St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-09-04

/ SIONCu W Iat tIt Itdl WAS Ill
case the need had come.
| But no worse news came from the
capital. The heart broken people held
their balance and their command. So
the march was resumed calmly and or
derly; we were ready for anything.
On the morning of the third day the
order came to make no movement and
do no work, for it was the day of Lin
coins burial. 1t was fitting, surely,
that we should hold service too. So
we got the senior chaplain of our di-
vision to prepare an address. Knowing
his Irish warmth of eloquence, | eau
toned him against stirring up our feel
lngs to revenge. AT the appointed
hour the troops We're formed in a hOl-
low square. The old flags were
brought to the frOnt-battle- -dimmed
and torn. but eloquent of things that
could never be told. On the open side
was planted the Maltese red cross.
Around it gathered the generals and
staff; Griffin, too, never forgetting his
old division, and always of reverential
and religious mind. The troops stacked
arms and stood calmly behind them. |
placed myself close beside the chap
isilh w sl dlhb DOu llt
assured me he would he judiciOus.
But his very first utterance thrilled
us. With that voice and countenance
of suppressed passion which heightens
power, and in deep and rounded tones
made yet more effective by slightly
foreign accent, he launched forth these
startling words:
"And she, being before instructed OF
her mother, said, Give me here John
Baptist'S head in charger"
The very text was thrilling. But he
went on To unfold the analogy. He
said the spirit that conceived the de-
struction of the Union had invited the
spirit Of murder from the beginning.
And it was this same spirit which
had now demanded the life of this just
and faithful and consecrated man. He
showed the rebellion to have no justi-
| tication. He pointed out the fact that
Lincoln had committed no other crime
than being constitutiOnally elected
president of the United States. Then
he portrayed his sincere and generous
character, and his conciliatory course
Then he pictured him stricken owl
with bastard hand, in the very midst Ot
hearted charity and love. Now his ma
tive eloquence took the mastery of him
Glancing significantly around, he re-
minded the soldiers of Lincoln's love
for them and theirs for him. He asked
them if they could endure this sacri.
| ge, or let it go unpunished ii they
would not rather sweep such Il spirit
out the land, and cast it root ant
branch into everlasting burning.
At this saw the men spring for
ward to their stacks and make the mo
ton as if to grasp their arms. | haC
tried to moderate him now and ther
when his kindling words brought NUT
terings of response, but now fairly
caught him by the arm and told hin
he must stop, or rather he must steady
the men down.
Instantly, with native adroitness, h,
turned the current of emotion he haC
aroused. Lifting his hand full heigh
he brought it down with tremendous
sweep.
'.But better so," he cried, "Better t.
die glorious than to live infamous
Better to die buried beneath nation,
tears than walk the earth guilty of ;
nation's blood. Better, Il thOusIndfold
forever better, Lincoln dead than Davi
living!"
Then, with an exhort;ltion that ros'
into Il prayer, and then into triumph
of new cOnsecration to the undyinl
cause of freedom and right, he gave IL
back to ourselves better soldiers ant
better men.
Who that heard those burning word
can ever forget them? And who tha
saw them can forget that congregation
of the field? Meekly returning from
their glories ut Appomattox, ant
meeIkly sharing, for it was theirs also
the sacrifice ut Washington. Steadfas
and noble, in every test unto the end
G ID bless them likewise. - }. l.. Cham
berlain in the Boston Congregational
iSt