Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-02-13
A

How the Butt of the Camp Proved y
a Power Lies in a Christian Faith and
Life
A dozen rough but brave soldiers
were playing cards n night in the
camp. "What on earth is that?" sud-
denly exclaimed the. ringleader, stop
ing in the midst of the game to listen.
In a moment the whole squad were
listening to a low, solemn voice which
came from a tent occupied by several
recruits, who had arrived in camp that
day. The ringleader approached the
tent on tlp-toe.
Boys, he's a,praying, or I'm a sin
ney!!" he roared out. "Three cheers
for the parson!" shouted another man
of the group as the prayer ended.
"You watch things for three weeks!
I'll show you how to take the religion
out of him. said the first speaker,
laughing. He was a large man, the
ringleader in mischief.
The recruit was 4 slight, pale-faced
young fellow of about eighteen years of
age. During the mex three weeks, he
was the butt Of the camp. Then sew
eral Of the boys, conquered by the lads
gentle patience and uniform kindness
to his prosecutors, begged the others to
stop annoying him.
ooh, the little ranter is no better
than the rest of us!!' answered the. big
ringleader. ''He's only making believe
pious. When he gets under fire you'll
see him run. These p;ous folks don't
like the smell of g%unpowder. I've NO
faith in their religion!'
In a few weeks the regiment broke
camp, marched toward Richmond, en-
tered the Wilderness and engaged in
that terrible battle. The company to
which the young recruit belonged had
a desperate struggle. The brigade was
driven back, and when the line was re-
formed behind tue breastworks they
had built in the morning. he was miss
ing. When last seen he was almost
surrounded by enemies, but fighting
desperately. A: his side stood the
brave fellow who had made the poor lad
q constant object of ridicule. Both were
given up as lost. Suddenly the big man
was seen tramping through the Under
brush, bearing the dead body of there
cruit. Reverert!y he laid the corpse
down, saying, a. he wiped the blood
1AoLu liz wv 1OCG.
"Boys, | couldn't leave him with the
Rebs-he fought so! l thought he de-
served a decent burial"
During a luli in the battle the men
dug n shallow grave and tenderly laid
the remains thc,ein. Then, as one was
cutting the name and regiment upon a
board, the big man said, with a husky
voice:
81 guess you'd better put the words
Christian Soldier in somewhere: He
deserves the title, and may be it'll con-
sole him for our abuse"
There was not a dry eye among those
rough men, rs they stuck the rudelv-
carved board at the head of the grave
and, again and again, looked at the in
scription.
'Wcll,' said one, she was a Chris
tan soldier. il there ever was one!
And" turning to the ringleader. she
didn't run, Gid he, when he smelt gun
POWDER"
"Run!" answered the big man, his
voice tender with emotion, .:wlv. he
didn't bulge an inch! But what's that
to standing for weeks our fire. like a
man, and never sending q word back?
He lust stood byhis flag and let us pep
per him-hc did"
When the regiment marched awav.
THAT rude head-board remained to tell
what power lies in a Christian life
louh's Companion.