Year: 1862

Enduring Hardness. #


A soldiers life is not an easy one. 1t
does not consist in merely belonging to a
regiment, wearing its uniform and appear
ing upon parade. Nay, it is one of special
privation and toll. There is, first of al, the
lesson of immediate and willing submission
to superior authority, to be learned and
that is hard lesson for free men to learn,
who have been accustomed to do as they
pleased. There are the long and tedious
processes of drill to be endured, without
which he can never be worthy of even the
name of soldier. There are the privations
and self-denials of life in camp, which are
not easy to be borne, after the novelty has
passed away. There is often heavy work
| to be done, and long and weary marches to
be made, which will test his powers Of en-.
| durance to the utmost. There are hard.
dangerous battles to be fought, sometimes
against superior numbers and at decided
disadvantage. In many ways soldier is
called upon to endure hardness of which
perhaps be had no idea when be enlisted.


But, if his heart is in honest sympathy
with the cause, if he is resolved to be a
good soldier and fight a good fight he
mantully accepts the necessities of his po-
sseter-aeseiesas all ssn naEoI tsIss.
otism more plainly in this way than he
could by any sing le act OF daring bravery
upon a battle field.


Neither is it any easy matter to live q
good Christian life. To be good soldier
of Jesus Christ reqsires more than mere
ly wearing the uniform of profession, and
belonging to His church more than merely
appearing upon parade among His people
on Sabbath days; more than outwardly
marching under His banner.


It too, requires the unconditional sub
mission of our wills to His authority. 1t
requires continued resistance against all the
evil tendencies of our depraved nature


1t requires thorough and patient drill in


PRAYING, and those religious habits, all of


which are to be formed, and without which,


it will be impossible to fight good fight


It requires familiarity with the Bible, which


is the manual of the Christian soldier


It requires self denial of everything that ia


wrong, self-sacrifce of everything which


would harm either ourselves or others. 1t


requires actual fighting against all evil


within and without ourselves. 1t requires


great moral courage, frmness and decision


in order to be able to endure all this hard


ness


But the good soldier of Jesus" does


thus endure" he accepts the duties oil


his position as cheerfully as its privileges


He bears his cross, his daily cross, and re.


ioices that be is counted worthy to suffer


for Jesus sake. Thus he fights gooc
fight, and shows his allegiance to his Lord
by bis patient endurance, more than he
: could by any single act of piety, which
might arrest the attention of his fellow
: men and draw upon him their plaudits.
A Low VOICE IN WoNAN-Yes, we agre


with that old poet who said that low, swee
9 voice was an excellent thing in woman. Tn
o deed, we feel inclined to 60 much farther on tn
subject than he has, and call it one of he
crowning charms. No matter what other al


fractions she may still have; she may b
, fair as the Trojan Helen, and as learned a


the famous Hypathia of ancient times sh
It may have all the accomplishments considere
e requisite at the present day, and every ad
= vantage that wealth can procure, and yet,
N she lack low sweet voice, she can never b


really fascinating
J, How often the spell Of beautyis rudel
y broken by coarse, loud talking! How o
7. ten you arelirrssistibly drawn to . plain, III
o. assuming woman, whose soft silvery ton,
d, render her positively attractive Besides, v
as fancy we can judge of the character by Il
a voice the bland, smooth, fawning tone seer
7, to Us to betoken deceit and hypocrisy as il
= variably as the musical subdued voice ind
sIe Gates genuine refinement


IL In the social circle, how pleasant it is
ut hear a woman talk in that low kew which
're ways characterizes the true ladyi In Z


sanctuary of home, how such q voice sooth
his the fretful child and soothes the weary hu
d. bandl How swsstly such cadences &c
he through the sick chamber and around {
-, dying bed, with what solemn melody
u's they breathe prayer for departing so,
'no Ah, yes, a low, soft voice is certainly :"
tar excsllent thing 10 wuusu."