The Washingtonian., 1845-08-09

and as We proceeded the crowd increased to
hundreds, and all were going in the same d.
recton. It seemed as if all ranks and ages
were impelled in that direction by some strange,
hidden, and yet wonderful impulse. Again l
inquired what was the matter, but was told to
be patient, and should find out presently.
About one mile from the city, the immense
crowd became stationary. Our carriage stop
ped; the horses were taken out, and we direct
ed to remain in our seats. The immense con.
course was augmented every moment. A space
including an acre or more of ground was com.
pletely covered with one dense mass of human
beings. All ages, and sexes, from the gray
haired patriot to rosy childhood, some rustling
seemed to be there.
We had been there nearly half an hour, when
heard the dull sepulchral beat of the mufied
drum, to which the martial fife occasionally re-
sponded, though its notes were mournful and
solemnly plaintive. All eyes were directed to
the source whence emanated the mournfnl
music A procession was in sight; it was
mostly Of armed men. They were in uniform,
with muskets, each having long bright bayo-
net. In the midst of that procession was an
open cart, in which were two men. One was
dressed in black, with a bible in his hand; the
other was youth Of about eighteen years, with
a white sheet around him, and tall cambric
cap on his head. He was seated on rude
black coffin; his countenance was pale and hor-
ror-stricken, and when he came near dscov-
cred that his hands were tied.
The crowd separated, and the procession ad-
vanced to a central point, where stood post,
one end in the earth, with horizontal cross
beam some twenty feet from the ground. I'm
mediately under this cross-beam the cart stop
ped. The armed men formed a circle round
the cart of thirty or forty feet in diameter, per-
mitting no one to 60 within. The man in black
arose to his feet, and spoke few words in
tone so low, that could not hear what he said
from my seat. He then knelt and prayed, and
from his prayer learned the young man was
to be hung. When he had finished, the sheriff
went into the cart, and assisted the poor, pale, I
trembling youth to stand up on box which
seated on coffin, and then he tied rope round
the cross beam, the other end being already
round the young mans neck. "If you have
any thing to say, speak now, for you have only
five minutes to live" The young man burst
into tears, and said
81 have to die! had only one little brother,
and he had beautiful blue eyes and faxen hair,
and loved him; but one day got drunk. for
the first time in my life, and coming home
found my little brother gathering strawberries
in the garden, and became angry with him
without cause, and killed him, at one blow,
with rake. did not know any thing about
it until next morning, when l awoke from
sleep, and found myself tied and guarded, and
was told that when my little brother was found,
his hair was clotted with his blood and brains,
and he was dead. Whiskey has done this. It
has ruined me. never was drunk but once.
have only one word more to say, and then l
am going to my final Judge. say it to young
people. Nevsr! NEVER NEVER!!! touch
any thing that can intoricate 20 AS he pro-
nounced these words, he sprang from the box,
and was launched into an awful eternity.
was melted to tears at the recital, and the
awful spectacle. My little heart seemed as if
it would burst, and break away from my aching
bosom, so intolerable were my feelings of grief
And there, in that carriage, while on that cush-
ioned seat, looking with streaming eyes on the
body of that unfortunate young man, as it hung,
dangling and writhing, between heaven and
earth, as unfit for either, there it was that
took the pledge never to touch the hurtful poi
son
Long years have since passed away. White
hairs have thickened around these temples, then
so ruddy and SO young. My uncle sleeps in
the grave, and my cousins also have gone to the
spirit world. But have never forgotten the
last words of that young man, and have never
violated that pledge. When the tempter has
offered to me the sparkling goblet, the words
Of that young man have seemed to sound in
my ear again.
Since that time the glorious temperance re-
formation has come. took the pledge it offers
on the first opportunity, and have long since
sent up an additional pledge to heaven, vow
deep and solemn, never to cease my feeble