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I took his place, and he was soon asleep or seemed to be asleep. At half-past one o'clock, the order came to break up and move. I went to awake Trowbridge, but had no answer except that he groaned heavily once and then again. I tried to soothe him and awake him gently, but he turned aside his head, groaned once more and was gone. I struck a match in my possession and looked upon his features; they were set and ghastly in death. I placed his hand on my cheek, and asked him, if he was still conscious, to press it. There was no response; life was evidently extinct.

I made an attempt to find the surgeon or the chaplain, but they had both gone forward with the army. So, I searched his pockets, and taking from them six dollars for his mother, and a letter directed to himself, I replaced the envelope, that his name at least might be known to those who should find the body.

Several days after this, I was one of a number of men detailed to go back to that spot and bury the dead. On searching near the place where Trowbridge died, I found a grave with a wooden tablet bearing his name. Not far distant was a house at which I called and asked the inmates if they knew anything of that grave. The woman of the family then brought forward an envelope, the very one I had replaced, and said they had buried a soldier there, from whose pocket it was taken. what had become of the body. mother, sending the money, and son's last moments and his burial.

18*

It was a relief to know Of course I wrote to his giving an account of her

XV. POWER OF FORGIVENESS.

Governmental justice must follow law; it may not sacrifice the public interest for any private one. Even in cases where the judge may deal with the individual as such, we need wisdom to know whether lenity or severity will best answer the purpose. The apostle speaks of a difference: "Of some have compassion; and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire."1

In one of the garrisons, a soldier, who had been guilty of some misdemeanor, was about to be brought before the commander of his regiment to receive his sentence and be punished. The officer who entered the soldier's name, on seeing it said, "Here is B. F— again. What can we do with him? He has gone through almost every ordeal already."

The sergeant, with an apology for his freedom, spoke up and said, "There is one thing that has never been done with him yet, sir."

"What is that, sergeant?"

"Well, sir, he has never yet been forgiven."

"Forgiven!" said the colonel. "There is his case entered.

It is too late."

"Yes, but the man is not before you, and you can cancel it."

The colonel reflected a few moments, and then ordered the delinquent to be brought in, and asked him what he had to say about the charges alleged against him.

"Nothing, sir," was the reply, "only that I am sorry for what I have done."

"Well," said the officer after a few prefatory words, "we have decided to forgive you.".

1 Jude 22, 23.

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The soldier was struck with astonishment. The tears started to his eyes, he wept. The colonel, with the adjutant and others present, were deeply affected when they saw the man so humbled. The grateful soldier thanked the colonel for his kindness and withdrew.

The author of these lines had a personal knowledge of the conduct of the pardoned culprit for two years and a half after this occurrence. During that time, no charge was brought against him, nor any fault ever found with him. He was a reclaimed and faithful man.

It was a triumph of mercy. The offender was won by kindness.

XVI. SEALS OF HIS MINISTRY.

A touching scene occurred at Camp Nelson, in Kentucky.. A clergyman, who labored at that camp, as a delegate of the Christian Commission, relates the incident.

There was one man among those with whom I conversed there that I shall never forget. He was a soldier from Kentucky. He was unable to read and had a painful sense of his ignorance. One of his first questions was, "Don't you think a man can go to heaven if he has no learning?"

"Certainly, if he will only trust in his Saviour," I replied.

"That I have tried to do," said he; "and the last thing I did before leaving home was to pray with my sister."

As I sought to enlighten him, and encourage him to trust more and more in the Lord Jesus, he looked me intently in the eye and said, "Old gentleman-I confess, it is many years I have tried to serve the Master what you say has done me more good than anything the doctors have done or can do for me."

The next Sabbath, I saw a soldier's funeral passing my

I

tent, with a fife and drum playing a funeral march. joined the solemn procession, and, on reaching the grave, proposed to the officer in charge to make some remarks. He consented, and when the men were drawn up in order and the coffin was lowered into the grave, I began to speak. By the name on the little headboard, I discovered that I was standing at the grave of the man with whom I had recently conversed.

In my remarks, I alluded to that circumstance, not without tenderness on my part, and with evident effect on others. Prayer was then offered for the bereaved friends, for the sick in the hospital, and those present, and I closed. The word was given, and the soldiers fired the parting salute over the grave, then "Right about face,- forward, march!" and they were gone.

I can never forget this scene. I hope to see that youthful soldier again in another and better world. The remark of his that my conversation did him more good than anything the doctors could do has strengthened me for the rest of life. Those words of the honest, unlettered boy are the best credentials that I or any minister could have from human testimony.

XVII. A STEP ONWARD.

Yesterday (says a friend, who writes from Providence, R. I.) a battalion of colored soldiers, six hundred in number, came up to the city from the famed Dutch Island. They are on their way to New Orleans. The colored women of the city have procured a grand banner for them. To-day, December tenth, it was presented to these sons of liberty. The flag is a heavy silk, fringed; the whole very rich and elegant.

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The presentation was made by Mr. Waugh, a freedman, who said he had never learned grammar, but who surprised those who listened to him, by his elegant, well-put and patriotic speech. The response was made by another freedman called to the duty ten minutes only before he was to perform it, and both of them showed that men of their race can frame a speech fitting and forcible, better than some who assume that duty whose opportunities have been vastly greater.

Our excellent Governor Smith is in the forefront of these patriotic plans for the redeemed children of oppression. His labor has for its first result above eighteen hundred colored troops, "armed and equipped." If any one can show a finer body of troops in vigor, in spirit, and in manners, let them go forward and serve their country.

But the colored women sending a battle-flag borne by such a regiment to a city and State where slavery has reigned with such uncurbed license! Is not this a step onward?

We are not at the end yet; but has not our flag now risen high enough to show which way its folds point?

XVIII. GENEROSITY OF A SLAVE.

A few weeks since, one of the most able and useful chaplains of the army spent a few days in Washington, and while there, was invited to preach in one of the colored churches of the city.

He had a large and interesting congregation. Among them were those who had been slaves as well as others. The speaker reminded them of the sudden change that has taken place in their condition and prospects. He urged them to show themselves worthy of the future which is