Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1855-12-14
OLD SERIES. VOL. %, NO. 3.


"All gomez" he asked.
"Yes-all7" the old man uttered. "Bu,
this is not half, Malcolm. Their wives and
children that died, and thoy too lie here
Oh how well can remember the bright
cycl, laughing, loving girls, who used to
play with u. when We were boys And
how we'll can remember when saw them
standing at the altAr--and when they turn
81 away from the place they were blushIng
brides. But few short years. and began
TO gather them into tho folds Of death.
They ,ank down with broken hearts and
crushed hopes! Some Of them lived TO bo
gray.hcaded, hut their gray hairs came
down In sorrow 10 the grave See that
crave therc--the one With the dark gray
stone. ITc who hccps beneath that mound
was once the happic,t youth In the village,
he wa, carpcn,or by trade. and be built
the hou.c In which you were born. He used
70 laugh and ling o'cr the wino-cup and he
thought not then efharm. I once heard
hl. Young wifchcga o. him 10 remain at homo
with her. hut he refused her the boon. Sha
told him that she WIS cold and hungry, and
that hor children needed clothing. but he
hccIcd her not. 4 few short years after
wards, that wifc's hart broke and s'le died
and her children. 1'h, husband and father
found ono cold night lying by the road
side. AMI he VA, dad These are hciT
graves, for buried them all together. You
can zee the wifc's grave next beyond tina
cray stone Of the husbands, aud those l't to
grave. arc where lie the frozen hoy and grl''
The oM man lrcw his sleeves across hi'
cycs to wrrc away the tears, and while ho
did 50 Malcolm bJwol bic Lead, and groancl
mournmIly.
"Malcolm Warren" he said. " there was
once a full regiment Il stout soldiers follow
81 Napoleon Bonarartc into Russia. Thcro
were many other regiments went also bpt
n thi, one in particular have read. ut
that whole company Of mcn only one soli-
ary individual lived u return TO ths home
OF his birth. All the rest dial On the way.
Tlcy were starved tni frozen, and thcy
dr5ppel by tho waysidc. Now surPosa
some thoughtlc's.outh should point 70 that
single living .,liirr, aud ay that Euid tho
eternal SHOWS Of Ru,..a there was no danger,
b,causs G,at man had passed them all and
.,in lived Like tlmt single fragment Of
the regimen, DO | stapihcrc, aliying nan
Tho youth gallup in the face OF the aEcd
speaker, AMI new emotions vcr' working
upon hi. fAmr,,.
(" Come, Malcolm, would show !oa ona
more sro, before We f'.'
The Old man l,an,d upon lie staa and
moycl slowly on amors the grayc-, anl In.
Voluntarily did the youth Nllow. Mlsngth
they stopped by a spo wherc two graye' iay
side by side. The slabs were of marble, aud
they gli.tcncd brightly in the moonlight
Malcolm, #" spoke the sexton, ia deep
whisper, " rcmcubr well when made
these two graves. There was no sDuow to
dll the byls which I hlrl made, for they who
sleep here died amid t,c sweet brcathinc' Of
peace aul honor. Tiny were good, 'irsuou'
rcop!c, anil when they were gone oar towns
men monrncd, Tor our village had Lost two
of Il, noble spirits. ., love to come and
stand Jycr their ga,c', Tor ! know God
smile. upon thcm, There !. no taint nor
dl,honor here. Malcolm, do you know who
rests in thy.c tSo Sra'cs7'
Tho youth dld no, answer, nor did he
raise his head, bat With one deep wild cry,
he sank down anil there lay across both
graves, weeping and obbinE like child.
Ills father aud mother slept there y
For a while the OLD nan galcd trarlully
upon the scene, and then he took the youth
by the hand and aroused him M.
Come, Malcolm, he Whispered, We
will % away nowi 1 c,n show you no
mur,."
The youth followed his guide out hon
the churchyarl, snd after the cato vas
cl,-vI they ra'.,l or to the 'tr'c'. is,r'
Alan stanford stopped.
"Nov. ML-olm," he saii "ynn can
return to your cpmrarion' az the tavern,
hut let NE pray you never Use my name
sssin As YOU did this ycnins. When YOU
think Of poor Adam St,npforl, think only
Of what ne told you in tho churchyard,
think Of what he has son, and Of what he
ha. suffered, aul ol hat YOU may in wei
come .Tcik."
The old man TURNED away, when NAL
colin sprans forward and caught him by tho
arm.
"Unclc Adam" ht uttered in chokcd
and broken accents, 20, forgive me FOR
what have said and what have done-l
cannot speak hut shall 90 TO che tavern
mo- NOR. o, Cod bless you God bless
you 80
The clock stuck nine and Mice Warren
folded the hands Of her little boy together,
and babe him say his prayers. Her young
est girl was asleep in tie cradle. The frat
words Of the prayer we're uttered" Our
Father who art in heaven, when there
came the sound Of footteps upon the plank
walk in the little garden.
"It Is papa eaid tive little boy letting
hi. hands drop upon bis mother, knee
H - A.. IIstep nut tho