Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-07-27

once full regiment of stout soldiers fol-
lowed Napoleon Bonaparte into Russia
There were many other regiments went a.
so, but of this one in particular have read.
VI that whole company Of men only one
solitary individual lived TO return 10 the
home of bis birth. All the rest died oo
the way. They were starved and frozen
and they dropped by the way side. Now
suppose some thoughtIess youth should
point to that single living soldier, and say
that amid the eternal SHOWS of Russia there
was no danger, because that man had pass
ed them an ana sum rrvcu-.@1nss,,- ss.ss---
single fragment of the regiment do stand
here living man."
Tho youth gazed up IN the face of the
aged speaker, and new emotions were work.
ing upon his features.
'Come, Malcolm, would show yea one
more spot before we CO."
The old man leaned upon his staff and
moved slowly on among the graves, and
unvoluntarily did the youth follow. At
length they stopped by spot where two
graves lay side by side. The. slabs were
of marble. and they glistene,i brightly in
the moonlight.
"Malcom," spoke the sexton in deep
whisper, 81 remember we'll when | made
these two graves. There. WAS not sorrow
to fill the beds which here made, they
who sleep here died amidithe sweet breath
ings of peace and honor. They were aood,
virtueus people, and when they were rsoe
our townsmen mourned, for our village had
lost its most noble spirits o, lore to
come and stand over those graves, for I
know that God smiles upon them Thefe
is 10 faint nor dishonor here Maleom<
do you know who rests in these two grzvesf
The youth did not answer, nor did hs
raise his head, but with one deep, wild evys
he sank down and there he lay across the
graves weeping and sobbng ike a child
His father and mother slept there
For while the old man gazed tearfully
upon the scene, aud then he took the youth
by the arm aud aroused him up.
'Come, Malcon," he whispered, swe
will go away now ), [ can. show you no
more"
The youth followed the gnide out from
the church yard, and after the gate was
closed, they passed on to the street. Here
Adam Stanford stopped.
"Now Malcom," he said, syou can re-
turn to your companions at the tavern, but
let me pray you never use my name again
as you did this evening. When you again
think of poor old Adam Stanford, think
only of what he has told you in the church,
yard, think of what he has seen, and a
mss sfs ss$sss %sE Sssss s$ss sss sssst 5
by the arm.
"Uncle ADAM" he uttered in choked
and broken accents, 20, forgive me for
what | have now said and what I have
done. II cannot tell you all now. I
cannot speak, bat / shall 90 to, the tavern
no more. o, God bless you! God bless
you" -...
4
The clock struck nine, and as Alice
i Warren folded the hands of her little boy
together, bade him say his prayers. Her
youngest girl was asleep in the cradle
i The first words of prayer was uttered--"Our
Father who art in heaven,"-when there
came the sound Of footsteps upon the plank
walk in the little front garden.
!, "lt's papa" said the boy, lesting his
hands drop upon his mothers knees, and
bending his ear to listen. But the mother
dared not speak.
e At last the door opened, and her hus.
|. band entered. Alice cast her eyes trem.
: blingly up, and saw the big tears that were
: rolling down the cheeks Of her beloved
e Instinctively she sprang forward and clasp
d ed her arms about her husbands neck.
0 aMalcom, Malcom, what has happened
Il Tell me-O, tell me s'
n Malcolm Warren, sankinto a chair, anl
! as he drew his wife down into his lap.
: "Alce! o, Alicer' he. uttered sobbine
J. and weeping as he spoke, "can You for
give me for all that has passedr
gi The gentle wife has bcmihdered at first
is nay almost frightened, for the speech Q
her husband was so wild and incohereni
she feared his brain was turned. But err
Il long he spoke of the resolution he ha'
!. made. He did not tell of any trial he wa
9 going to make, bu. told her of the irel
's will that had entered his SOUL The nigh
lt of bis temptation had passed, and the da,
'o ofsalvation had dawned
q A few moments more, and the HUSBAND
and wife were upon their knees. Thei
~ emotions were too deep for utterance--to
re wild and thrilling for speech. A monen
3 they struggled there, and then wept in q
1' lence.
IN The little boy cFept to the spot, an
u threw his tiny hands about the neck ct d
~ parents, for even his Young soul hadeangs
e! the spark of new life that had been bIestt
TX ed into existence within this happy hom
az On the next morning Malcom Ware
ne arose better and happier man. He WI
nd calm new, and ho told Alice all that hs
IN. transpired the night before, and when
ne was all told they prayed as redeemed sou
alone can pray.
~ Davs, weeks, and months passed ava
h. and Malcom Warren became once mo
II. the handsome youth that had been love
m 'ar and cherished by honest friends in bona
~. "a gone by. The flowers of affection hcon
90 ed again about his hearth stone, and II
; II angel of peace and JOY made home b
40 meath his roof
fcs People wondered when they notice
an that Adam Stanford went no more to Il
ay tavern; but the story of that nights le
tie son in the village churchyard became &c
l." orally known, and other men took it als
bis and were saved.