Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-05-22

and loaded by third party, two OF them with
nothing but powder, SO that It should not be
known who shot him.
We walked along with the prisoner, to the
spot that had been chosen. | asked Morgan il
he was ready.
"Cut these COMPOUNDED cords, and take my
jacket off, SO can stand up like man," he an
swered.
l unbound his hands, and commented remov-
ing his Jacket when something fell to the ground.
| stopped to pick it up, and found it was min
iature. 1t represented young and beautiful
female, holding in her hands babe, apparently
only few months old. The mother was look
ing at the child with such look as only moth.
er can give, while the child appeared to be maxi
ing playful effort to reach ritglet Of her hair,
which fell in long curs about her neck. look
ed up and asked, Morgan, whose portrait is
this ?" A
He then for the first time observed that had
got it.
"This is the portrait Of my wife and child,
whom left in New York;" he said, and burst
into tears. "Bury it with me, for it is all that
have now."
| felt as though good crying spell would do
me good, about that time, and if drop fell upon
that beautiful face, that was gazing 60 sweetly
at her child, let me hope it did not tarnish the
bright colors Of the picture.
In the mean time large crowd had assembled,
and were gazing over my shoulder at the pic.
ture, with evident delight. passed it round to
them, and every one of those rough men appear
ed to have spark of human feeling IN their
breast, that only needed to be touched to pro-
duce good results. had never made speech
in my life, but new feeling seemed to flow
through my veins Springng upon large log,
| commenced rambling address. | knew that
human being was in danger, and that might
possibly save him. alluded to his poor wife
and infant child, their dependence on him for
support; and the anxiety and sorrvw they must
feel should they never hear from him again.
Before | had finished, heard the loud voice of
old Jones exclaiming,-
"Darn it all, boys, let the fellow 60. l have
got an old woman myself, and half 4 dozen chill
dren, and can kinder guess how they would
feel, if should pop off,"
YES let him CO." said half dozen of the
most influential men on the river.
"Put it tc vote, boys put it to vote" said an
other.
"To vote it is, then," said |, overioyed at my
success. cali those in favor of letting Morgan
go, will please signify it by saying yes"
" Yes! yes ~ roared nearly every voice in the
crowd.
1 now turned to look at Morguia He had
sank on his knees when the result of the vote
had been declared and l sincerely believe he
made short acknowledgment to Heaven for his
wonderful preservation. He arose from his
knees, and taking my hand, he thanked me, with
tears In his eyes, for the interest | had taken
in his trial. walked along with him towards
my tent, and observed that it would be best for
him to leave and 60 to some other mine at once.
81 shall leave tonight" he replied, but
there is one thing should like to obtain from
you, and that is your Bible"
willingly" | replied, =" and may it do you
as much good as it has done me-"
1 gave him some supper, and when he arose
to go, put the Eible in his hand. He squeezed
my fingers, and then taking out his wife's mina.
ture, he forced it upon me, saying, "keep it to
remember me by" and was gone before | could
reply,
have the miniature now. And each day
when gaze at it sweet smile seems to play
upon the lovely countenance of that young bride
as though she thanked me for helping the part
ner of her bosom to escape from an ignoblt
death.
As for Morgan, l never heard of him after
wards. Whether lie is alive or dead, | canno
tell.