The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-13

are that tears "unbidden flow as one
reads. One from far away Texas SO
graphically pictures the terrible difficult
ties and tolls encountered by those tat
tered heroes in their efforts to reach their
former homes that 1t Is given In full
The generous hands and heart that
made the journey possible are now dust,
but, 'rhy deeds do live after Thee, y
noble Christian woman!
Gonzales. Texas, Sept 8, 1866
Dear DR.. Bellinger and Family-Better
late than never" may be applicable TO me
in the present case. in my writing 10 you
at so late n day, and after all your kind
ness. sincerely hope that ali OF you
are In ordinary enjoyment of health and
prosperity so far as changed times and
human fraities can expect in this world
of change.
Il am happy to say my family and
self are in ordinary health, and I've kept
so since my return, when was June II,
1860 after parting with you all in Mont
gomery May %, If memory serves me
right. | WAS SO fortunate as 10 find our
one-legged lieutenant in Smith county,
Mississippi. | was three days I'm Mo-
bile. Then he and ! were eight days In
New Orleans; were treated very kindly,
BY the time we reached home, in Texas,
the physical system was very much pros
trated and although not laid up sick, l
have not, nor ever will have the physical
endurance as before secession. Another
thing added to the return of my strength
was work MY business was pressing;
old buEgies were worn pretty well out;
work WAS needed by many people VINO
had "speculated' and had specie on
hand Some thought that as | had Vol
linteered my services in the good GU
cause 80 freely my work would be Tree
too, but | soon stopped all tnat, and IL
has been the cash down to the Old Heo.
Il really should not have done any
work for six months after returning
home. but our own buggy had to be
matched two weeks after my return. lhls
started me, as | found a nice lot OF sea
soned lumber on hand so I've been at
work ever since.
Il suppose you have had communlca-
ton with your brother the Judge and his
fainilv Although living twenty-slX or
twenty-seven miles from here, business
brings them often into this neighbofhooa.
cit is rumored that the judge has APP
piled, and we all trust he VIII he APP
pointed for United States tax collector
very few of our citizens Will take the
'oafh., we hope your brother will receive
the appointment; his known integrity and
his former services to this county OF
Texas will make him very acceptable TO
all.
Crops are fair: too much rain for cot
ton-the worms are busy cutting 1t UP.
Grass plenty in the prairies. Corn '9c 10
75c per bushel, specie; -four, per lW ID
sack 81 to $3.50, good and plenty, from
tie up-collntry.
NV kind regards to you all. william.
how Is the old black mule? Ellen ds
that the way to spell your name11, /
haven't forgotten you; ! send you u pho-
tograph taken In New Orleans ON my
way home The Old Reb had IGN
fever and looked the worse for wear put
he now holds his head as high as ever.
onIy-he knows when ne Is whipped
From this time on he is going to be a
good southern-union man
Now lei me give an account Of the
money you SO kindly let me have; flfst,
In Selma. ! bought from Yahk run
her cloth fer 81; gave "a in specie 20 an
old soldier friend; spent some In rev
Orleans for books. II Tou kind friends
had rot given me that money would
not have had the pleasure OF rambling
ti,rauqh tire book store N New orleans,
picking Up an old volume OF seottlh
baYds. the pleasure OF reading keeps liF
in mind of Montgomery ana KIND FRIENDS
The balance Of the money with good IN
terest. to the Sunday school here for
paner hymn books and Testaments So
vour loon TO the Lord has cheered many
a heart. DO not copy me In beng long IN
writing. | will IN the next send you u
photograph OF my boy, VINO ms SOL
diers crave in Georgia
"The kind moTcies OF our heavenly
Father abide with you Is the fcrVent
prayer Of. yours truly, .,,s,,y.
One would imagine this 10 be the lefter
of family friend mot d stranger IN
strange land the only tangible claim he
had on Tho Bcllingcrs was tnat he Knew
IN aiebs The brothtr of D Bellinger IN
Gar awav Texas. yet to Tat natrlo lie
family he was a f5riorn a1d ship
wrec,sed' brother whom 1t was their sa-
cred duty 10 hedp 10 take heart again
Who but her God kne% what sacrilces
tbe mistress OF tie Bellinger home''
whore she had been wont 10 dispense "a
different hospitality made ia order that
those accounts" given In the letter
might be possible.
Peace settled upon the land, and peace
as of yore dwelt in the household OF Mrs.
Pellinger. The years. as they passed.
brought a benedlction for well spent
life.
What happiness do we-introdueed into
a childhood and youth deprived of Its
heritage by that cruel war-owe to heri
$50 indulgent and kind there presiding.
Ever doubling our Joys, our sorrows di-
viding''
We, who knew her but to love her."