Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1864-12-30


Some the dnriug the period Of the
Revelation kheu the State Of Connecticut
was under he iron sway Of the "blue la4s,
/ brother Cbslapt Burroughs, a member of
certain turch N Woodsiock, was appoint
ed Suudi{ constable OF the parish Hisgen.
eral duty bas to arrest all persons travelling
during III sacred hours Of the Sabbath, ex.
cept TO al from public Worship, or in case OF
actual NECESSITY; and among other instruc-
tiUns heieCeiyed the follOwng:-
III, VILE the church was vpen for service,
| person Aould mske his appearance who was
evidentb 90 q journey, the constable was to
requesthin to stop and enter the house; aud
[ il he rdused TO go in, or to remain during the
I servicehis refusal would be regarded as proof
of F. wilful disrespect OF law, and the con.
stableEas requested to take him into custody
nt one
Onlhe very drst Sabbath after Constants
| appointment he took his post near the church
door N easi an heur before service time.-
Ere bng dusty traveller, mounted upon
/ jadfd horse, came riding slowly up the road.
"Olcourse he's a traveller, and n desecrater
I OF be Lord day, unused the constable as he
adpnced several yards to meet the stranger,
and Prasping the bride close BY the bit, he
exclaimed, IN stern tone. "YOr must DIS
mont and go into the church, or will arrest
you ior Sabbath breaking
Twas intending to dismount, friend" the
manrepled, alighting and brushing the dust
/ ironihis cloak with his whip
! Leading his steed up beside the constable's,
/ (whlh was htched to the fence, the traveller
comhenced removing the bridle and ssdd le
fromthe latter, and substituting his own in
! their stead
"ghat do you mean to do sir2 demand
ed the constable, in a fierce tone, stepping up
! TO tfe strangers side.
"0h, nothing but what the regulations al.
low ne, nv stern friend he replied, quietly
oucking the saddle grths.
What regulations DO you refer tol am
the Sunday constable, and have the authority,
to lodge you in jail in less than fifteen minutes
and low dare you NEEDLE with my horse 2"
The iignitary had now become very much eN-
cited and was about to lay violent hands up
on the offender.
The stranger threw open bis cloak, dis
| playing the unilom and insignia of a scout
and replied, as he mounted: "And | am bear.
er of dispatches for the American army, hsv
| ing authority to take a lressh hores whenever
can find one; and for you (Or oany other
citzen) To interfere, is to subject yourself to
! Of my horse till | return. Good-day, sir"
Before the astonished constab could reply,
the stranger was dashing swiftly down the road
| Now, next to his wife and church, Constant
loved his dapple- 'rey; nay he was proud of
him, for he was the finest beast in the parish;
! but, nevertheless, he knew it would be useless
for him to object to the scouts movements
! He had never suffered his equine pet to be
driven fast or on long journeys, and: to see
him thus sacrificed to the purposes of reck.
less bearer of army dispatches, caused the
constable's heart to siuk within him Although
he felt satisfied that his stsed would probably
be returned, he feared that it would be in
ruined condition; and a momentary vision of
the dapple.grey with broken wind and two
lame legs passed before his heated brain.
Long and earnestly he gazsd after the re-
tlring forms, until distant turn in the road
hid them from view. The worshipers had now
begun to arrive rapidly, but still the constable
stood leaning against the fence, evidently un-
conscious OF what was going on around him,
and thinking only Of his misfortune Al
length Deacon Warren aroused him, exclnm-
ing
"Hows this, brother Burroughs why ain I
ye tending to the duties of yer orfice One
of Satan's servants, whom you ought to have
arrested, has just driven furiously down the
road"
"Yes, Deacon, know it to my sorrow-
Hes in General Washingtons employ, and
has taken my best horse. This is my frat
day as Sunday constable, and Live con.
cluded it will be the last american Union