Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1843-12-14

nv rur rpiroR or mons mraslp
From the Young Ladies rrend.


The Rev MIR NJ was a ,,,eran h,ne,,r,
preacher ~ he West lie related many ineti, M.
oi h's iinc'sni iife. Among them was the follow.
ing Which give IN bis own words as much Is
possible
About fcng miles from n j. nm extensive
grove, well known No the scene ol several fatal
'hncls As passed one morning on my way
to my appointment in tina, town perceived a horse
ana vehicle among the trees guarded BY solitary
man, who appeared to be the driver NY susp,.
eions were immediately excited bu, rode on -
About mile BE- ond me, another carriage. con.
tanning our pessoas bexsdes tho driver, and has..
tning with sI speed
My fears were confirmed, and I could scarcely
doubt tina, another scene OF blood was abou, 10 be-
enacted IN those qoe, soli,udcs VIVA, wa, my
DUTY IN tie case ] knew too well the teuaoity
OF those fictitious and absurd sentiments Of honor
which prevailed in ths, section OF the country. and
which give to the duel character of eral,,d chiv.
airy, Ia srppose tina, interference could be ,uc.
cessful ya thought 1t was my duty to robuke
The SIN, II | could not prevent !, and in tho name
OF the Lord would do il | Immediately wheel.
cd about AMI returned with the u,rnos, speed to the
grove.
The second carriage had arrived and was fast.
encd TO atrec. rode up attached my horse near
IT, and throwing the driver picco Of silver, re.
qaes'ed him to guard him While threading my
way iuio the forest, my thoughts were intensely
ag''ai'd to know how TO present myself mos, sue.
cessiully The occasion admitted Of no deav--
l fastened on snd soon emerged into an oval
space surrounded on oil sides BY dense woods
At the opposite extremity stood the principals,
their boots drawn their pan,aoons, their coats
vests and hats off handkerchiets tied over their
heads, and tightly betting their waists friend
and surgeon were conver.ing with each, while
the seconds were about midway between them,
arranging the dreadful conflict, One of,he prin.
cIpals the challenged, appeared but twenty years
Of age. His couniensnce was singularly tIprcs.
sive OF sensihlity bn also Of cool determination
The other had a stout rufhan-llke bcaring--a
countenance easy hut sinister and hearless and he
seemed impatient, to wreak his vengeance upon
his antagonist
advanced Immediately to the seconds nnl de.
carsd At once nv character AMI object. Gentle.
men, said / excuse nv intrusion am n MN
lister oftbe gospel know no, the meri,s Of this
quarrel. bot both my heart and my Office require
me to bring about a reconciliation between the par.
ties, If possible
Sir replied one Of them, the u.mos, has been
done to effect it, without success, and this is no
place to make farther attempts
Under anv circumstances, in any place, gentle.
men, replied, 1t lssppropriae TO prevent muir.
der and such in the sight OF God, 10 the deed you
are aiding II must not be- gentlemen 10 the
name Of The law which prohibus tin the name
of your friends, the principas--in the name OF
God who looks down upon you in this solitary
place, beseech you TO prevent ii a, once u, least
wash your own hands from the blood Of h,se men.
Retire from the field and refuse 10 assist in their
mutual murder.
My emphatic rcmons,rnnce had momcniarv
mod ipIto
terms, il could get the concurrence OF The prin-
cpals
passed Immediately to the oldes OF them His
countenance became more repulsve ne approach.
ed him Il was deeply pit,ed with email pox, and
there was upon IL the most cold biooded leer ev-
or saw on human face He had given the chal.
lenge. bosought him by every consideration Of
humanity and morality to recall it, referred to
the youth and inexperence Of bis anlagoDlsi-the
conciliniory disposition OF the seconds-the fearful
consequences to his soul il he should fall and tho
whitening rsmorse which must ever follow han 4
he should Kill the young man. lie evidently
ihirs,ed for Inc blood OF tie young man bu, Oh.
serving tina, his friend ana the surgeon seconded
my reasoning, be replied with undi.sembled re.
luctance TIM, he gave the challenge for sufieien,
/ reasons and that II those reasons were removed,
/ he might recall il, bu, not Otherwise.
/ Ipassed 10 the other admonished him tho
sin he was about TO perpetrste. ! referred 10 his
probable domestic relations and the allosion touch
( cd his heart He suddenly wiped tear from his
eye. Yes, SIR said he, fhere are hearts that
would break n they knew was here refer
/ red 10 my conversation with the seconds and tho
other prime pal, and remarked tina, nothing wa.
now necessary to effset a reconciliation but re.
traction Of the language which had offended his
antagonist Sir replied he, planting bis foot
firmly on the ground, and assuming look which
would hsyr been sublime in a better cause, Sir,
have uttered nnhny b8, the truth respecting tina,
man, ami though | snk into the grave, viii no,
sanction bis silanons character By rtfse,ion.
/ reasoned wnh increased yeheInenee. bu, no
appeal TO hi. indgmeoi or las heat eould shake
ms desperate fnnne.s, aud lch him wnb ssfs,
which have no douA he would have SHARED M
der other circumstances VIVA, could ] do iar-
iher2 appeahd again 70 the Gfa principal, bat
he spurnrd me iih n cool smile. ] few to ibn
5. eon1s and cnlrosbd them GA an TRIMS 70 adjust
the mater snd save the sh,di,ng Of blood b.;
they hid ,eady measured the ground and were
ready TO plsce the principals NGtnl'men' sad
/, The blood Of Ia, dresnful decd be upon your
souls have aeq8Iund mysefoi Then pro
ceeded from the ARA toward my horse
What were my emotions ns ! TUNED away IN.
des sifl What thought ] mus he dull pro
ceed l. there 10 eTpedieni TO prevent ~ los
iw ininBles one or io.h of these mfn NAV Ie ~
eternity, sceuFsd forever With blood eniiiin''s'--