very sad. At first / did not
understand it, but in a little while |
learned that the great and good bishop,
who was sponsor for little Stephen,
had laid down his life for his country
] cannot tell all that was said, but
Nelhe'r father told the children what
loss the country and the church had
sustained, and how he feared there was
not another man in all the land who
could take his place.
That night, very late, the bishops
body was brought from the field, where
he had fallen in defense of the church
and the affairs to which he had been
bound as a sacrifice, and was taken to
st. LuRes Church. The coffin was
placed just in front of the altar-railing
A guard OF soldiers was outside, and a
guard Of angels inside the church.
Early IN the morning Nellie's mother
and some other ladies went to the
church and arranged the most beauti-
full flowers around it. \ cross of
spOtless white flowers rested on his
breast, and he looked very calm and
peaceful peaceful in the repOSe of death
that he must have died with a smile
on his lips.
Many hundreds came to take a last
look at his beloved features, for all
men loved him. Each one felt that he
had part in the great sacrifice of this
glorious servant of God, and many
were the tears that coursed down the
cheeks of strong men unused to weep.
After the service, the minister gave
all the congregation an opportunity
of passing by the coffin, and the crowd
continued to pour up one aisle and
down the other, until the very last
moment that could be allowed.
Not very long after the bishops
death, little Stephen was taken sick. |
cannot tell with what tender SoHcitude
he was nursednor what fervent prayers
were put up in his behalf, but he died !;
and his guardian angel who had watched
'NNl 1AAN SAlblI Cttl NLilN llAI, Ntlll VIII
him to the paradise of God, where he
would be forever free from sin und
sorrow, and forever happy with the
angels of God.
He died ere his expanding soul
Had ever burnt with wrong desires,
Had ever Spurned at heavens control,
Or ever quenched It's sacred fires"
Just where the bishops body had
- rested in the church, there they placed
little Stephens. Loving hearts and
gentle hauds wove garlands of flowers
mdevergreensand placed them around
the little coffin.
Nellies heart was almost broken
when her little brother died, and so
was taken away from her earthly love;
but she knew that this love was not
wasted, and would not he lost, but that
henceforward it would be a bright
chain to bind her to her angel brother
in paradise:
For angels, and living saints and dead,
But one communion Make
But Nellie shed many tears, and /
knew very well that she would mourn
for a long time over the little one that
z