The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1864-02-26

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groom, Joined him---cnsting as he dit
80, single encouraging look upoi
his future wife, who turhed deadly
pale but spoke not Il word One by
one. as men who had resolved TO face
.death--fOr the most of them had hut
a trembling half confidence in theiI
escape--eicht others walked out ant
took their places in line. The wo
wen shuidercd and hid their eyes
the men looked steadily on IN the fas
cinaiion Of terror; and the little chill
drcn In awcd but ignorant curiosity
The place was silent as if devoid oI
life
Again the Lieutenant surveyed his
men. Take ain! he commanded
he continued--'aim at their heads
that your work may be we'll donel -
But though his voice was clear and
strong, and the tenor of his words not
to be mistaken. q 81 irvoyant flash OF
hidden meaning ran down the line,
and the men understood him. Then
came the last command; 'Fire:'-but
in the second which interviewed be-
tween the word aud the ringing
vollcy the ten men were already fal
ling Tho crack OF mu-kats and
sound of their bodies were simnltane-
ous. Withou pausing an instant the
Lieutenant cried: Right about
whcelr forward! and the measured
tramp OF the soldiers rang down the
narrow village street.
Ehe women uncovered their ewes
and gazed There lay the ten men
motionIcss aud apparently lireess. -
With wild cries they gathered around
them: but ere their exclamntion5 of
despair had turned into those Of JOY
the last soldier had disappeared in
the wood. Then followed Weeping
embraces as all arose from the
@rouud--Ioughter. and sobs Of hys-
terical joy. The PASTORS son, I'M
covering his bead lineIt down while
all rcyGrentIy followed his example,
and uttered an eloquent prayer OF
Thanksgiving for their deliverance.
What this Young man had done
was not suffered to go unrewarded.
a blessing rested upon his lahors
and his life. Ia the course Of time
he became clergyman, filing for a
while his fathers place for the people
he had saved, bUt was afterwards led
to a wider AID more ambitious sphere.
He was called to Leipzig, received
the degree Of Doctor of Divinity, and
finally became known throughout
Germany AZ the founder Of the Gus
tav Adolf Werein (Gustavus Adol-
phus Union) which had for its object
the dissemination OF Protestant prin-
ciples by means Of voluntary contri-
buttons. In some respects il resem-
bles the Home Missions Of our conn-
try. Many churches, built by this
association are now scattered through
ont the United States.
The inhabitants Of Waldorf never
forgot their pastor nor he them. lie
came back from time to time to spend
a few days in the quiet little village
of bis youth, and whore the most
eventual cri5is of his life was passed
Ia 1896, three out Of the ten pseu-
do victims OF DavOust were still liv-
ing in their old homes and the cpeople
bethought them that the semi-centcn-
NAL anniversary of such an event de-
served special celebration. DR..
----of Leipzig Formerly the pas
tors 5 son, Was invited to he with
them. lie cume--he would have
come from the ends Of the carth--and
after solemn religious eeryice in
the church, proceeded to the very
spot on which he had stood and fac
ed the French mnskets, and there re
lated to thc children and grand chill
dren Of those he had saved, the mar
ratiye which, hav0 here given in less
moving aud eloquent words. Those
who were present, described the scene
rs singulariy impressive and affecting
The three old men set near him as
he spoke and the emotions Of that
hoar oftrial were so viyiulY reprodnc
ed in their minds that, ut the close,
they laughed and weps. AS they had
doue on the same day lily years be-
fore.
In conclusion, the speaker referred
to the officer whose humane strata
gem had saved their lives, Since
that day, said he Il have never
heard Of him l did not even learn
his name; but he il ever remember.
ed in my prayers, Most probably
he died soldiers, death on one OF
the many fields Of slaughter nnich
interviewed between jena and Water
loo, but il he should be living, it
would cheer my last days on earth If
| could reach him with slugle word
OF gratitude
In the same year there liyed--and, ,
no doubt still is liying-in Lyons, an
invalid and peusioned captain of the
NapoleoniG wars. After Il life OF Vi
cissitudes. he found himself in his old
age, alone. forgotten, poor Men no
better aud hraver than he, han achiev-
ed distinction by some lucky chance,
fortune had come TO others, and 9th
ers had begottcn children to cheer
and vitalize their declining days
Him the world had passed by, and
for years he had been living quiet.
silent, pinchcd life, by the aid Of his
scanty pension. His daily resort
was n cafe, whore he could see and