Johnstown Apil 2^d/64

                                                                                                            Saturday Eve

Sergt. F. C. Miller

 

My Friend Frank.

                                                            Tonight I am left alone, with the exception of the little girl who lives with us. Mother is out of town, and Pa & Anna have gone to preaching where I would like to be also, but am not well enough to go. I hope though to be able to go out tomorrow, as it is communion sabbath and I do not like to be deprived of the privelege. Oh, how I wish you were within the folds of the visible church and could enjoy its blessed priveleges. You would then I feel sure soon find the boon for which you are seeking—the “pearl of great price.” My heart feels very sad when I think of the darkness in which you are groping through unbelief and want of faith in the Redeemer of mankind./

 

Oh, that you could trust him who waiteth so anxiously to save you. His love is so boundless, his pardon so free. Can I not persuade you to go to a “Methodist class-meeting”. I feel assured that if you would go to one in a praying humble spirit, you could not fail to be edified by it. Will you not at least go once in the spirit of prayer, to please one who feels an interest in your eternal, as well as present welfare? I feel deeply tonight, and cannot write on any other subject, so I will finish at another time.

 

Monday evening. I thought I would have got this letter sent this morning, but did not get it accomplished. Yesterday a sight met my gaze which brought the tears unbidden to my eyes. It was a soldier in full dress going to the communion table. Such a sight I had never seen before. It generally happens that those who are religious when they enter the army unless their principles are firmly fixed grow lukewarm, and too often backslide alltogether./

 

It appears strange that the nearer they approach to the gates of death, the more careless they become. I wished you could have been with us in our “love feast” yesterday. I will still hope and pray that you may be brought into Christ’s fold.

 

You wished me to let you know Mr Moore’s sentence. I sent you a paper on Saturday. There has a petition gone up for his pardon, but I do not yet know with what result. I received the paper which you sent me. thank you. The missing letters have turned up at last; I received them from the “Return Letter Office,” and shall forward them to you with this one. Perhaps your last ones will turn up in like manner. Anna was pleased to hear of your friend “Don Farley.” She was wondering what had become of him. I—or my friend—received a letter from the “Corporal” last week, and find it very entertaining. He also sent a pamphlet containing an account of the wandering of the 50^th, which you have likely seen. I assure you I read it with interest. All send kind regards. I am better.

 

                                                                                                            Mollie E. Bowen

 

[overleaf]        Might you not get a short furlough, and take a trip to Johnstown P^a?

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