Johnstown June 1^st 1864

                                                                                Wednesday Morning

 

My Friend Frank.

                                    I do not know what the “Professor” will say about “Miss Bowen” not knowing her Latin, but I must steal a little time before going to school to answer your welcome letter.

 

I am sorry that you get so lonesome but do not know that I can suggest any remedy, unless I give you mine while I was away to school. I always sat down and wrote to my friends. Oh how sad and low-spirited I used to get sometimes. I am afraid I wrote some very dejective letters to my friends while there.

 

But a better remedy still is a good book, if it can be got, for it will change the/current of thought into another channel. I do not wonder that you tire of the company with which you are surrounded, for I know how rough some—I may say the majority—of soldiers become in camp. Freed from the restraining influences of home and christian associations, many, oh, how many—make shipwreck of faith and allow their evil passions to lead them where they list. It will require a long time for country to be restored to the peace and tranquility which we once enjoyed. There is one thing which I am sorry to notice in almost every returned soldier—that is a propensity for strong drink. But I do not for a moment imagine that you are in that class. I have too much faith in your high principles of rectitude. We temperance folks, and especially our sex, will a/mighty work before us in striving to gather the wayward ones into our fold. I often think that we—we Templars” are not zealous enough in the good cause. I feel that to redeem a soul from the thralldom of intemperance is only second to being the instrument in redeeming a soul from the fetters of sin and drawing them into the fold of the great Shepherd of souls.

 

My friend, still keep that one object in view, and never rest till you feel the protecting arms of the Saviour about you. Oh, the depth of love divine! No one, who has not tasted its sweets can have any conception of the rest it brings to the weary soul.

 

Earthly love is very sweet, but not to be compared to the heavenly treasure. Oh, rest not till you have tasted it./

 

            Thank you—kind friend for the flowers—they are very much in advance of ours in this more northern region. Still, we have some flowers here too. Do not be too sure about being too young to be captured, for when the fair sex take you in hand, all you can do will be to succumb.

 

Your being a soldier instead of being against you, will only be so much in your favor—no matter how rough-looking or sun-burnt you may be.

Do you see that you stand a fair chance of being taken prisoner.

 

I suppose you will not have an opportunity of attending either of the great “fairs” coming in this state this month. Anna intends going down to Pittsburg/next week, nothing preventing.

 

I had also contemplated going to P. but cannot get off.

 

If you will pay us a visit this month, we will regale you with strawberries, better than any you can buy, for they will be just fresh from the vine.

At his request—I gave Mr. R. Jones your address, and he said he would write.

 

When I hear those who have seen you and talked to you conversing about you I believe I feel so much interest as if my acquaintance had been as extended as theirs.

 

A cousin of mine—who belonged to the “2^nd Reserves. P.V”—John S. Bowen—was here last week. He wanted to know if that friend of mine was still in the “50^th N.Y.” as he had inquired for him, but could not find him. I asked what name he had asked/for. He said “Frank C. Williams.” I told him it was no wonder he could not find “Miller” when he asked for “Williams.” I am sorry he did not find you, for I think you would have been pleased with him, for he has come home less changed, and with fewer of the vices of camp-life than anyone else I have met. I tried to get two of my western friends together, but although they lay side by side at “Black river” just before the taking of Vicksburg, I did not get the necessary information conveyed to both of them before it was too late. Since then their paths have never crossed again. One is under Banks, and the other under Sherman. Excuse this long letter, I had not intended writing so much, but I will try and not weary you the next time if you will pardon this time.           Mollie E. Bowen.

                                                                                    Johnstown Pa.

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