devotion and of heroic personal sacrifice with which our history is filled, are worthy of earnest study, of continued contemplation, and of perpetual consideration. 5 Let him, who will, sing deeds done well across the sea, Here, lovely Land, men bravely live and die for Thee. The particular example I desire to speak about is of that splendid quality of courage which dares everything not for self or country, but for an 10 enemy. It is of that kind which is called into existence not by dreams of glory, or by love of land, but by the highest human desire, -the desire to mitigate suffering in those who are against us. In the afternoon of the day after the battle of 15 Fredericksburg, General Kershaw of the Confederate army was sitting in his quarters when suddenly a young South Carolinian named Kirkland entered, and, after the usual salutations, said, "General, I can't stand this." The general, thinking the state20 ment a little abrupt, asked what it was he could not stand; and Kirkland replied, "Those poor fellows out yonder have been crying for water all day, and I have come to you to ask if I may go and give them some." The " poor fellows" were Union 25 soldiers who lay wounded between the Union and Confederate lines. To get to them Kirkland must go beyond the protection of the breastworks and expose himself to a fire from the Union sharpshooters, who, so far during that day, had made the raising of so much as a head above the Con- 5 federate works an act of extreme danger. General Kershaw at first refused to allow Kirkland to go on his errand; but at last, as the lad persisted in his request, declined to forbid him, leaving the responsibility for action with the boy himself. Kirkland, 10 in perfect delight, rushed from the general's quarters to the front, where he gathered all the canteens he could carry, filled them with water, and, going over the breastworks, started to give relief to his wounded enemies. No sooner was he in the open field than 15 the sharpshooters, supposing he was going to plunder their comrades, began to fire at him. For some minutes he went about doing good under circumstances of most imminent personal danger. Soon, 5 however, those to whom he was taking the water recognized the character of his undertaking. All over the field men sat up and called to him, and those too much hurt to raise themselves held up their hands and beckoned to him. Soon the sharp10 shooters, who luckily had not hit him, saw that he was indeed an angel of mercy and stopped their fire, and two armies looked with admiration at the young man's pluck and loving-kindness. With a beautiful tenderness Kirkland went about his work, 15 giving of the water to all, and here and there placing a knapsack pillow under some poor wounded fellow's head, or putting in a more comfortable position some shattered leg or arm. Then he went back to his own lines and the fighting went on. 20 Tell me of a more exalted example of personal courage and self-denial than that of that Confederate soldier, or one which more clearly deserves the name of Christian fortitude. cuirassier: a soldier armed with a cuirass. - engendered: to cause to exist. — mitigate: lessen. sharpshooters: soldiers who shoot unusually well. Now the bright morning star, Day's harbinger, Hail, bounteous May, that dost inspire Hill and dale doth boast thy blessing. harbinger forerunner. 5 10 THE GREAT TRIO JOHN CABELL BRECKINRIDGE JOHN CABELL Breckinridge (1821-1875), an American statesman and soldier, was born near Lexington, Kentucky. In 1851 he was elected a member of Congress. After serving as congressman for several years he was, in 1856, elected Vice President of the 5 United States. In 1860 he was one of the Democratic candidates for the Presidency, but was defeated by Mr. Lincoln. In the same year he was sent to the United States Senate. He resigned his seat in the Senate to enter the Confederate army, in which he received a commission as major general, and served actively in the field 10 until his appointment as Secretary of War. The Senate is assembled for the last time in this chamber. Henceforth it will be converted to other uses; yet it must remain forever connected with great events and sacred to the memories of the 15 departed orators and statesmen who here engaged in high debates and shaped the policy of their country. Hereafter the American and the stranger, as they wander through the Capitol, will turn with instinctive reverence to view the spot on which so 20 many and great materials have accumulated for history. They will recall the images of the great and the good, whose renown is the common property of the Union; and chiefly, perhaps, they will linger around the seats once occupied by the mighty three, |