The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-04-30

cred about twenty men, Some, for whom
they called, were away from home,
Others saw them approach, and fed as if
in mortal terror. Why
Yonder stands the shop Of a black
smith. The strong, dusty, muscular son
of the forge, is hammering away cheer
fully upon the anvil. He thrusts his iron
into the fire, and with his left hand COM
mences working the bellows, while with
his right, he is scraping and piling up
small pieces Of coal over his fire. That
done, he carelessly turns his head and
looks out upon the prairie, when, 10
three men, rapidly approaching, meet his
gaze. They approach near the shop and
call to the blacksmith. He leaves his
work, and eagerly surveys the party be-
fore him. ErEE. Jte-sl sCe+-
The leader calls: "Come out of the
shop, and fall into line and go with us;
you are our prisoner"
"No you don't, CAPTAIN Hamilton" /"
comes from the full, strong, firm voice of
the blacksmith. His whole aspect, mean
while, has changed, and his visage is
stern, almost fearful to behold.
mo you don't. Come no nearer"
He takes his gun. The leader dis
mounts and stands behind his horse
Firing commences on both sides f.; several
shots are exchanged; volley from the
blacksmith's gun penetrates the neck Of
the leaders horse. 1t seems the leader
is slightly wounded. He mounts and
returns to his party. Victory perches
upon the standard of the blacksmith,
but he has received severe, though not
dangerous wound.
The company resume their march
Their prisoners feel terrible apprehension.
The teamster speaks to his companion;
"We may not be able to escape with our
lives. The! are determined to rob--per-
haps murder US. l have two hundred
dollars on my person, belonging to an
other man; I want to prevent their get
ting it. What shall 1 do with it ?"
"Take it and thrust it under the hay
in the wagon they will not be likely to
find it. If either of US live through this,
the money can then be taken and restored
to its rightful owner"
lis done. The company move on little
further and halt /; the leader looks around
among the prisoners. Several are dis
charged, and start off on their return
among whom is the fair-faced, fleshy mar
who rode in the wagon. He has made q
sign of distress, is released, and return
ing-O, how excited, terrified, yet how
joyfully, to his devoted wife.
The company now advance; and, see
they come near us; they have now elev.
en- prisoners they halt in that glen, in
full view from where we stand. The pris
oners are ranged in line. For wha
purpose What have they done Looi
at them as they stand there, calmly con-
fronting their captors, who are ranged il
line before them, only a few yards dis
tsnt, on more elevated ground.
Mark you the bearing of the prisoner
as thus they stand, pale. blanched, blood
less in their visages, silent, motionless
voiceless. There they stand; the hoar.
headed man of God, and the sunny, gay
, sprightful youth, stand side by side. Th
strong man in meridian-life, the old an
honored father, fast bending and declir
ing to the grave, are there; and preache
, and layman, old and young, father an
son are blended together in that calm
pale, motionless, voiceless group. On
man, finally-it is the teamster-lifts h
hand and gives sign of distress, yet b
utters no sound, and save that motion
all is still, calm-what terrible calm.-
But the mystic appeal is unheeded, an
, that young man now knows that tf
ravishing delights, and endearments of a
earthly HOME, shall meet his embrace I
i, more.
And there they voiceless stand, tn
! firm, devoted band no word, no look
entreaty or supplication excapes frol
them now. The aged man reflects. All
y The mind wanders back, back, ba'
over the life nearly spent; over the fade
far-off events; the joys or sorrows tn
have obscured or gemmed his mortal wa
h and all of life is before him condens
r. into one single point of time. Matul
5 meridian manhood feels strong intern
L struggle. His plans of life, the ende'
a ments of home, all the interest, t
r pleasure, the satisfaction, everything
le the whole circle of his existence, is Sc
e. in an instant, and he knows it must
le suddenly abandoned; yet he uttcrs
re word of complaint.
N The youths range of reflection issho
It, that of his anticipations and buoya
le hopes is almost bOuudless, but his ey
Id grow dim; cloud is now upon his pal
q for he knows that his beautiful hopes &
m dying within him, aud will be buris
d, like diamonds, wrapped in bloc
y shroud.
D. Yet still that strange group stand. q
,g ct, calm, yoiceless; no movement,
as word, not even one appealing look
~ mercy. Their captors stand before the
I'd with rifles and revolvers, ready for
slant service they hear their leader $,
at "Shoot the God d-d scoundrels; prese
!? fre." Still there is hesitation for AM
% slant. There, still, motiOnlsss, stand Il