Year: 1862




ton, contains the following touching ac-
count from chaplain, of the last hours
of dying soldier. No one can read it
without emotion:


The wards we're full of wounded SOL
diers. Oh! that could bring to your
mind, reader, the full sadness of such a
scene! 1t would do you no harm, though
thrill after thrill of horror might shake
your flame. 1t is not alone the gaping
wounds. the heavy groans that would en-
list your sympathy, but the sense of deso-
lateness the poor sick men must feel, as
they think of their homes, and the dear
ones they are never destined to behold in
life. There they lie, ranged side by side,
some of them Indifferent to all that is ia
king place around them, others with eyes
brightly restless and watchful, now gloom
ed with apprehension. now lightened with
hope. Here is an athletic, handsome,
youth, whose arm lies shattered at his side,
the good right arm that has SO often been
welded in useful deeds. 1t will never
serve him more, for amputation has be-
come the necessity, and death may follow.
Here is another whose face was bandaged
down to the pale outline of his lips, and
whose doom is inevitable blindness, if
his life is spared. Here lies another whose
quivering mouth and muscles tell the ago
ny he has the fortitude to conceal, but
which the surgeons say will prove too
much for him. What wonder that the
nurses move about him with blanched
cheek and moistened eyes? 1t is their
first experience, and some of them tremble
as each body is brought in, for fear of re-
cognizing a son or a brother.


Quietly from bed to bed moves the
chaplain, sickened to the heart, but
strengthened for his duty by the Hand
that never fails. To some he gives few
words of sympathy, reserying their cases
for another day, for they are only slightly
wounded; to others he speaks gently of
their situation, striving to tell them with
words from which all hope has departed,
of their swift coming end. To all he
speaks of Jesus; bids them in the hour of
their extremity to look up to God, who
is willing to accept them if they will but
put their trust in Him. Poor fellows,
rude and rough though they may have
seemed, the quivering lip, shaking like
that of child in its heaviest child sorrow,
the deep heaving sob, that lifts the great
chest with almost convulsiye throes, tell
that there is fountain in the heart that
the soft words of sympathy may stir.


The chaplain came at last to cot set
somewhat by itself outside of the wards.
Here, reclining full length, was young
man whose face bore but slight traces of
suffering. It was flushed with a hue like
that of health the eyes were undimmed,
and only the position of his hands, which
were thrown over his head and locked in
almost spasmodic tightness, told that he
was in pain. He was unusually noble in
countenance His brow was broad and
fair, and the thick locks that clustered
back from his temples curled like the
ringlets of a boy. He knew not why, but
the chaplain experienced an unusual and
sudden sympathy for this young man,
struck down in his beauty; still he felt
there was no immediate danger in his
case.


How is he wounded . he asked of the
surgeon, as the two approached the bed,
softly.


In the right side, below the ribs was
the reply.


is he in danger9'


20 no; that is, not at present. The
case may take bad turn, to be sure; but
it looks very we'll now, Charles he
added, addressing the sick man, familiar
y, the chaplain is going the rounds !;
would you like to see him 2
90, certainly!' exclaimed the young
man, smiling. am very glad to see
him. and he held out his hand His
voice was strong and ringing, as with the
highest health, his clasp was vigorous.


l am sorry to find you wounded, my
friend,' said the chaplain.


O, only the casualty of war; we must
some of us expect it, you know


Do you suffer much?'


AT times, sir, very severely; feel SO
well, only the distress here and he press
ed his hand to his side.


You will be up soon, hope


i trust SO, sir; the doctors say it is a
bad wound, but will yield with care. l
only wish l had my mother here. She
has heard of it, aud doubtless started be-
fore this. 1t will seem so comfortable to
see her; you don't know how / long for
her.


All, mothers you are first thought of
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