Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-02-01
For the Rutland Herald
An Old sketch, but True
ny HUGH WHITING,

pie knight of La Mancha, would have
been infused with the spirit of Danton
or Robespierre, such were the leaders Of
the late rebellion. This bloody Quixot-
ism has made the world weep, digging
trenches for graves, wrapping its thou
sands slain, our fathers, our brothers,
those dearer to US than life itself in
shrouds of sand or shrouds of snow.
Over this Quixotism we forget that
we could ever laugh and our very souls
seem crucited in agony,
Mcclellan was laundering at the very
gates Of Richmond. The rebel Congress
was In session. with dire quaking in
their hearts, still Quixotic in their bra
vadoes. Said one, eve will sit in our
places silent and dignifed, like the Ro-
man senators of old, when the Cloths
and Vandals enter to jeer and spit upon
us, we will show ourselves like Romans,
great and venerable.
A few smiled at the absurd pomposity
of the idea.
One a little holder of heart, proposed,
rather family though, that the whole
should volunteer to enter th9 ranks for
The defense Of the city r. lbs mini
nsnt danger should be nv> EeS1 mem
Der made himself very sG. 5pslEr But
the city must be defended 81 every haz-
ard. An act was hastily passed, con-
scribing every citizen capable of bear
ing arms into the army, and ere the day
was over these brave men were travel
ing homeward with all the speed Of
steam, blessing in their hearts, not like
SanCho Panza, the man who invented
sleep, but the man who invented the
railroad.
Davis, the exponent of all chivalry,
the Don Quixote of the century, was
alone this night in his private apart
ment below was the sound of music,
mirth and wine. He was alone, alone
indeed, deserted by his cabinet, pacing
up and down the room, with coun-
tenance sometimes Of fear amounting
almost to agony, theu blank and va
cant, as if the soul were unable to en-
dure the tension of its emotions. The
dispatches OF his generals were lying on
the table unread. He had refused audi
ence with any one. The officers in the
field were cursing the man who always
succumbed in the face of an emer-
gensy.
Slowly back and forth he walked,
then stopped before the CRATE and stood
gazing vacantly at nothing. Over the
mantle hung portrait Of Washington,
looking down, one would have mag
ined, reproachfully upon the man.
He saw it not, until suddenly his gaze
comprehended the picture, the look. He
staggered back weak; then aroused as
by the fury of demon within him, he
raised his hand to strike, to dash the
picture'in pieces. That look 1t was
mild, it was steady,it was more than re-
proachful.
The hand failed its purpose, and he
turned the likeness quietly to the wall,
and sank into q chair with his face
buried in his hands.
A woman entered the room. IL was
Mrs. Davis. Going up to him, she laid
her hand on his arm saying, "My dear,
our guests are wondering at your alb
sence. Yoa forget you are the Presi-
dent.
"The president !" he cried, starting up
as In frenzy. president OF what I?
Let me fee, let US escape, there is time,
in the darkness of the night, The city
is doomed. Yes, there is time, make
haste!n
The lady used to these words placed
him back on the chair as If he had been
a child, and descended to the parlors.
For half an hour he sat motionless,
then sprsng up crying "There is time;
there is time yet" BE threw open
the door. In passing out he stumbled
and recoiled from the dark outline of q
oofin On the coffin lay folded shroud
on the shrosd oolled rope snd 8 slip Of
paper; he picked it up and read.
"Flee7 Attempt it If you will, A
ball, bayonet thrust ia for the soldier.
q rope for the traitor. A rough blanket
will enfold oar bodies, we give you a
shroud. The clay will hold us. We give
you oofin."
How strange the sudden revulsions
the human mind is capable OF. Davis
crushed the paperin his hand, descended
to tae parlors. mingled with his guests
with al the ease sad urbanity of man.
ner, whiod made Aim socially so pops
lar.
Mcclellan fsissd 60 capture KiehnoDd.
Tia vspoFy oiosd OF deem relied back
for q tina but tia aase Of Jeaessos
BssA steAAe eseves oassnissd 10 aase !,