Year: 1864

SOUTH FREEPoRT, May lSllS64


To the Editor Of The Portland Daily Press:


Your press of war news hardly allows me
TO intrude anything of our home affairs |
may say in brief, that Freeport is alive to
what is passing, and loyal men greatly rejoice
in the hope of the speedy and complete tri-
umph Of the Union armies. The destruction
of human life is feariul-a dreadful necessity
"a sacifice necessary to success-necessary
to our chastisement for the past and our prep
aration for the future. How wonderfully the
courage and loyalty of the people rise with
the great emergency So, also, the readiness
to pour out their treasure to relieve and COM
fort the sufferers. How sublime the lessons
hefore the nations-this ministerinf to the
Union army by the Sanitary and Christian
Commissions, sustained by the voluntary Of
ferings of the people,


One of the sublimest lessons of my late visit
to the army has been this cheerful sacrifice on
the altar Of the national life. In the first
place, no Government ever provided so amply
for its armies in pay, rations and medical and
surgical care. Then the Sanitary Commis-
sion comes to supplement this care and cheer
the soldiers with free will offerings of the
people over and above all the taxes the war
imposes through the Government. Then the
Christian Commission comes to care for the
spiritual as well as temporal welfare of the
sufferers. am constrained to regard this as
the crowning feature of the mighty struggle
What work is in the hands of these more
than two hundred Christian ministers and Law
men, who thus minister to the sufferers in
Grants army without compensation, leaving
quiet homes and families to share the tolls and
sufierings OF the soldiers In the spirit OF the
Master. Your Portland people do well and
wisely to follow them with warm sympathy
and liberal hand Could they see as l have
seen the blessed results Of such mnistrations
the hope, courage, patient endurance and
sublime faith inspired by Christian Commits
sion labors-it would greatly increase their
JOY In thus contributing, and enable them
more fully to comprehend those words of the
Master, at is more blessed to give than to
receive" Our congregation here took con-
tribution last Sabbath for the Christian Com
mission. Though wet and muddy, and the
congregation small, we sent yesterday S44.
They had previously given $40, and nearly as
much to the Sanitary Commission. They had
also contributed their pastor to the work of
the Commission for nearly eight weeks, and
had sent in hospital stores and supplies for the
freedmen TO the value of nearly 500. And
they are prospering amid this discipline
Business Is pressing upon every one-no loaf
ers-no chance for any-plenty Of work and
good wages, and more men wanted.


The Messrs. Bliss have fine brig well ad-
vanced, and Capt. Enos Soule has keel laid
and the frame partially ready. Farmers are
held in check by the wet season, but the grass
is advancing in wondrous beauty and promise
The clam harvest is unusually prolific. 1t
now seems probable the yield will not fall
much below $4,000. A remarkable statement
was made to me yesterday by man engaged
IN the egg business. His opportunity is ia
vorable for a correct judgment, and he is con-
fdent that the sale OF eggs in Freeport last
year amounted to fifteen thousand dollars
He also says that the sales this year thus far
are nearly one third in advance of the same
period last year. Whan an immense amount
OF cackling and Growing must be enlisted in
this business! Are not these domestic birds
intensely loyal and bent upon the preserva-
tion Of the Union and restoration OF harmony
and good will? Yours, truly, C.P.