THE SOLDIER'S FRIEND.

CHAPTER I.

The writer was born in Wilson County, Middle Tennessee, July 23, 1817, of parents whose names were Lewis and Sarah Kirby, who emmigrated from Nash County, North Carolina, to Middle Tennessee, at a very early day, when it was almost a howling wilderness, (as my mother has often told me,) there being but here and there a family interspersed. My parents settled on a small piece of land owned by Britton Drake, Esq., first cousin to my father. Their affection and esteem for each other was very great. They derived much pleasure in being near neighbors; however, their almost unalloyed happiness was enjoyed but for a short period of time, ere death, by his unrelenting and obtrusive hand, dashed the cup from their lips and spread darkness and gloom over our once happy circle, and blighted forever the anticipated happiness, those two cousins had hoped the future held in reservation for them and families, by removing forever from our midst my beloved father, leaving my mother with six small children to grope her way through this inhospitable and uncharitas ble world as best she could. qotsantrol s12 oia In the spring of 1818. my eldest brother returned from

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a visit to New Orleans, where he had contracted that most dreaded disease of all diseases, the small pox. This was communicated to the entire family-my father proving its first victim-and myself becoming a cripple for life, an afflicted orphan, at a period too young to realize the loss of, doubtless, an affectionate father, and the misfortune of being a cripple. On my brother's arrival, his disease, by the symptoms, was not detected either by the family or the neighbors, until my father consulted a medical book and learned therein, with sad dismay, the true character of the disease. Until then, the neighbors had not ceased to visit him, and tender every attention in their power, but as soon as the disease was determined they became alarmed, and at once ceased to visit him or the family, leaving my mother, alone, the arduous task of nursing the entire family, (seven in number), all of whom soon manifested symptoms of the disease. My father called in two of the most eminent physicians the country could afford; Dr. Samuel Hogg, of Nashville, and Dr. Frazier, of Lebanon, our residence being but six miles from the latter place. Subsequently two good nurses were procured, Uncle Pat (as we were taught to call him) from the Emerald Isle ; also, a negro woman belonging to Mr. Martin, living near by, both of whom had had the small pox, who rendered great assistance to my mother at a time of so much need, and when she was laboring under such great distress. Our neighbors, notwithstanding they had ceased to visit us, manifested great kindness in sending us nourishment. They would deposit it at a safe distance from the house, from whence it was brought by the nurses, who also communicated the condition of the family to our kind and anxious neighbors, who were awaiting in the forest hard by. It was a trying time to my dear mother, eight in family, and she alone, scarcely able to render any assistance to the sick. She, fortunately, had it very slight.

My mother, having been deprived of the assistance and sympathy of our kind neighbors, had alone, to bear up under the crushing weight of doubt and fear, for the ter.mination of the disease. Father, brothers and myself remained for many long and anxious days and nights in a critical situation.

After the death of my father, the neighbors being fearful to approach the house to render assistance in his burial, that sad duty had to be performed alone by my mother and the two nurses. Can the reader imagine a scene more sad and heart-rending, a weak and helpless woman bearing her own husband's lifeless body to its last resting place with none but the two nurses affording any assistance? What added more sadness and gloom to the occasion, my mother was denied the poor privilege of burying him in the common graveyard, lest the disease might be spread thereby. She, therefore, was compelled to bury him in a lonely spot in the silent woods.

Who, but those that have passed through kindred scenes of affliction, can realize the heart-rending anguish of the occasion? Pen and language are too inadequate to portray the remotest idea of the reality. The effects of those events bore heavily upon my mother, tincturing all her subsequent joys with a degree of sadness. Time will never erase from memory the sad sensation which would steal through my young heart, while sitting by my mother's side, listening to the recitals of those trying and sad events. Oft would she clasp me to her bosom and call me her dear little crippled fatherless babe.

I was petted and caressed by all the members of the family, especially by my brother, who brought the disease into the family circle; he ever proved affectionate, and his actions, at all times, evinced the fact that he felt at heart, with deep regret, as being the lone cause of my orphanage and bodily affliction.

I was three years old before I began to walk; and it was not until then, that it was known that I was a cripple.

Since I have become a mother, I can readily imagine a mother's grief at the knowledge of her last babe having to contend with all the trying vicissitudes of this world a cripple. But such was my fate.

When I arrived at the age of maturity, I was constrained to thank God for thus afflicting me. This remark may seem strange to some, but when I assign my reasons for it, they will not wonder at my seeming rashness.

I was lively in my disposition, and generally commanded friends and near and dear associates wherever I might be thrown; many who were gay, and fond of the amusements of those days, such as dancing, etc., etc., which I always admired. Could I have indulged in the so-called innocent amusements, and all the temptations which were set before me, in all probability I would have yielded, and would have been led off to serve sin and the devil, instead of the living God.

But as it was, I had no desire to attend such places, not even as a spectator; my mind, therefore, was directed to better and more lasting pleasures. At a very early age I was led, by the mercy of God, to seek a home where parents and children (who have long been separated, by death, in this world) will meet to part no more, forever; and where those who have endured a life-time's affliction in this sinsmitten world, will have the free use of their limbs, and where they can walk the golden streets of the new Jerusalem.

I therefore thank God for affliction.

Through my affliction I was brought to seek the salvation of my soul.

Should I have retained all the faculties of my body, I might have lived in sin and folly, and have died a wretched

sinner.