; the boy of fifteen, who fought
valiantly at Donelson,--one of the bravest of Birges's
sharpshooters, and whose answer to my questioning in regard
to joining the army was so well worthy of record.

"'_I joined, because I was so young and strong, and because
life would be worth nothing to me unless I offered it for my
country!_'"[26]

[Footnote 26: Hospital Incidents, New York Post, October 22, 1863.]

How noble! There are many strong men who have done nothing for their
country, and there are some who enjoy all the blessings of a good
government, who are willing to see it destroyed rather than lift a
finger to save it. Their names shall go out in oblivion, but little
Frankie Bragg shall live forever! His body lies in the hospital ground
at Paducah, but the pure patriotism which animated him, and the words he
uttered, will never die!

The good lady who took care of him writes:--

"I saw him die. I can never forget the pleading gaze of his
violet eyes, the brow from which ringlets of light-brown hair
were swept by strange fingers bathed in the death-dew, the
desire for some one to care for him, some one to love him in
his last hours. I came to his side, and he clasped my hand in
his own, fast growing cold and stiff.

"'O, I am going to die, and there is no one to love me,' he
said. 'I did not think I was going to die till now; but it
can't last long. If my sisters were only here; but I have no
friends near me now, and it is so hard!'

"'Frankie,' I said, 'I know it is hard to be away from your
relatives, but you are not friendless; I am your friend. Mrs.
S---- and the kind Doctor are your friends, and we will all
take care of you. More than this, God is your friend, and he
is nearer to you now than either of us can get. Trust him, my
boy. He will help you.'

"A faint smile passed over the pale sufferer's features.

"'O, do you think he will?' he asked.

"Then, as he held my hands closer, he turned his face more
fully toward me, and said: 'My mother taught me to pray when
I was a very little boy, and I never forgot it. I have always
said my prayers every day, and tried not to be bad. Do you
think God heard me always?'

"'Yes, most assuredly. Did he not promise, in his good Book,
from which your mother taught you, that he would always hear
the prayers of his children? Ask, and ye sha