He looked around, and although he did
not know the face he thought that he recognized the voice. So when
the music ceased he turned and asked the man if he had not been
in the Civil war. The man replied that he had been a Confederate
soldier. "Were you at such a place on such a night?" asked the
first. "Yes," he said, "and a curious thing happened that night;
this hymn recalled it to my mind. I was on sentry duty on the
edge of the wood. It was a dark night and very cold, and I was a
little frightened because the enemy was supposed to be very near
at hand. I felt very homesick and miserable, and about midnight,
when everything was very still, I was beginning to feel very weary
and thought that I would comfort myself by praying and singing a
hymn. I remember singing this hymn,
'All my trust on Thee is stayed,
All my help from Thee I bring,
Cover my defenceless head
With the shadow of Thy wing.'
After I had sung those words a strange peace came down upon me,
and through the long night I remember having felt no more fear."
"Now," said the other man, "listen to my story. I was a Union
soldier, and was in the wood that night with a party of scouts. I
saw you standing up, although I didn't see your face, and my men
had their rifles focused upon you waiting the word to fire, but
when you sang out,
'Cover my defenceless head
With the shadow of Thy wing.
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