The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1859-12-01
A BUNCH OF LEAVES.

A BUNCH OF LEAVES.
Mrs. had carried with her into
the Jail large bunch of Autumn leaves,
gathered in the morning from the woods.
There was no nail on the wall to hang
them by, and she arranged them between
the grated bars of the window She
gave to the sufferer a full-blown rose,
which he laid beside his cheek on his
pillow. The old man seemed to be great
ly touched with these tokens Of thought
fulness. He is said to have always been
great lover of nature, particularly of
the grandeur of forest scenes.
Mrs. - drew chair near his bed
side. and taking out her knitting, sat by
him for an hour. She has preserved his
complete conversation. of which l can
give only small portion. She says:
I" never saw person who seemed
less troubled or excited, or whose mind
was less disturbed and more clear. His
remarks are pointed, pithy, and sensible
He is not in the least sentimental, and
seems to have singularly excellent COM
mon sense about everything"
She asked him the direct question
Were you actuated, in any degree, in
undertaking your late enterprise, by a
feeling of revenge ?"-adding that a
common impression to that effect had
gone abroad.
He manifested much surprise at this
statement, and after pausing moment,
replied
I" am not conscious of ever having
had feeling of revenge /; no. not in all
the wrong done to me and my family in
Kansas. But can see that thing is
wrong and wicked, and can help to right
it, and can even hope that those who do
the wrong may be punished-and still
have no feeling of revenge No, have
not been actuated by any spirit Of re-
venge -
He talked a good deal about his fami-
ly, manifesting solicitude for their com
fort after he was gone, but expressing
his great confidence and trust in God S
kind providence in their behalf.
When some alluson was made to the
sentence which he had received, he said
very deliberately and firmly. and, as my
friend says, almost subimely:"
81 do not think I can better serve the
cause Ilove so much, than TO die for IL :"
She says that she can never forget the
impressive manner in which he uttered
these solemn words. She replied
1t is not the hardest thing that can
happen to brave man to die but it
must be great hardship for an active
man to lie on his back in prison, disabled
by wounds. Do you not dread your con-
finement. and are you not afraid that it
may wear you down, or cause you to re-
lax your convictions, or regret your at
tempt, or make your courage fail ?"
=" cannot tell" he replied, "what
weakness may come over me, but l do
not think ! shall deny my Lord and Mas
ter Jesus Christ, as 1 certainly should il
| denied my principles against Slave
ry."
When the conversation had proceeded
thus far, as it was known outside the Jail
that Northern lady was inside, crowd
began to collect. and although no dem
onstration of violence was made. yet there
were manifest indications of impalience
so that the sheriff called to the TAILOR,
and the jailor was obliged to put an end
to the interview.
SECOND INTERVIEW IN PRISON.
A second visit was made on the Sec
ond day aiterward. The popular excite
ment had grown so great on account of
the first visit, that on the intervening day
it was deemed unadyisable to attempt
another Mrs. says:
When went into the prison the Sec
ond time. l found Capt. Brown sitting at
the little deal table engaged in writing
He had just been adding something to
his letter to his wife. shall never forget
his appearance. He seemed perfectly
noble and grand. His countenance seem
ed as if it had been illumined by the let
ter which he was writing. His expires
sion was of great earnestness, cheerful
ness and faith. The memory of this brief
interview is even more vivid than Of the
other"
Mrs. designs, at some future
| PSiaoa, W Puoiiou all eutlTc acCOuut Ol
these two interviews, With full details oil
| Capt. Browns conversations.
II have written quickly and roughly
these random notes of my friends visit
to the prison and the prisoner and of my
own conversation with the hero's wife,
preserving, as nearly as possible, the ex-
act words of the narrators, and certainly
not missing their true meaning and spir-
it. They serve to show, what scarcely
need be added as comment that Capt.
John Brown is noble old man-that he
performed his daring deed from the noble
motive Of long-cherished purpose to do
his utmost for the deliyerance of an op-
pressed race-and that his name, as il
shall pass from the gallows into history
will carry with it clear record Of pure
and honorable life while his sterling in
tegrty, his rare decision of character,
and his sublime Christian faith, show him
to be true son of the Pilgrims, whose
ancient Puritan blood will flow in his
veins now only for few days more
THEODORE TILroS.
Wednesday. Nov. 10.
1