Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-09-01
MONTPELIER, VERMONT, THURSDAY,

son. and snatched him from his slumbers, and
against his haf-awakened struggles, opened the
door and thrust him out. 10 the agony of feaI
he called to me by name was no longer fit to
bear, and locked his fingers into my side pocket
| could not wrench that frenzed grasp away
and with The GOODNESS Of devil, as was, shut
the door upon the arm, and with my knife sever
ed it at the wrist
The speaker ceased a moment, and buried
his face in bis hands,, as if 10 shut out some
fearful dream, and his deep chest heaved like a
siorm.swcpt sea. My father had arisen from
his seat, and was leaning forward, his counte-
nance bloodless, and the large drops standing
out upon his brow. Chills crept back to my
young heart. and wished was at home. The
old man looked up, and hove never since be-
held such mortal agony pictured upon human
face as there was on his.
1T was morning when awoke, and the storm
had ceased, bnt the cold was intsnAe Afe fiasf
secured q drink waier. and then lockedin tile
accustomed place for Mary. As missed her,
for the fret time a shsdowy sense Of some hor-
rbe nightmare began TO dawn upon my wander
ing G,ind. thought had fearful dream, hut
involuutarily opened the outside door with q
shuddering dread. AS The door opened, the snow
burst in followed by the fall of something across
the threshold, scattering the snow, and striking
the floor with sharp, heavy sound. My blood
shot like redhot arrows through my veins, and
! rubbed my eyes to shut out the sight. 1t was
-it-Oh God, how horrible it was my own
injured Mary and her babe, frozen to ice! The
ever true mother lad bowed herself over the
child to shield it, and wrapped all her clothing
around it. leaving her own person stark and
bare to the storm. She had placed her hair over
the face Of the child and the sect had frozen
II to the white cheek. 7 hr frost was white in
its half-opened eyes and upon his tiny fingers.
know not whit became of my brave boy
! Again the did man bowed his head and wept,
and all that were in he house wept with him.
! My father sobb d ike child. In tones of low
and heart broken pihos, the old man con.
cluird
was rested, and for long month"; | ,aved
/ in helrlun. awnke. was sen'enced to ntison
tor ten years. bnt no tor'ntes could have been
like those endured WI min my own boson. On,
God, no! nm not fanatic wish to mi re
no one. But while live. let me strive to warn
others not to enter the path which has been so
dark and fearful an one to me. would see my
wife and children beyond this vale of tears.
The old man sat down, but a spell as deep
and strong as that wrought by some wizards
brea.h, rested upon the audience. Hearts could
: have been head in their beating, and tears to
fail. The old man then asked The people to sign
the pledge. My father leaped from his seat and
snatched at it eagerly. had followed him, and
as he hesitoted We's.aa. with ,Ae Pea ia the
ink. tear fell from the old mans eye on the
paper.
Sign it-sign it, young man Angels would
sign it. would write my nsn,e there ten thous
and times in blood, if it would bring back my
loved and lost ones
My father wrote Mortimer Hudson The
old man looked, wiped his fearful eyes, and
looked again, his countenance alternately flashed
with red and deathl'ke palcness.
1T is-no, it cannot be- yet how strange !!
muttered the old man. Pardon me sir, but thai
was the name Of my own brave boy
Mv 60 thar irn,.h loi nd ho lI IN h., Io(, r~r,
from which the hand had been severed
They looked for moment in each Others
eyes, both reeled and gasped.
MY own injured boy!'
MY father'
They fell upon each others necks u1sil i
seemed that their souls would grow and mingie
into one. There was weeping in that church
and turned bewidered upon the streaming
faces around him.
lie, me thank God for that great blessing
which has gIaddened my gullt-burdened souls,
exclaimed the old man, and he kneeled down
pouring out his heart in one OF the most melt.
ing prayers ever heard The spell was then
broken, and all eagerly signed the pledge slow
ly going 10 their homes, as if 10th to leave tht
spot.
The old man is dead, but the lesson he laugh
his grand-chlld on the knee, as his evening sun
went down without cloud, will never be for
gotten. His fanatcism his lost none Of its fire
in my manhood's heart.