The Arkansas banner., 1850-05-21
THE LAUGHING HERO.

IL was the morning of the i7ti of March. 1886. AHrord, mother ot dews and nistess of the mansion ot golden clouds, came, as she almost ever comes to ihe living gSeenery of the pains of GoIiad. a Thing oi beauty, queen of the sty. on A throne Of burni:s stn6st, robed in the crimson o fire, with diadem of Pufple. and stfeaners ,f painted pink On! Il was glorious dawn tor he poet 10 sing of earth or the saint's prayer madethe mAiins ot the place and the hour. Alas no; itwas a very differ ent sort of music.
 A century of hoarse drums roaed the loud repeiile that awoke four hundred Texan prisoners and their guard -ionftiines their number d Mexican soldiers the elite oi the Chief Butchers grand army.
 The prisoners were immediately summoned to parade before the post, m the main street of the village; and every eye spakied vith joy, and every tongue uttered shoat-the voluntary exclamation of eonhdeuee and LoPe--" Thanks, noble Santa Anna He IS going 10 execite the treaty .- We shall be shipped back to our beloved Uni- ted States. We shall see our lear friends once moFs.' Such were the cheerful cries win which the American volunteers. aud the few Texans among ti,em, greeted the order 10 form into line.
 Iae line Was formed and then broken into two columns, when every instrument of music in the Mexican host sounded merry march, and they moved away with quick step over the prairie towards me west.
 Five minutes afterwards, a singular dialogue occurred bstwixt tAe two leaders ol the front col- unn ot the prisoners:
 "What makes you walk so lame, Col Neilf Are you woandedf" asked a tall handsome mao, with blae eyes. and bravery flashing forth in all their beams
 Col Fahnin, l walk lame 10 keep from being wounded; do you compfehendf" replied the other, with laugh. and such laugh as no words migh, descrbe--it was so load so luxurious. like Inc roat of the breakers of sea of humor; 1t was in short. laugh of the Inmost heaJt.
 !" dc not comprehend you, for am no artist in riddies," rejonei Fanain, sni:ng himse If at The indieroas gayety ol h,s companion. strangely il- timed. zZ
 |" You discover that am lame in each leg" said Col. Neil, glaucing down al the members indicated and mimlcing the movements of confirmed cripple, as he laughed loader thka ever. l" And yet" he added, in whisper, "I have neither the Theun atisn Ia ny knees, nor eosns my toes, but have two yspoiosrs in my boots !'' That IS violation of the treaty by which we agreed 10 give up ali our arms" Col Fannin mourn fully suggested.
 1" You will see, however, that I shall need them before the sun is an hour high." replied Neil "Ah Fannin, you do not know the tresehefy of these base Mexicans."
 At the instant the sun arose in the sky of extra ordinary bIiilianey. and miilion aower-eups inue their rich edofs abroad over the greea prae as an offering to the lord of light. when the mandate te halt" was given by one Of Santa AnaA's aids. and the two eolamns oi prisoners were broken up ana scattered over the plain, in small hollow squares eneireled on every ssde by Mexican issaniry ana troops ot hone. with loaded masksts and naked swords. And thsn cane namsataEy pause, awtu