Rome Georgia. July 20^th 1864.

 

I was made happy yesterday evening by receiving an affectionate letter from you dated July 6^th. it has been some time comming but it has a good ways to come. I was glad Dear Etta that you made such an open confession to me and if I can give you any advice I will do it most cheerfully. you know your own heart best, examine it carefully, and lay it before the savior just as it is. pray earnestly and faithfully that he will clense and purify it. put your trust in him. remember he is able to save to the uttermost all who come unto him. do not rely to much on your own works or do not atempt to become better before you go to him but go just as you are. shut out evrything ealse from your mind and make that your sole object. Dear Etta since you have been so frank to me I will relate my experience whitch may be of some use to you. during the last winter that I was home I was becoming a pretty wild boy. I would run to town nights and asociate with boys who made a practice of drinking and using all kinds of profane language, also gambling and many / other evils are so ruinous to young men. Although I did not engage with them in many of their sports be cause I could not through off the restraint whitch home influence had over me, yet I began to love their company and would soon have become as bad as they had I not through the kindness and mercy of our heavenly father been warned of my perilous position. one day while breaking down stalks in your the field I began thinking seriously of the road I was traveling whitch I knew if I continued would end in eternal torment. I thought of my Parents and all my friends being raised to a seat near the bright throne of heaven while I would be writhing and groaning in the eternal torments of hell. I could stand it no longer, I felt that I was very wicked was nearly chrushed beneith the great weight of sin. but I had allways read the bible and remembered the many promises therin, and kneeling in the fence coner I prayed long and earnestly. when I arose I felt better (I allways felt better after prayer) but was not yet satisfied. one evening I went to prayer meeting. Mr Weller spoke on the joys of religion that night I resolved to experience some of that joy, so when I reached home I went at once to the stable and there while evrything was still and no eye except the / ever whatchfull eye of the Almighty was upon me I opened my heart to him. Oh how earnestly I prayed. I forgot evrything in my anxiety to have my sins forgiven, and my heart cleansed with the blood of christ, and I was blessed, the load droped from my heart, and I felt like a new made being. that night I went to bed happy. since then it has been my desire to serve the lord, but how often have I missed my mark. how often have I forgotten him and wandered from his teachings yet I have allways found him ready to forgive when I came to him truly penitent and asked it of him. he is truly a mercifull god. Dear Etta in the army it is sometimes very hard to live a christian. I have found it so. the temptations are numerous and strong and it is necessary to be very whatchfull and prayerfull least they draw us away from the teachings of our savior, but we are strengthened a great deal by the knowledge that our friends at home are praying for us. You asked me to pray for you, Dearest you are allways remembered in my prayers. I have prayed for your happiness and safety, and now I shall pray for your convertion. Etta I have coppied a piece from my Diary to send to you. it is not good but if it will interest you at all you are welcome to it. 

 

you recd my Photograph and thought it a good one I disagree with you there for I dont like it at all and should not have sent it if I could have got another soon but as it was I had to send that or none. Dear Etta I should like yours if you have one to spare and will send it to me. it will do if it only resembles you in features. I can easily remember the rest. I intended sending John one of mine in return for his but they were gone almost before I knew it. I only saved three out of the dozzen. I have written home today and told our folks to let your Mother have one of my pictures if she wished it I shall send them with John Flanagan he is going home in a few days. I wish I was in his place then I would get to see my Etta. what a happy meeting it would be. I should like to drop in some day and surprise you. what would you do if I should open the door and pop in some day when you was not thinking about it, run and hide? but there is no danger of my doing anything of that kind. I am sorry your Grand Father is unwell give him my best respects.

                                                                       

no more at present,

                                                                       

Sincerely and Affectionately Yours

Henry.

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