The National tribune., 1890-11-27

your kindred with the possible exception OF some
able-b bodied male relative that you don't care a fig
about; the old mother whose heart l. torn RsundeF
The father whose aged steps your presence should
have guarded and supported; not for wife, though
the dearest Of eaTths fair daughters; not for sweet
heart, however we'll beloved; not for sister lef I'M
protected IN these wild and troubled times not for
the little child that Chambers about your knee and
seeks IN your strong the protection that Is by
nature its right and joy. MOI your country calls
ana willing or unwilling, with swelling heart
shrinking footsteps you must go forth aud take up
the burdens Of a soldiers life.
WILL THERE BE LIGHr7
let us consider further. You will be sent to some
recruiting Camp, where possibly your uniform and
blankets viii be waiting for you, and possibly You
will be waiting for your uniform and blankets an
by sleeping on the bare ground without any bed
ding, you will become some what Injured 20 the de-
lights OF soldering and also, probably, rheumatic
fever, or some other maisdy induced by sleeping in
such unusual and exposed condition.
But soldiers you saw do not have To sleep always
on the ground without bedding. No truly; he
sometimes has 20 stand guard at night when he IS
so tired and sleepy he would sell his bihhright in
Canaan, or any other fair domain. for enough solid
earth on which he might lie undisturbed for n few
short hours without blankets or any covering
whatsoever than the canopy of heaven, that very
likely - weeping large and chilly drops over the
poor picket shiyering along his beat for though
Providence tempeTs the winds to the shorn lamb
no has never yet been known TO withhold his
bounty in the WAY OF wind and rain on the account
OF defenseless picket. Neither has Providence or
any sublunaTy power devised means for making.
four hours OF bowling tempest and horror or Winter
hurricane and misery seem like to hours Of Spring
sunshine.
For these privations you might reasonably ex-
pect corresponding increase ia eommissaFy com
forts, and just here let state that an increase in
commissaTy comforts IS very simply effected. Any
sllght addition To the regulation haTdtaCk, SOW
bosom and black coffee will do Il for be IL known
that on the breaking out Of the civil in 1861
when great bodies Of men were being assembled
with incredible rapdity the provisions with which
10 vietual them from beirE hastily gathered to-
getheT, were often inferior in quality inadequate
I'm rgruuu nfur Fr-.T N,,T- -
was often without shelter or food beside being
called upon to perform unusual and disagreeable
labors which mode OF life during the first years Of
the rebellion filled more graves than did hostile
bullets.
This. recollect, IS only glance across the thresh-
od before the volunteer cOnscrpt has yet earned
the name Of soldier.
by and by, when the vermIn are almost large
enough aud numerous enough TO warrant their
changing the siege into an active campaign, IL the
campaign has not already become too active for
comfort In the old quarters, orders come for IL
move where, no one knows; it may be one hours
march, or u may be ~ months The commanding
officer may know. and he may not the final des-
tination Of the troops under his command The
delights OF the march may be guessed from con
templating the picture Of thousands OF men, teams
heayy guns etc, dragging slowly over roads that
would prove pleasant enough travelling for one
man, but that now by thousands Of wheels and
ieet pulyeTiZed to a bed of unpalpabe dust, auug,
upward by each passing foot in miniature clouds
nils all the air TIL every creyice inteTstice and
opening is choked and sthed and the PRAYER Of
nature, animate and inanimate, IL water water,
water! When the empty canteen adds agonizfne
thirst to the almost unbearable dscomforts Of such
a march, purgatOry itself could hardly augment
the horrors and the suferings Of the soldiers You
console yourself that this state Of things does not
last always; neither does 1t. 10 rains. sometimes
long and frequently particularly after heavy fight
ing in the HeighbOThood and often without that
provoeation the bOuntiful heavens sends down
their floods.
These are times that try the souls Of soldiers. and
make them wish they were turtles mounted upon
SUITS, Tor n more concentrated mass Of misery and
nun cannot be imagined than body Of troops
Volunteering through mud during rainy weather;
Tor however naturally dry and well drained is the
country, the constant blowing, pounding kneaGing
and stirring Of earth and water together by passing
troops. artillery and baggage-trans the surface
soon becomes a veTtable uliTe, through which the
men wade ~ we'll rs they till "a suitable place
Tor camping can be reached, which may not be
found I'LL long sher nightfall and which may not
be found at all, and the soldier il Obliged 10 lie
down on his blanket ia the mud and rain, chewing
a piece Of hardtack for consolation and supper.
Do you think the angels would envy linn hts
reflections or his comforts? Nay, verify. Surely
such privalons, not 10 say suffering, merit some
reward and 10, u Is at hand. Now, for your pains
and ezeruou, you may take part in an engagement
and be killed II such be your fortune may be only
crippled enough to be misery to yourself aud a
burden to your friends. Death swift and sure is a
boon that - not always vouchsafed the wounded
soldier, but he often must bear through life the
heavy burden Of "A limb buried on some Southern
battlefield These. my patriotic brother, tho
rewards Of fate. What reward did his country
give bin? The magnificent sum Of ei3 per month
that our Old soldiers did not become bloated
monopolists? Thirteen, ever uniucky number;
how unfortunate for the Union soldier.
How many OF our couHtry's brave defenders to-
day would be willing 10 give up business, prefer
ment and position, leave their families homes and
comfort to face suffering to lose health and the
best years OF their lives for the prospect Of earning
sl3 month?
We know what this country has given the SOL
der; we know, also 10 all she could afford to
give at that time under the existing circumstances
but II was not AL he deserved.
How willingly we try to make amends but for
many their tolls and hardships are over. The
soldiers marching and retreatius Is done and the
daisy anu the violet stTew their bounty over his
house OF eternal silence He Is at rest and we can
only honor his memory.
This We can do grsndly, nobly, by erecting TO
him an Institution OF learning the best 10 the land
where his children may receive the education their
IhtheTs circumstances or their orphaned condition
did not allow.
The work is already begun. The honor Of our
Nation Is involved. The way il now open TO add
one more laurel To the hard won chaplet that binds
the brow OF the Union soldier. Who IL willing to
helpi or, rather, who j. there willing to help?
oo'ulers OF the S-AR., every patriotic organiZ1-
toh every citizeu OF America, let this matter have
your earnest consideration. The unrecoguized
soldier, sleeping In his forgotten grave demands
II; the spirit of the age demands n. and last but
not least, the great loyal heart OF these United
States demands It. Therefore, let Us once more
each and all do our best for the brave soldier the
gallant sailor and the result will be an honor to
Us and TO our patriotic dead.-Bine HalOweIL
ALL ALONG THE LINE.
Huld Reed, Secretary Of Fitzgerald Corps 100
Hastings, Mich, says Relief Corps work took
a new impetus from the School Of Instruction held
there, at which time 10 Corps were represented.
she compliments the Inspection Of Harriet T.
Thompson, Past Department President aud the
thoTOughness Of her work. Fitzgerald Corps re-
Gently presented their President, Mary T. WardelI
with n lovely silver cake-basee The Post accom-
panied the Corps to her home where after the
surprise and presentation, all parto0k Of a hearty
supper.
Wan. b. YOsburg WR.C., o. Newark. " Y:
thought TO have good time not want |
ing u all To themselves dressed in old style and
invited the public To meet them nj SheFnIaa's |
Opera House, where they were kept busy serving |
the public to grand New England supper This |
was not only social time but grand refreshing |
to the Relief Fund, for which the women return |
many thanks.-Mary York. Secretary
Gov. X. w. Waterman did not forget the promise |
made To Elizabeth Darcy Kline, Past National |
President, when organizing the WOman's Relief i
Corps Home at Evergreen, Cal, that he would i
furnish the Assembly Hall Of the Home. In COM
pany with Mrs Waterman and Mrs. Einue he visited i
several san Francisco houses and selected a nanteI
library table, settees chairs, speakers desk and i
table and other articles needed To equip the large
hall both as a reading-rOOm and assembly hall The
Governor was careful to that all were Of good
and substantial character. Mrs Waterman is a /
member OF Corps in Sacramento and takes a |
great interest in the Home for the veterans and their
dependents. does the Governor himself
REUNIONS.