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a beaming face addressed me as an old friend, and said, “Massa, I can never forget you; you preached for us last Sabbath morning at Bealton. We all thanked you, and talked afterward of what you said."

The whole appearance of his face was that of one who had met a life-long friend. The incident gave me much food for reflection. What a noble and grateful race have we been long despising and trampling under our feet!

XVIII. THE POWER OF SYMPATHY.

The human heart is won to the truth much oftener by sympathy and example than by argument.

As Miss A- passed through the wards of the soldier's hospital on B- Street, dispensing words of comfort and encouragement to the patients, a middle-aged man, stern by nature, at times morose, complained to her of a night of extreme pain. She expressed to him her sympathy in the kindest manner, and added, "I hope you felt, though absent from loved ones, that you had the presence of a loving Saviour with you."

He replied harshly, "Miss A-, you spoke to me on that subject once before; I wish to say to you, never mention it to me again. If I want to be religious, I will send for a minister, and get his advice."

In a sorrowful tone she bade him good-morning, and turned away.

One morning after this, as she passed his cot and he was sleeping, she laid some fresh flowers on his pillow and noiselessly withdrew. As the fever left him, he was disposed to sleep much, and she could repeat the act again and again without his notice. Day after day, his eyes were greeted with these fragrant messengers, without his having

seen the hand that brought them to him. He became at length impatient to know to whom he was indebted for the grateful favor. He inquired of some of those around him who could be in the hospital that cared so much for him. Perhaps secrecy had been enjoined; at all events he obtained no information.

After several days, when he had become decidedly stronger, he awoke one morning, and, instead of the accustomed bouquet, he found a neat copy of the New Testament on his pillow. At the sight of this, he inquired, "Is Miss A in the hospital? I know it must be she; will you please to send for her?

On her coming to him, he took her hands between his, and, with a voice choked with emotion, exclaimed, "Can you forgive my rude, ungentlemanly conduct toward you? How could you, after such treatment, be so kind?" "I only want you to know how kind Jesus is, and how he loves you," was her gentle reply.

Months passed away, and I heard again of the same man as being in one of our suburban hospitals. He was still an invalid, but so much better that he was acting as a nurse, and, in strange contrast with what he had been formerly, was taking a deep interest in the religious welfare of the inmates. Happening to speak of his being in the hospital on B. street, he was asked if he ever saw a lady, Miss A, who attended on the sick."

"Miss A-?" he replied. "Certainly I saw her, and have cause to remember her. She was the angel of the hospital, and the means of leading me to a knowledge of the Saviour."1

1 See the kindred article on page 66.

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XIX. A RELIGIOUS SERVICE FOR THE VETERANS.

After breakfast at the Commission tent, I started (says Dr. Marks) in company with a brother in the ministry, from Long Island, and two others, for White Sulphur Springs, around which were the encampments of the Third corps.

We found the Fortieth New York Regiment, of which an excellent brother, Rev. Mr. Gilder, is chaplain, drawn up to hear addresses from us. This regiment has passed through all the severe battles of the Army of the Potomac, and has had at different times united to it the Hundredth New York, the Eighty-seventh and the Thirty-seventh New York. It is now one of the most powerful in the service; though it has lost more than twelve hundred men, by disease and battle.

We had with these veterans a most interesting service. The pleasure with which we looked upon the scene was increased by the presence of all the officers. No congregation in the army, that I have had the privilege to address, ever enlisted my interest like these- none more awake, none more easily touched. We stand with reverence before these men, for they have been in deaths oft, and perilled all that is dear to man for their country.

After the services, we went through the camp streets, and conversed with many whom we had known in the Peninsula.

We found in this regiment many truly pious men, who had suffered apparently no spiritual loss in consequence of long absence from home and the sanctuary.

At three o'clock, P. M., we went to the camp of the Fourth Maine, of which the Rev. Mr. Chase is chaplain, and found assembled the officers and men of the Fourth,

Third, and Seventeenth Maine, for public worship. One of the streets in camp was selected as the place for preaching. The men sat down on blankets, gun-cloths, and leaves on the ground. A man of any thought or emotion must stand with the deepest reverence in the presence of such veterans.

The remnant of these regiments are the strong dauntless men who have endured every sacrifice, braved every peril, and met death a hundred times. These are the men who, for more than two years, have borne all that to human imagination is most terrible, in trial, suffering, sickness, privation, and wounds. And yet all has been patiently and uncomplainingly endured.

The face beaten by so many storms is bronzed and stern, reminding one of the appearance of the Roman soldiers as seen on the monuments of antiquity. But one has only to speak to these men to find there is a heart that still feels, and to be convinced that the pulses of piety still beat.

I preached to this most interesting assemblage of men, and reminded them of scenes in the Peninsula; of the long marches, the storms, and the terrific battles through which they had passed; how many of their companions had fallen, and how deep should be their gratitude to Heaven that they were alive. After I had finished, the other brethren followed and added much to the impression and interest of the hour. After the service was ended, we went through the throng conversing with many.

After night, we went to the camp of the Sixty-third Pennsylvania, and held a meeting with that and the soldiers of surrounding regiments. It was a spectacle never to be forgotten. The solemn grandeur of the heavens, the silent stars looking down upon us, the multitude of upturned faces, lighted by the camp-fires, the burst of holy song borne afar off and reëchoed in murmurs from the

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valleys, the subdued silence of prayer, the profound and reverent attention paid to the sermon, the greetings of hundreds of old friends, and the revival of memories of marches, battles, and hospitals, made this night-scene and worship of the greatest interest.

I was greatly rejoiced, in subsequent conversations, to find that many whom I had feared were dead had recovered from their wounds and were now in the regiment or had returned to their homes. And I gathered from the conversations of the day, and from the feeling manifested, that there never was a time in the history of the army when the men more desired religious instruction or were so eager to listen to the gospel.1

1 This communication is under date of October, 1863.