baptism to save him, but merely wished to obey the divine command, and I hoped, as an humble and penitent sinner, he was entitled to the ordinance.

But in order that he might rest, and have time to think on the subject, I left him, and returned again in an hour. He was expecting me, and earnestly requested me not to forget what I had promised.

I brought one of the surgeons with me and a friendly soldier, and, kneeling by the side of the wounded man, I invoked the presence of the great Sufferer and endeavored to lift the anxious one into the bosom of eternal mercy. I then baptized "Levi Steadman" in the name of the blessed Trinity.

When the ceremony was ended, he said, "I thank you, I thank you; now I will rest."

On the following morning, I came to his bed, but he was asleep, and for many hours, being called away, I was not able to see him; but when I again came to him, he was sensible, and, while suffering the greatest pain, was evidently peaceful.

"Do you still trust in Jesus," I said to him.

"Oh, yes,” he replied; "I lean on him; I hope in him alone; pray for me that God may forgive me, and not forsake me in death."

I was again absent for more than a day, visiting the field hospitals, and when I returned, I hastened to the Court House; but when I came to the bed of Steadman, he was not there.

"Where," I said to the man, "is Steadman?"

"He died half an hour ago," was the answer. "And how did he die?" I asked.

"He was sensible and peaceful to the end, and prayed much that God would not judge him for his sins, but would show him mercy, for the sake of Jesus."

A MOTHER'S THANK-OFFERING.

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May we not hope that the repenting soldier, like the dying thief, was received that day into the paradise of God?

IX. A MOTHER'S THANK-OFFERING.

The following letter furnishes an indirect, but expressive and deserved testimony to the value of the labors of the Christian Commission in sending pious men to our armies and hospitals, to attend to the wants of the soldiers, supply them with religious books, preach to them, pray with them and for them, and, with the blessing of God, lead them to a saving knowledge of his truth and the way of eternal life. It was written by Mrs. Isabella G. Duffield, a sister of the late Dr. Bethune, of New York, and a grand-daughter of Isabella Graham, of whose piety and benevolence so many traditions, still linger in the memory of our own and of a former generation. It becomes others, surely, who have sons and brothers in the army, in like manner, to remember by their prayers and gifts those who go forth to alleviate the sufferings of our soldiers, and to save them from the shoals and quicksands on which they are so liable to be wrecked, for time and eternity.

The letter is addressed to the President of the Commission.

GEORGE H. STUART, Esq.

DETROIT, September 30th, 1863.

DEAR SIR:- Having, with great thankfulness to God, heard by telegraph that my youngest son, Adjutant H. M. Duffield, is not wounded, but quite well at Chattanooga, I send you twenty dollars, as a thank-offering from a mother for the preservation of her son at the battle of Chicka

1

mauga. May the blessing of our Father in heaven go with it!

I think of the Christian Commission and the Sanitary Commission as twin brothers going forward to their glorious work. Oh, my friend, what a field is open to Christians now, and how ought they to improve it in trying to rescue those who are "led captive by the Devil at his will!" God bless you, and the dear precious Christian Commission! Surely the blessing of those who are ready to perish will rest upon you. Ah! little do you know how much comfort you give to anxious mothers, when they hear of your locations. "My boy is there," is her thought; and then she bows the knee and prays that your labors may be blessed to him and others.

Surely, it is like going out into the highways and hedges, when you look after the spiritual wants of soldiers. You encourage Christian soldiers, while you awaken the impenitent. Oh, how noble to be near the sick-bed and cheer him with your blessed words!

"When the groan his faint heart giveth
Seems the last sigh of despair."

Oh, how I have wept and prayed for our beloved country! Two sons (one colonel, and the youngest the adjutant) I gave. The colonel is wounded so that he cannot go back, and the dear young adjutant has been in this battle. But I put him under the shadow of God's wing, and he has kept him safe. I am anxious, but still I say,

1 In Tennessee, where the battle was fought between General Rosecrans and the Rebel Bragg.

A NEW THING IN THE ARMY.

Still, with all the mother's heart
Torn and quivering with the smart,

I yield him 'neath Thy chastening rod,
To my country and my God."

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You will never know the good you have done till "God shall wipe away all tears from every eye," and you see how many gems shall sparkle in your crown which have been gathered from our army.

How much good your Commission has done! God bless you all! In haste,

Your sister in Christ.

X. A NEW THING IN THE ARMY.

In one of my circuits, (says a follower of Him who "went about doing good,") I made a singular discovery. In the Vermont Twelfth, the lieutenant of the guard stepped from the ranks (they were then on duty), and took "Banners" for all his company. He expressed his hearty and repeated thanks for them. Having directed me to the chaplain, whom I wished to see, he added, "And I have just paroled fifty men for Sabbath school service." He then pointed to some unfinished barracks outside of the camp, and said, "You'll find the scholars there.”

I turned my steps thither. The new Bucktail Regiment lay partly between this and the barracks, and on the way I gave some of my stores to them. Reaching the place, I found what I have never seen before in this army or any other. I found what I think was never seen before in any army on earth, a regularly organized Sabbath school,-organized, as I afterwards learned, before the brave Vermonters left their native mountains. There they were, in squads or classes, each with a teacher at its head, intent on their lessons.

1 The title of a periodical for soldiers.

XI. THE LORD'S SUPPER IN CAMP.

A clergyman, who, among other labors which he performed on a temporary visit to the army, took part in the administration of the Lord's Supper, sets before us the following scene:

I enjoyed this privilege (he says) in the camp of the Seventieth Indiana Regiment, whose chaplain, the Rev. A. C. Allen, was a room-mate with me at college many years ago. The colonel of the regiment was B. Harrison, a grandson of President Harrison, a pious man and an elder in the church. He, with a captain, who holds the same religious office at home, and a pious surgeon, in whom I found a former pupil of mine, acted as officiating elders.

The preparatory service was held on Saturday night, in the open air, before the chaplain's tent. Hundreds of officers and soldiers were present. On Sabbath morning, the dress parade and inspection were held before breakfast, so as not to interfere with the religious service. At nine, A. M., the bugle sounded, and the people came flocking to the front of the colonel's tent, each bringing his chair, stool or box, on which to sit. The prayer, the hymn, the text and the sermon, all pointed to a common theme, Calvary and its victim. None were unaffected, and many were moved to tears, when, with bowed heads, the communicants gathered together to partake of the broken bread and poured-out wine. We all felt that Jesus was at the head of the table, and that he was there to dispense rich blessings to his humble, grateful guests. The closing act was an exhortation, earnest and direct to those who had renewed the vows of their espousal, and the soldiers then retired with strength for days to come,-days of

temptation fierce and strong to all,- days of trial and

suffering to many.