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iJ-pVillg. " , I
The glad Birds m
The g.iy florei-eU sp; inging
O’er i: 'v* n.. l ...ouiitsiih, a.. 1 down in the
The gr-.-en leaves are bursting,
My spirit is thirsting
To bask i.i the sunbeams, and breathe the fresh
gale.
Sweet season ! appealing
To fancy umj feeding,
Be tby advent the emblem of all I would crave — .
Os light more than vernal,
That day-spring eternal
Which shall dawn ou the dark wintry night of j
the grave! Barton.
Religious Wants of the Army.
A correspondent of the Knoxville Register,
in a recent letter from Camp Watauga river,
calls for more chaplains, and says:
To the glory and honor of our young Repub
lic, our armies are not yet devoid of that
Christian zeal that characterized them when
civilians. However strange it may seem to
those who see so many defects in the conduct
of soldiers—so much corruption in the army—
there is a strong religious sentiment among
the troops of the Confederacy, which is being
developed more and move daily ; and but an
effort, on the part, of the ministerial fraternity,
would kindle a flame that would change the
entire morals and character of our soldiers, and
which would 1 e contagious—society catching
the spirit, would become ignited, when one
mighty altar of prayer and Christian worship
would mark the boundary of the Confederacy.
Not a meeting is held by the chaplains of the
different commands but what they have large
assemblies of soldiers in attendance ; and when
the invitation is extended to those who desire
an interest in the prayers of the Christian,
many are seen pressing through the crowded
throng and bowing humbly on the cold, damp
ground, with but the broad, blue sky for a
covering. What scenes—which contrast strong
ly to the great revival periods of the early
pioneer settlements. The eloquent voice of the
minister, the heavy sighing of the penitent,
and the deep melancholy spirit of the soldier
audience, is a scene for the artist, and one of
no small moment. Not an evening passes by
but what there can be seen, here and there,
gathered together, small clumps of soldiers,
singing sacred songs, and occasionally sending
up an humble prayer to heaven. The idle
jester, apd lie who would make light of their
romantic worship, stand in awe, and refrain
from saying anything that would tend to mor
tify or molest their feelings. How often do >ve
hear the expression, not alone from the young,
but the aged soldier, as the crowded throng
disperses, and they go winding their way to
their respective commands, “1 am determined
to live a better life, ; nd move in conformity
with the Christ ian Church,” etc.
What a iiel.l for the minister, a harvest for
the church, and a monument for God! The
soldiers hav ■> at length learned that in this
great harvest of death they arc the material
reaped.
\Ve should have more chaplains, more agents
for the Tract. Society, and more ministers who
are true and devoted to the religious welfare of
the soldiers. Tracts, religious papers, and
small religious books should be distributed
through the army. There is a great demand
for such reading, and but, little energy seem
ingly manifested on the part of the chaplains,
to supply the deficiency, although of so great
importance. The security of our nationality
and the well-being of society is wholly de
pendent on the redemption of ihe morals of the
soldiery.
Religion* in tiie Army.—The work of salva
tion is still progressing among our soldiers.
In a number of regiments and brigades in Geu.
Lee’s army very good chapels have been built,
and in these the men gather almost every night,
for preaching or prayer-meetings.
The chaplains and missionaries are greatly
eucouraged in their work by the gracious mani
festations of the Divine presence. The word
preached comes with power to the hearts of
many, and the inquiry is, “What must we do
to be saved?” These are blessed scenes in the
midst of strife and bloodshed. And most de
voutly should we thank God that he is moving
in mercy in the midst of the men of war. By
faithful labor, by earnest prayer, and by the
free circulation of religious literature, must
this good work be promoted. Nothing that can
contribute to the comfort of our soldiers should
be withheld; ami especially should not the
bread of life be kept back. They are calling
for God’s Word, for good books and papers.
They must have them, and so long as the people
have the means of procuring them they shall
have them. We can assure the soldiers that
they arc not forgotten by the loved ones at.
home. It was but yesterday that we opened a
letter, from a warm friend of the soldiers and
a devout Christian, containing one thousand dol
lars, which he gives to aid us in supplying them
with religious reading. We thank this gen
erous friend in the name of the soldiers. Who
will follow his example? Come, dear friends,
let us hear from you. Who will send us tiie
next. Christmas or New Year’s gilt tor the sol
diers? We want to hear from you. “To do
good and to communicate forget not, for with
such sacrifices God is well pleased.”
Soldiers' Paper.
No Man a Loser iit Giving Himself to
God. —.Ksehines said to Socrates: “ Because I
have nothing else to give, 1 will give thee my
self.” “Do so,” said Socrates, “and I will
give thee back again to thyself better than
when I received thee.” So say's God, “Give
thyself to me, in thy prayers, in thy' heart, and
in all thy actions, and I will give thee back
thyself, and myself too: thyself in a holy lib
erty to walk in the world in thy calling; my
self in giving a blessing upon all the works of
thy calling, and implanting in tliec a holy desire
to do all things to my glory.”
Death of a Christian Soldier.
On the battlefield of Sharpsburg, at an hour j
when the c .ufiict waxed the fiercest, and at a
point where the battle raged the hottest, a ball
pierced the breast of the yotmg Christian hero
of whom 1 have spoken. Previous to that battle i
tiie regiment to which he belonged had been I
greatly reduced by sickness, hard marching, >
Ac., and in going upon the field, the division to
which it was attached, had to pass over such
broken gi ouud under the enemy’s fire, that tlie
men became much scattered and, in re-forming
them for tlie charge, company, and even regi
mental lines were ignored, and men from differ
ent, regiments found themselves fighting side
by side. Thus it was with him. liis brother
and cousin, who hitherto through tlie fatigues
of the march and the dangers of battle, had
been beside him, were wounded at the other I
end of tiie line; and all the members of his
*
company who were present, except two, were
killed or wounded. None who knew him, saw
him when he was struck; n&familiar voice
spoke a word of sympathy or cheer; no kind
hand was extended to aid him; but, with a
shout, the living mas. 4 of men around him, all
strangers, rushed past him in a charge, and he
was left to die alone— no, nut alone, for God was
with him. But that evening, when the bat
tle was over and a twilight stillness was steal
ing over the earth, a friend from his company,
one of the few who had escaped that day’s fear
ful carnage, went over the field looking for his
missing comrades, and found John’s dead body
lying under a tree, where he had crawled to j
die. Ilia cap was drawn over his face, and his
hands were clasped over his open Bible on his
breast. His countenance was calm and serene,
and his position was that of case and repose.
On an alien and hostile soil, hundreds of
miles from his childhood's home, far from his
tender parents, without even a friend beside
him,-and with the thunder of cannon, the rattle
of musketry and the groans of the wounded,
rending the air around him, he had been called
to die. But he was prepared for the summons,
having long since made his peace with God.
The study of the Bible and the singing of God's
praises had always been his chief delight; and
though his voice was now too weak to give
expression to his adoration, his precious Bible,
this faithful and delightful companion of the
march, the bivouac and the battle-field, was
with him ; and drawing it from his pocket, .
while his life ebbed swiftly away, lie redd of the
redemption purchased Tor liim l>y ilie Lionel oT {
Christ which “cleanseth from all sin,” of the
love of God which “ passeth all understanding,” '
of tiie tenderness of Jesus which excelleih that
of a mother, and of the joys and glories of that |
world of eternal lite and blissful re-unions,
where his Saviour was gone to prepare a place
for him— and he was happy. Then, when his
glaring eye became too dim for reading, dark
ening his face, he laid the precious volume upon
tiis bleeding heart, and clasping his hands over
it, yielded his spirit up to the God -yjho gave it.
Thus did the “mortal put on immortality ;”
thus were the trials and sorrows of earth ex
changed for the joys of Heaven, lie who lias j
promised that He will never leave nor forsake
liis sainls, was with that dying soldier,- and in j
His sweet companionship death lost its siing,
and the grave its victory.— N. C. Adv.
A Happy Home. —ln a happy home there
will be no fault finding, no overbearing spirit
—there will be no peevishness, no fret fullness.
Unkiudness will not, he in the heart nor on the
tongue. Oh, the tears, the sighs, the wasting
of life, and health, and strength, and time—
of all that is most to he desired in a happy
home, occasioned merely by unkind words.
The celebrated Mr. Wesley remarked to this j
effec , namely: That fretting and scolding
seemed like tearing the flesh from the bones,
and that we had no more right to be guilty ol
this, than we had to curse, to swear, or steal.
In a perfectly happy home, all selfishness will
be removed. Even as “ Christ pleased net. him
self,” the members of a happy home will not
seek first, to please themselves, but to please
others.
Cheerfulness is another ingredient in a hap
py home, llow much does the sweetness ema
nating from a heart fraught with love and kind
ness, contribute to a happy home. How attrac
ting, how southing is that cheerfulness, that is
borne on the countenance of a wife and mother.
How the parent and child, the brother and sis
ter, the mistress and servant, dwell on those
cheerfuliooks, those confiding smiles that beam
from the eye, and burst from the inmost soul
of those who are near and dear. How it hast
ens the return of the father—lightens the care
ofjhe mother —renders it more easy for youth
to resist temptation—and drawn,by cords of af
fection, bow it induces them with loving heart
to the parental roof.
Oh, that parents would lay this subject to
heart, that by untiring efforts they would so far
render home happy, that their children and do
-1 nicstics shall no, seek for happiness in forbid
den paths.
“Sir,” said one po 1 Rician to another, “my
party is an immovable rock.” “ Then, sir, the
ship* of State should steer clear of it.”
Poverty is the gift of God, as well as riches.
The Y/idow.
It was a cold and bleak evening in a most
severe winter. The snow was driven by the
furious north wind. Few dared or were willing
to venture abroad. It was a night which the
poor will not soon forget.
In a most miserable and shattered tenement,
somewhat remote from any other habitation,
there then resided an aged widow, alt alone,
and yet not alone.
During lb.: weary day, in her excessive weak
ness she had been unable to step beyond her
door stone, or to communicate her wants to any'
friend. Her last morsel of bread had been
long since consumed, and none heeded her des
titution. She sat at evening, by her small fire,
half famished with hunger—from exhaustion
unable to sleep, preparing to meet the dreadful
fate from which she knew not how she should
be spared. ■*.
£he prayed that morning, “ Give me this day
my daily bread," but the shadow of evening
had descended upon her, and her prayer had
not been answered.
While such thoughts were passing through
her weary mind, she heard the
open and shut again, and found deposited in
her entry by an unknown hand, a basket
crowded witli all those articles of conifortable
food, which had the sweetness of manna to her.
What were her feelings on that, night God
only knows ; but they were such as rise to Him
the Great Deliverer and Provider, from ten
thousand hearts every day.
Many days elapsed before the widow learned
through what messenger God had sent to her
that timely aid. It was at the impulse of a
little child who, on that dismal night, seated
at the cheerful fireside of her home, was led to
express the generous wish that the poor widow,
whom she had sometimes visited, could share
some of her numerous comforts and cheer.
Her parents followed out the benevolent, sug
gestion, and a servant was soon dispatched to
Iter mean abode with a plentiful supply.
What, a beautiful glimpse of the chain of
causes, all fastened at the throne-of God! An
angel with noiseless wing came down, stirred
the peaceful breast of a child, and, with no
pomp of circumstance or the outward miracle,
the widow’s prayer was answered.
General A. Buford, of Kentucky.—
This cavalry officer of Forrest’s command is
n(*v in Mobile. In the new organization of the
cavalry by Gen. Forrest, he is to command the
Kentuckians aDd Alabamians. The Mobile
Tribune tolls of him on the retreat from Nash
ville, that after a day’s skirmish, and some hard
fighting, he was riding from one portion of liis
line to another, when he discovered that a
piece of artillery wae rapidly retreating. He
ordered it to halt and take position, when he
discovered some forty of the enemy dashing at
headlong speed after him, having passed the
battery. The speed of the first carried him be
yond the general, who, as he attempted to strike,
shot him through the heart: the second came,
and, before the general could turn, liis antag
onist gave hint a stroke with his sword, when
the latter spurred his horse upon him, drove
him to tiie wall, and, with the Assistance of
Capt. Givan, of hfs staff, tie unhorsed him. The
third came and met a like fate,* when a battal
ion of cavalry approached, and the whole of the
Yankee troops were made prisoners.
—
A Noble Sentiment.— Some true heart has
given expression to its generous nature in the
following beautiful sentiment:
“ Never desert a friend when enemies gather
around hint. When sickness falls on the heart
—when the world is dark and cheerless, is the
time to try a true friend. They who turn from
a scene of distress betray their Lypocracy, and
prove that interest moves them. If you have a
friend who loves you and studies your interest
and happiness, be sure to sustain him in adver
sity. Let him feel that his former kindness is
appreciated, and that his love is not thrown a
way. Real fidelity qiay be rare, but it exists
in the heart Who has not seen and felt its
power? They deny its worth who never loved
a friend, or labored to make a friend happy.”
What a Trifle can should we
do without water ? Each of us may be said to
swollow on an average half a ton of water in a
year, or aboilt, three hundred times our own
weight of it. in a lifetime. In fact, we are in
substance little less than a mass of liquids. Dry
us up, and how much would remain ? The story
book tells us of the man who loved liis wife so
much, that when she died, lie had her remains
converted to a powder, and that powder com
pressed into a stone, which he wore as a seal
upon liis ring ! Yet that lump of dust can level
mountains, erect pyramids, survey the stars,
and harness the lightning to the car of science.
Length of Days and Nights in Great Brit
ain.—The following items of information from
the British Almanac, will, no doubt, be accep
table to many of our readers :
“In London (latitude 51°30 / ) the longest day
is 16 hours and 35 m'inutes, and the shortest
(December 21st,) 7 hours and 25 minutes. The
duration of the longest and shortest nights cor
responds with the days. In Edinburg (latitude
56,)the longest day is 17 hours and 35 minutes,
and the shortest, 6 hours and 25 minutes.
Have you ever watched an icicle as it formed ?
Y'ou noticed how it froze one drop at a time
until it was a toot long or more. If the water
was clean, the icicle remained clear, and spar
kled brightly in the sun ; but if the water was
but slightly muddy, the icicle looked foul and
its beauty was spoiled. Just so our characters
are forming. One little thought or feeling at
a time adds to its influence. If each thought
be pure and right., the soul will be lovely, and
will sparkle with happiness ; but if impure and
wrong, there will be final deformity and wretch
edness.
No Royal Road to .Religion any more than
to Science.—lie alone is properly said to be
Christ’s, who, upon a sound knowledge of, and
a sincere obedience to Christ’s wits, stands jus
tified and reconciled to God, by the merit of
His death and sufferings; and thus he is per
fectly Christ's who lias an interest in him, con
sidered under every one of his offices. This
may serve to overthrow the wild and irrational
justification of the Antinomians, who, upon
this ground alone, judge themselves to be
Christ’s, because they believe they are: a way
of justification, for its easiness, rather to be
wished true than to be thought so. Easy things
in religion are always suspicious, if not false ;
and sucb will find that their belief is not the
rule of God’s proceeding-— South.
-
At the critical moment in the battle of
Waterloo, when everything depended on the
steadiness of the soldiery, courier after courier
came dashing into the presence of the Duke of
Wellington, announcing that, unless the troops
in tin important point were immediately relieved
or withdrawn, they must yield before the im
petuous onmts of the French. By all of these
the Duke sent back the same spirit-stirring
message: “Stand firm!” “But we shall
perish!” remonstrated the officer. “ Stand
firm!” again remonstrated the iron-hearted
chieftain. “Y’ou’ll find us there!” rejoined
the other, as be fiercely galloped away. The
result, proved the truth of this reply, for every
man of that doomed brigade fell bravely fight
ing at his post.
The Duty of Prompt Payment.—“ The w*ages
of him that is hired shall* not abide with thee
all night until the morning.”— Lev. xix : 13.
A Call.—Beware of reaching that point in
life when a searing touch, or a s!*vering blow,
shall leave no space for repgntance.— Herbert.
A romantic young man says that a woman’s
heart is like the moon—it changes continually,
but always has a man in it.
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Price $lO 00 per cop3 T . Liberal discount to
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