The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-11-16
GRANITEVILLE
J. M. Morrison, German Prisoner Four
Years, Writes Aunt.

To his aunt, Mrs McInnes, j. NJ. Nor
l rison, interned at Groningen, Holland,
has written the following letter, dated
Sept. is. Mr. Morrison has been a pris-
oner since October, 1914
| 'Your most stfeetionate letter at hand
two days ago conveyed to me great sat
isfaction in reading from it that you and
he family are still upheld in good health
and strengthened under the burden of
your sore visitation of Providence. / am
| thankful, at least | ought to be so, for
the portion Of the same which am, per-
sonally, gifted hereto. The Lord our God
is gracious and is also compassionate.
He is able to sympathize with the afilict-
! ed. He is ever near and capable to COM
fort the distressed if we, in our extrem-
tiles, glorify His great name and call
upon Him for assistance We very often
neglect our duty towards Him in not di-
reeting our supplications TO Him. He is
always ready to give an attentive ear to
| prayers II the prayer ascends to Him
from the heart and in sincerity. ! am
overjoyed to see that in the midst of
your Establishments you center your
thoughts upon Him-He, as job said,
who gave, and it's He who took from us.
It is not an easy matter, if we give the
fleshly mind too much sway oyor us, to
be contented with Gods hand when it is
manifest to us in the messenger of death,
and especially if those who are near and
dear to us are called away. He comes as
thief in the night, when least expected,
but blessed are they who are watchful
and prayerful. They only rejoice in the
Lord when He calls them away from this
world of misery and sin to inherit eternal
joy and peace from those who afflict
them May the God of mercy and love be
with you one and all in this time of
anxiety and trouble.
Il am very sorry indeed to hear that
you are to be alone, through the calling
to the colors Of your sons, but, dear aunt,
as you have remarked, you are left to
the Lords mercy. oh that He would
bring this terrible and deadly conflict be-
tween nations TO a speedy end He win
do so in accordance with His own good
will and glory. Let us, therefore, com
init ourselves and belongings to Him.
Please ask my dear cousins and your be-
loved sons TO read the 18th chapter in
Ecelesiastes and TO study it well. If we
adhere to Gods words and keep it as a
safeguard in our hearts, we need not fear
death or tribulation. They are young
and leaving their homes for the battle
fields and besides what they have got to
go through they win meet with many a
temptation that will make an utter
wreck of their lives, if they yield TO
them.
At ,,.,. nalloJ a,..n,, So a,t;,-a s.r,.toa
younger than any of them. | was just
past Is when the war broke out and
when Is years and three months was
in the field and | know what is going on
there But | have great cause to praise
my God for sustaining me and keeping
me from indulging in things which were
quite common TO others, and that among
my familiarities. ! do hope, as wise
boys that they will take good mothers
advice If ] 60 too far, please forgive
me- as ! only speak what ! know and
what was heart-rending to myself
Il am getting letters from home and
they are all well, but they are not al
lowed to let me get much war news;
mean where the boys and men of the
village are, etc. They had letter from
John, my brother, lately, and he is well,
also those with him.
This place is camp of misery We
are prisoners and treated alike. Food is
insufficient, as well as other comforts,
but ii is the Lords good win that we are
here yet. If the exchange of prisoners
between Britain and Germany will come
to a good conclusion, we win have every
chance of getting home among the first
crowds | am a prisoner since the 10th
Of October 1914 and ought i not to say
that it's enough now!
Pass my love to all relatives and
friends How is Alex getting Is he
still in hospitals
well, dear aunt, do wish l could see
YOU and your family. Hope if ever the
boys come across that they viii pay
visit to Lunbost. j. NJ. Morrison"