Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-12-16

herance to any faith was TO make him
your Interest foe.
The Methodist ilinerant clergymen
who hourished during our war, were,
with few exceptions, anli-loyal, and ami.
mated the people 10 resistance whenev
err opportunity offered, bidding them
fight against the kings representatives.
in obedience To the will OF the Almigh-
ty. Not unrequently the preacher would
be found with pray er book in one hand
and a sword in the other. The Melho-
dist clergy, at that day, were rare dl-
vines. They would sermonize and fight
us opportunity Offered, and were quite
ne capable of emitting short a mans NOR
taI career as OF charging him with IL
proper consideration OF the destiny of
his moral attributes. Joel Sawyer, who
lived along the Delaware, was one of the
fines specimens of this poIiiico religious
class, and Captain Brooks hated him with
more than deadly spice of mallue.-
The captain and Joel had never encoun-
tered each other, however, where there
was hope of strife aud, although their
names and characters were familiar to
them, they did not know each others
persons. Brooks had sworn to kill Joel,
and Joel declared that he meant to keep
out of his way, and prevent him from i'll
dnlging in that luxury. Fate, however,
would not permit the preacher to escape
so easily.
One day, in the summer Of 1888, he
was jour'rying, solitary and alone, in a
wood in the vicinity we Lave spoken Of,
and suddenl y came upon man who IN
SANITY demanded to know his name.
"My name is Joel sawyer" answered
the parson, meekly.
ooh hum Mine is Captain Brooks.
Your time has come. Eve been looking
for you two years"
Man. NEEDLE not with me-" cried
Joel, with a sanctimonious shuttle, {" for
we are but two, and may give thee a
sharp iussle."
Well try as to that" said the cap
tain, as he seized the minister, who had
taken off his coat.
At il they went, and tore and tugged
until they we're both in rags and contu-
sions, perspiralion and scratches. Mel
Their had resorted TO other aid than that
which natures weapons allowed them,
until Brooks iell Joe's grippe about his
throat, when the former, feeling for and
obtaining his pistol, struck The latter ust
.,I Al, I.,I l.,
then hla,u Dh'-tio "''ioI hrgs nbou,
his neck, and waited patiently, after re-
pea'lng the signal several times, until his
men should arrive. They came in about
five minutes, when Joel was beginning
TO recover from the stunning effects OF
the blow.
" Here J" cried the captain to his
comrades, who numbered tour, "the
Plunderers have got The cantng preach
er, Joel Sawyer, at last. What shall we
do with him p
Kill him-that's all % said one oil
the fellows, who seemed prepared to &C.
complIsh that laudabIe suggestion with a
short sword which he nuirlshed.
" Not ,et," said the captain, interpos-
ing; he's fought with me, and he mus,
enjoy a little honor for that before we
swing him."
"The Lord giveth, and the Lord la
keith away-hlesscd be the name of the
Lord !" suuffled Joel, who had reganed
his feet. Z" II it be his will that | shall
now Weld my unworthy life, so he it,"
"D--n, no Preaching p exclaimed
one of the men.
Yes, that's it, shouted the captain
in an ecstasy of delight; she shall
preach. He shall preach us a sermon
and he shall preach II agains, the wings
ton. tiurrah "A sermon is novelty
and we'll hear it,"
Preach against my brethren de
nonnce my own cause +? If do | am
not Joel Sawyer"
You WILL" exclaimed the captain en-
ergetIcally, cor I'll whip you to death %
will not !" was the prompt reply
of the wounded preacher.
Wen try and make you !" was the
equally prompt response of his enemy.
Accordingly he was seized and strip.
ped. His wrists we're made fast togeth
er, and he was lacedup against an cal,
ofrespectable dimensions. A long grape
vine rope was tied 10 his wrists aud las
tened 10 the tree in such manner thai
he stood upon his toes, with the prnci
pal weight Of his body upon his hands
a number of heavy switches were now
procured, and revolutionary fiagellation
was begun. A dozen lashes were adj
ministered, and Joel was then asked i
he would preach against the Congress
He was firm in his refusal. Again the
cruel lash fell, and the quivcrng back
exhibited blush red streaks. Two do
zen blows had fallen, yet he would no
yield. Three dozen No answer. The
blood was streaming TO his heels, and
oozing from beneath his blackening fin.
ger nails. Sixty And yet his only an.
swer TO all questions put to him was
81 will not preach against the Congress !!
Seventy strokes bad been given ere he
lainIed The murderous lorlurers die
not unbind him ,hei-not they, indeed
In the true spirit Of toryism they ran fol