The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1865-02-08

graVestones stood up IKE spectres above tn
faded grass, and here and there arose whit
monument, like some powerful spirit tina
watched sanctity of the place.
"Malcolm Warren" spoke the old man
in voice so deep, that it seemed almost {,
come from ons of the neighboriug graves
"not long since you pointed TO me as al
example of how long man might live whc
smiled upon the wihe.eup. You pointeC
to me as cne who had outllved all my com
panions, and yet as one who lad alway,
quatfed at the intoxicating bowl. Perhap,
you spoke truly; but you did not speak the
whole truth, for the whole truth YOU did
not know, and now | have brought YOU
here to whisper that truth into your ear" .
Malcolm gased up into the old mans
face, and as he saw how solemn was the
expression that rested there, he forgot the
company he had leit at the tavern, and bis
thoughts became serious. ..r
MALCOLM, resumed the sexton, II can
look back now into the past, and see score
of Young men who commenced the race o
life with me. We went to school together
and together we sat in church. we grew
up to be men, and then we often sat to.
gether as l saw You sitting this evening
We learned to love the excitement of the
intoxicating cup, and we thought not then
of the dangers we were counting. Years
passed on, and | saw those twenty men sink
into the arms of death, and | buried them
all here. Malcolm Warren, they all sleep
indrunkardS' grdves! One after another
| saw them fall, and at length l vas left all
alone of the party who were went to as
semble around the bar-room fire!"
A deep groan escaped from the young
mans lips, and shudder ran through his
frame.
"All gone9" be uttered.
"Yes, alll' the old man returned. "But
that is not half Malcolm. There we're
wives and children that died and they,
too, lie here. | buried broken hearts here.
o, how well can l remember the bright.
eyed, laughter loving girls who used 10
play with us when we were boys! And
how we'll can I remember when saw them
standing at the altsr---and when they
turned away from the holy place they
we're blushing, happy brides. But q few
short years, and began to gather them
into the fold of death. They sank down
with broken hearts and crushed hopes!-
Some of them lived TO be gray headed,
but their gray hairs came down in sorrow
to the grave. See that grave there--the
one with the dark gray stone. He who
sleeps beneath that mound was ounce the
happieSt youth in the whole village. He
was carpenter by trade, and he built the
house in which you were born. He used
to laugh and sing over tie wine cup, and
he thought not then of harm. | once
heard his young wife beg of him to re
main at home with her, but he refused her
he boon. Sic told him that she was cold
and hungry, aud that her children needed
clothing, but he needed her not. A few
short years afterwards that wife's heart
broke, and she died, and her children both
lied of cold and hunger, The husband
and father found one cold night lying by
he roadside, and he was dead These are
heir graves, for l buried them all together
You can see the wife's grave next beyond
he gray stone of the husband, and those
wo little graves are where lie the frozen
10Y and girl. sa ga. s.a
The old man drew bis sleeve across his
yes to wipe away the tears; and while he
lid so, Malcolm bowed his head and
,roaued heavily. AT length the sexton
poke again: E-It1
'Maleolm Warren" he said, Hthere was
nee a full regiment of stout, hearty sold
,rs followed Napoleon Bonaparte into
lussia. There were many other regiments
-ent also, but of this one in particular
ave read. Of that whole company of
len only one solitary individual lived to
,turn to the home of his birth. All the
'st died on the way; they were starved {
nd frozen, and they dropped by the way (
de. Now, suppose some thoughtless
outh should point to that single living 9
'ldier, and say, that amid the eternal t