The murderers were the heartless men who are scattered over the land like, locusts, speculating on the necessities of the people, and their aiders and abettors are those who calmly sat with folded arms, and essayed not to aid his family.

Rise, O my readers and aid the poor of our land.

Let your hearts be filled with mercy to the unfortunate.
Remember that "The quality of mercy is not strain'd It droppeth, as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath; it is twice blessed, It blesseth him that gives and him that takes: 'Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes The crowned monarch better than his crown:" and in performing an act of charity you bless yourself as well as the one who is benefited by such charity.
We shall now close our remarks with the hope that the reader will appreciate the motive which prompted the writing of this book.

As will be seen, it has no plot--it never was intended to have any.

The Author intended merely to write a simple narrative when he commenced this work, and to place before the public in the most agreeable form of reading, a subject of vital importance to the Confederacy, and to impress upon the minds of the wealthy their duty to the poor.