The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-03-07

m atronly woman OF thirty years, with
face faded by care, deep dark eye, end
long black hair hanging in disheveled
flakes about her shoulders.
On one side was q dark-h aired boy, OF
some six years--on the Other a little g'ri
Que year younger, with light hair and oiue
ewes. The Bible-an old and venerable
volume lay open on that mothers knee
And then tina, pale-iaced Tory flung
himself upon his knees, confessed that ne
had butchered her husband on the night
OF Paoli, but begged his life at her hands
| ..Spare me, for the sake Of my wife, my
child!'
He had expected that his pitiful moan
would touch the widows heart-but not
one relen,ing gleam sottened her pale
face.
"The Lord shall Judge between Us !
4 she said in cold, icy tone, that troze the
murderer's hear,--"Look The Bible lays
upon my knee will close that volume,
and then this boy sh all open it. and place
his finger at random upon line, and oy
that line you shall live or die y
This was a strange proposal. made IN
full faith Of Wild sHd dark Superstition
Of the olden times.
Fora moment the Tory kneeling there.
llivid ss ashes, was wrapt in thought
Then in faltering voice he signiiied his
consent.
Raising her dark eyes to heaven, the
mother prayed the GREAT FATHER to dl-
rect the finger Of her son--she closed the
/, Bible-she handed il to that boy, whose
Young cheek reddened with loathing as he
lyazed upon is4ather's murderer.
He took the Bible-opened its holy pa
ges at random-placed his finger on
verse.
Then there was sllence.
Then that Continental soldier. who n ad
sworn to avenge his brothers. death, stood
there with dilating eyes aud parted lips
Then the culprii kneeling on the hoor
with a face like discolored clay, felt his
heart leep to his throat
Then in clear, bold voice, the widow
read this line from the Old Testament =
il was short yet terrible
THAT MAN SHALL DIE.
Il Look! The brother springs forward t
nlunee a knife into the murderer's heart
but the Tory, pinionea as he is. clings +
the widows knees! lie begs that on
Emore trial MAY be made by the little girl
THAT child of five years, with golden han
and laughing eyes.
The widow consents; there is an a"
full pause.
H. With q smile in her eye, without kno"
ing what she does. that Iiltle girl opens II
- Bible rs ii lays on her mothers knee
she turns her laughing face away-sh
places her finger upon line.
That awful silence grows deeper.
The deep drawn breath of the brothe
the broken gasp of the murdered, eiot
dis,urbs the silence. The widowa and dar'
). eyed boy are breathless.
-. The little girl, unconscious as she vi
H. cauRh, q feeling Of awe from the horr
-, of the oountenances around her, and s'of
~ bre a,hless, her tiny finger resting on tn
line of life or death.
la At last gathering courage, the wido
- bent her eyes to the page, and read.
80 was line from the New Testament.
,ha love YOUR ENEMIES.
~, All! that moment was sublime.
~. ;a Oh! awful Book ol God, in whose Dire
~ pages we see Job talking face to face W
~. ~. jehovah, or Jesus waiting by SamarI'
81. we'll or wandering by the waves OF da
- Galilee. Oh! awful Book. shining
,ms night as speak. the light OF that wido'
vs. home, the glory Of that mechanics sb'
: :. shining where the world comes not,
Hook on the last night Of the convict IN
lcell. Tightening the way to God. even o
the dread eibbet. o! Book of terri
'm" .,.. majesty and child like love Of subiin
III al brushes the soulinto awe. OF bea
H. hoo Wit
ting Ina' me.'S "e 10 ors % s,,an.slv bsant;,u, Il
, an there in that lonely cot OF the Wissa
.on. kon, when you saved that mnrder
;sad life.
go For-need tell you-that murder
s'o' llfe was, saved! That widow recogni
- fthe finger Of God-.even the stern bro
60, 60 was awed into silence.
The murderer went his way.
H. Now look ye, how wondreus are
"a ways of Heaven.
Tho That very night, as the widow sal
her lonely hearth-her orphans by
3 side-sat there with crushed heart and
.,.ar r eye ball, thinking of her husband.
now Law mouldering on the blood dre1
L.. ed sod Of Paoli-there was tap a
,.dlv door.
' ,Sa1 She opened the door, and--that
- - ra' band living. though covered with n
ON wounds, was in the arms!
He ehad fallen al Paoli--but n in d.
He was alive, his wife lay painting il
rning oreau. breast. ,r.ver IL
wood .emb wered Cot of the Wissahit
,.cu. Remarkable Fountain in Flori
shook Taking narrow path passed thr