Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-06-04

frenzied grasp away. shut the door
upon his arm, and with my knife sever
ed il at the wrist"
The speaker ceased a moment. and
buried his face in his hands, as if to shut
out some fearful dream, and his breast
heaved like a storm swept sea.
My father had risen from his seat.
snd was leaning forward, bis eountenance
bloodless, and large drops standing on
his brow. Chills crept back to my
young heart, and l wished / was NJ
home.
The old man looked, and never have
since then beheld such mortal agony
pictured upon human face as there
was upon his.
1t was morning when I awokU. and
the storm had ceased. | first secured
drink Of water, and then looked in the
accustomed place for Mary. missed
her, for the first time a shadowy sense of
some horrible nightmare began to dawn
upon my wandering mind. ] thought l
had fearful dream, but involuntarily
opened the outer door with shuddering
dread. As it opened the snow burst in.
followed by the fall Of something across
the threshold, scattering the snow, and
striking the floor with sharp, hard
sound.
My blood shot through my veins.
and rubbed my eyes to shut out the
sight. 1t was-oh God, how horrible!
it was my injured Mary and her babe.
frozen TO ice ! The ever true mother had
bowed herself over her child, and wrap
ped all her clothing around it, leaving
her own person stark to the storm. She
had placed her hair over the face of the
child, and the sleet had frozen il to the
white cheek. The frost was white in lbs
half opened eyes and upon its tiny fin
gers. know not what become OF my
brave boy
Again the old man bowed his head and
wept--and all that was in that house
wept with him. My mother wept like g
child, In tones of heart-broken pathos,
he concluded:
Il was arrested, and for long months
| raved in delirium. l awoke, and was
sentenced to prison for ten years but
no torturQs could have been like those /
endured within my own bosom. o God,
no. ] am not fanatic. wish to iniure
no man. But while / live let me strive
to warn others not to enter into the path
that has been so dark and fearful to me.
| would see my wife, and children beyond
this vale Of tears.
The old man sat down, but spell as
deep and strong rs that wrought by
some wizard's breath, rested upon tho
f audience.
Hearts could have been heard in their
beating, and tears were seen TO fall. The
old man asked the people to sign the
pledge My father leaped from his scat
, and snatched at it eagerly. / followed
him, and as he hesitated moment with
the pen in the ink, tear fell from the
old mans eye on the paper.
Sign it--sign it, young man. l would
write my name there ten thousand times
in blood, ii it would bring back my loved
and lost ones.
My father wrote
Mortimer Hudson"
I My father trembled and held up his
[ left arm, from which the hand had been
severed.
They look ed for moment in each 9TH
er's eyes, and the old man reeled and
: gasped-
r Ny own injured boy
? My father
e They fell upon each others necks, un-
I'll it seemed that their souls would grow
: and mingle into one. There was weep
ing in that church, aud | turned bewild.
cred upon the streaming faces that were
b around me.
> Let me thank Cod for the great bless
!. ing that his gladdened my guile
e soul = exclaimed the old man and kneel
y ing down, he poured out his heart in ont
!. OF the most touching prayers eve
@ heard.
t The spell was broken, and all eagerly
a signed the pledge, slowly going TO thei
homes, as if th to leave the spot.
The old man is dead, but the lesson h
), taught bis grandchildren on his knee, a
I his evening sun went down without
- cloud, viii never be forgotten. His fan
atheism has lost none Of its fire in M
g mauhoods heart.