The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1859-01-21
Incident of History.

begun to gild the Eastern sky of al
ancient city, when the sound of mar
tial music, the prancing OF stceds
and the hurried feet, proclaimed
mighty nation going forth to war.
! They have gathered themselves to
gether, and now with glittering
spear and flashing bayonct, the,
prepare to go forth amid the flourish
OF trumpets and the shouts OF the peo
''ple. Bot why this delayl The
Captain oil the host, mighty mar
iof valor, speaks. Silence prevails
and all heads bend low, as, with up
lifted hands, the mighty monarch
makes a vow to God that if he i:
victorious in this battle, if the enc.
my is delivered into his hands, h,
will offer rs sacrifice the frs,
living thing that colneth from his
gates to meet him when he returns
The vow is recorded the word vi
command is given, and that gor-
geous cavalcade move on. Lsng
they travelled ere they reached the
field OF battle. lis reached at last.
A glorious array OF man in war
like armor present themselves to
view. And now they are engaged
in d adly conflict: man strives with
man the conflict RACES fierce and
terrible; blood flows like water: the
shrieks of tho wounded and dying
rend the air; tho field is covered
with heaps OF the wounded, the dying
and the dead. ere tn. flourish OF
trumpets and shouts of victory an.
nounce the battle won by the mighty
man whose vow was recorded ere
they left their home. and now he
prepares to lead bis army in triumph
to the city.
On they so for many a mile over
hill and dale, through forest and city
They near the gates OF their homes
Every eye is strained; they remem
bor the vow, and look on the right
and the left for the sacrifice, but no
goat is by the waysi1e, no hcicr gam
bols near, no lamb is in sight, no
bIrd skins through the air, and even
the dogs DO not come forth to meet
them.
What means this stillnessl Why
doth no living thing appear to greet
them. Are they not victors, fresh
from tho field of battle--upon their
brows the laurel wreath. and IN their
hands the palm of victorys DO they
not come with all the pride and
pomp of martial gIoryl Why does
no living thing come to greet their
coming!
They .nprnarb tho gates nf ,hn
palace, and the eye OF the Captain
caste quick and anxious glances
around, AMI his heat tremhcs for
his vow. What shall come forth to
meet him! Perhaps a well.trancd
hound or it may be IL invoritc servant.
uGrh! "A sound of music is borne
upon the air. Soft and sweet its
strains are heard in the distance,
and now they soua! louder AMI more
ncar, 1t is song of joy and tri-
umph! Why does tn, check Of that
proud man hIanch, his hand trem
bic upon the rein, and his head
Idroop upon his breast? And why Is
the my, tic wreath that lately bound
his brow, crushed beneath his horses
feet? Behold, issuing from the gates,
maiden OF surprising beauty,
dressed in gala robes, ith timbrej
in he han!s; she comes to meet the
conqucror, and congraiulates him on
his safety. Well may his check
blanch, and his heart culver, for in
that ialr girl he sees his daughter,
his only one! Beside her he hath
neither son nor daughter. She is al
in all to his aged heart. Can hc
yield her sacrifice to the hamesl
i ooh, my daughter, he exclaimed
in anguish. "why didst th0W come
forth to meet me? Behold, | have
made the vow that the first living
thing met on my return from bat
tie would offer as a burnt Offering
Thou art that H0ing thing"
One earnest, imploring look che
'cast upon her father, then sank upor
! her knees. her Whole form convulseC
D with agony at the dreadful import u
those fearful words. The stiffness o
death prevails, as with blanche,
3 cheek and quivering lip, the maidel
u said -
"Do unto me according to thy vow
my father!" And those brave war
: riors, who had waded through sea
of blood and never wavered on tn
field Of battle, turned silently an
tearfully away, and murmured-
y "Alas, for the vow!"
NJ A short time has elapsed, an
now behold the maiden ready ic
: the flames. Robed in simple white
she comes, accompanied by he
maidens, singing a low, mournfl
o. chant. A large multitude had gail
cred to see the sacrifice. For mt
ment father and daughter are locke
in a close embrace, as if soul ha
melted into soul. The old ma
> trembles, for paternal love is stron
within his heart, and gladly won
s, he recall that vow; but it may no. b
Meekly the maiden kneels; al
= with bare head and white loci
tS ly streaming in the wind, her faith
90 commends her to his God. No
p. the flames enwrap the fair forr
'' they clasp her feet, her hands, b
head, but no sbriek escapes her liz
md She Is deadi
'ur The vow is performed, and
childless father tirnsin agony ava
- "a looIr. m thot God tn NH IN,