indeed great, and we feel it; yet strangely indeed, I enjoy myself well, my trust is above; and just as firm as though I could see all the way up, I rely implicitly on God, and believe all is well. As you see, a soldier's life is to be always ready; no matter what preparations he may make, or how anxious to stay, he is liable to be called any moment. You see the moral

of this.

"A quiet home, a shady grove, and an unfailing spring of water, there to live and rest, is just now my beau ideal of earthly good. Oh, dear friends, you don't know the meaning of the word rest. All your acquaintances here are able to crawl around, and are bound to do their duty. The government must be established, the Union preserved. God speed the

right!

"Yours ever,

"MEAD HOLMES."

CHAPTER VII.

MARCH TO NASHVILLE.

Indebtedness to the soldier-Thanksgiving at home-"The happiest man in camp"-Captain Walker's testimony-Sickness among the troops - Thanksgiving in camp-How to make a pudding-Ignorance of the people-Scenes on leaving camp Arrives at Nashville.

HE preceding chapter gives us a little insight into the every-day perplexities, toils, and sufferings, of our nation's brave defenders. How great our indebtedness to the common soldier! He is our most disinterested benefactor. Let me see the soldier, the man who, uninfluenced by regard to gain or honor, perils life itself and all that is dear in life, for his country's sake.

The wife of Tigranes, king of Armenia, was among the captives on a certain day, when Cyrus, the conqueror of Asia, was to review his troops. Great was the pomp and pageantry of the occasion; and while the eager multitude were pressing forward to see the mighty potentate, Tigranes presented himself before him

and offered a thousand talents for the redemption of his wife. Being afterwards asked what she thought of Cyrus, "I did not see him,” said she. "Upon what, then, were your eyes fixed?" "On him who offered a thousand talents for my redemption," was her grateful reply. Let my eyes be fixed on the common soldier, who offers not gold but his life for the defense of my rights and liberties, for the rescue of the government, for the salvation of the Republic.

It is related of two young men, that, engaging in the propagation of a certain creed, they pledged themselves to God and to each other, by each opening a vein and signing the agreement in his own blood. This indicated great sincerity and devotion, but how much more those who enter the field of strife with the fullest conviction that there they must die. They not only open a vein, but give to the last drop of life's crimson treasure.

"Outside, it is storming right lustily, and even in our tent the rain gives us a damp birth. Oh, the mud! The soil is clay, and of the stickiest' quality, so you can imagine

our fix. The water we drink is dipped up any where, so in the bottom of the kettle there will be perhaps an inch of mud. I prefer to bring some, though it is two miles. We are still guarding this point and it keeps our well men on duty constantly. I enclose a list of all our company and their whereabouts, so that friends may know where we are.

"We have just read of the troubles about the draft; a little determination with the rioters, and not so much bustle, would make short work of such outbreaks.

"I should like to be with you Thanksgiving Day, but it's well; somebody must suffer privations in this period of our country's peril. Thank Mrs. A. for her invitation to dine with her; tell her how happy I should be to join my dear parents and friends at her well-spread table. I shall think of you all, and fancy myself with you. The year has brought many changes. Since that last festal day, poor Fred has gone to return not again, I, too, am away in this hostile State; a year since, we were both at home, with prospect of life and home pursuits. We may not see the reason of all these changes, but there is a reason, and a good one too. Tell her how fully I trust in my dear Saviour, and how much joy I feel in his continual presence, and how refreshing it is to have a little season of reading and communion with my Testament,

which really is a light to my feet, and a lamp to my path.

"I am happy, yes, the happiest man in camp; I never fret, no not the least; what's the use? The boys on picket have a rough time; as it rains almost constantly, they are of course wet through, no rubber blanket, nor are they allowed fires at night. Last night it rained and blew as usual, and the ground being soft, the tent-pins pulled out and over went our cotton house.' I was asleep, when suddenly the rain came dashing in my face and woke me. In ten minutes we were all right again and lay down. Dear me! the rain comes in badly and our wood is green oak; the smoke which can scarcely escape is terrible to our eyes. You must know, I have got to be quite handy with my needle.

"L, I thank you for a few lines; prepare for usefulness in this world and for the better world beyond. Mary dear, I am glad you are so engaged in your studies. I send you another picture to draw, make the shades deep like the original. Those pieces of music which I ordered from New York, if they do not come within the range of the melodeon, keep for the piano.

"The sun shines out for the first time in four days; out with the blankets and towels to dry. Love to all."

"MEAD."