The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1855-11-14
LOUISIANA WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER IA, 1866.

as'Why should l go with you"' he asked.
t'To please an old man. | mean to do you
no harm, Malcolm. Comel''
| Passing out Of the door they moved across
the street. Near by was the village church
yard, and thither he bent his steps. Arriving
the gate, he passed in. When Malcolm hesita-
ted to enter, the old man said: @
"Come follow me-
Malcolm went, and soon they stood within
the village church yard! And this white haired
guide was the sexton, who for more than sixty
| wears had made those beds for the children of
Immortality. The pale moon shed its beams
upon the place, and she chill air sighed mourn
fully among the weeping willows that grew by
the hedge. The grave stones stood like spec
tres among the faded grass and here and there
arose white monument, like some more pow
erful spirit that watched the sanctity of the
place. ia ''-.
s.Malcolm Warren" spoke the old man. in
a voice so deep that it seemed almost to come
from one of the neighboring graves, mot long
since you pointed to me as an example OF how
long a man might live who smiled upon the
wine cup You pointed to me as one who had
outlived all nv companions, and yet one who
had always quaffed at the intoxicating bowl.
Perhaps you spoke truly, but did not speak the
whole truth, for the whole truth you did not
know, and have brought yeu here to whls-
per the truth into your ear .~
i Malcolm Warren looked into the old man S
face, and as he saw how solemn was the express
sion that rested there, he forgot the bad com
pany he had left at the tavern, and his thoughts
became serious.
'sMacoIm,' resumed the esexton, II can Look
back into the past, and see score Of young
men who commenced the race OF life with me.
We love to learn the excitement Of the intoxi-
eating cup and we thought not then of the dan
gers we were courting. Years passed on, and
| saw those twenty men sink into the arms OF
5 death, and buried them all here. Malcolm
Warren, they all slept in drunkard's graves!
One after another saw them fall, and at length
was left alone Of the party who were wont to
5 assemble around the barroom fire."
A deep groan escaped from the young mans
2 lips and shudder ran through his frame.
Call gone?'' he asked. .. +s-..- o..
e eyes, ALP the old man uttered. |But this
2 isgot half, Malbolm. Their wives and chill
!. dren also died, and they too, lie here! o how
n well can remember when | saw them stand
e ING at the altar, and when they turned away
e from the place they were blushing brides. Blu
e few short years, and began to gather then
It into the fold of death. They sank down will
e broken hearts and crushed hopes! Some Of then
it lived to be gray-headed, but their gray hair
+ came down in sorrow to the gravel See tha
e grave there-the one with the dark gray stone
II He who sleeps beneath that mound was onc
e the happiest youth in the village: He was
l. carpenter by trade, and built the house Il
d whiclhyou were born. once heard his youn!
e wife beg him to remain at home with her, bu
Is he refused her the boon. She told him sh
W was cold and hungry, and that her childre
W needed clothing, but he needed her not. A fe,
e short years afterward that wife's heart brok
Of and she died and her children. The husban
or and father found one cold night lying by tn
re road side, andS he was dead! These are the
le graves, for I buried them all together Yo
er can see the wife's grave next beyond the gra
le stone of the husband; and those two little grave
or are where lie the frozen boy and girl!''
1e The old man drew his sleeve across his eyt
ly to wipe away the tears, and while he did 81
v Malcolm bowed bis head and groaned mourn
r fully
d, "Malcolm Warren" he said, "there VIZ
n once full regiment of stout soldiers followe
d. Napoleon Bonaparte into Russia. There wei
m many other regiments went also, but of t.
Is, one in particular have read Of that who
at company of men, only one solitary individu
Us lived in return to the home of his birth. A
Sc the rest died on the way. They were starve
ey and frozen, and they dropped by the waysid
on Now, suppose some thoughtless youth sboul
point to that single living soldier, and say tb
ur that amid the eternal SHOWS of Russia thel
is no danger, because that man had passe
od 41,,>, ,,J ct;1l lirad1 iEa eiprla
ly do I stand here a living man. -,.e.
lis The youth gazed upon the face of the age
nd speaker, and new emotions were working upc
oy his features. "
ut "Come, Malcolm, I would show you OF
ed more spot before we go.'' -.
We The old man learned upon his staff ar
lst moved slowly on among hegraves, and invc
to unfairly did the youth fellow. At length the
Its stopped by a spot where two graves laid SIC
lot by side The slabs were of marble, and the
nd glstened brightly in the moonlight.
as "Malcom," spoke the sexton, in dee
af whisper, Il remember well when made tho
he two graves. There was no sorrow to FIJI Il
NV graves which here made, for they who slet
sp here died amid the sweet breathings Of pea
y, and honor. They were good, yirtuous peop
id, and when they were gone our townsm;
rnourned, for our village had lost two of
Inn most noble spirits. O, love to come and star
ed over those graves, for know that God smil
off upon them. There is no taint nor dishonor her
ut Malcon, do you know who rests in those tv
1y graves"
Of The youth did not answer, nor did he raj
Jet his head, but with one deep wild cry, he sal
10 down, and there he lay across both the gray
he weeping and sobbng like "a child. His faith
us and mother slept there! u --# 55
he For while the old man gazed fearful
its upon the scene, and then he took the youth
is the arm and aroused him up. .-....
il. The youth followed his guide out from Il
nd churchyard, and after the gate was closed the
Id passed on to the street. Here Adam Stanfol
nd stopped. .~-
ed "Now, Malcolm,' he said, "you can retul
is. to your companions at the tavern, but let n
re pray you, never use my name again as you d
lie this evening. When you again think Of POI
de old Adam Stanford, think only of what.he hi
told you in the church yard, think Of what
ed has suffered, and of that you may in welcon