Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1870-03-18
4fliscellanp.
The First Martyr of the Revolution.
A Historical Legend of Westminster VI.
BY F. BENJAMIN GAGE.

/ truej ana VIC Hnu nislory VI tHe "Hoie
transaction in SHADES Vermont State
Papers, on page 55-9.
The nineteenth of March, 1775 was a
bright and beautiful day. Already had
the returning Spring began to display its
genial influence The snow had melted
on the hillsides. and here and there the
/ green herbage peeped modestly out from
beneath the heavy drifts Of winter. All
that day the warm sun hoated through
the blue heavens in unclouded brilliancy
and at night he went down in the west
lighting up the sky where he disappear
ed till it glowed like vast sea ofgolden
flame. Night gorgeous and beautiful,
stole on in stiffness and spread her sable
mantle over little village on the banks
of the Connecticut. 1t was indeed
little village, for at that time the wood
mans axe had scarcely intruded on the
solitary depths of the savage's hunting
dominions, and the tide of civilization
had only here and there dotted the bor-
der of the great wilderness with the hah-
itations of men. 1t consisted of but
single street two miles in length, running
parallel with the river. One mile of the
south end of this street is dry sandy
plain, and at the time of which we
speak it was partially covered with gi-
gantic pines, though at the present time
they have entirely disappeared and the
golden harvest fields and green meadows
have taken their place. At the north
end of this plain, where the road winds
down the hill and from thence stretches
away through the verdant meadows,
stood the only remarkable building
which the place contained, and the only
one of which | shall speak. 1t was a
country, or to speak more familiarly a
Courthouse large, dark and gloomy
looking edifce constructed of unhewn
logs, which at that time were not un-
common material for building. On the
night of which Ispeak it was lighted up
and the red glare from its windows fell
on the upturned faces of the multitude
without. There was a strange and wild
excitement in that crowd and a smoth-
cred storm of fury ready to burst forth
in an instant. Several acts had been
passed by the British Parliament, odious
to these stout hearted hunters of the
wilderness and these tillers of soil they
considered their own. Already had the
iron huof of British despotism and cruel
ty crushed them down till the brave and
hardy yeomanry could bear it no longer,
and they resolved, come what would, &c
defend their rights and homes even if an
appeal to arms became necessary and
Cd that night a new act of tyranny had
reused the fire in a hundred brave heart:
and brought crowd of excited citizen:
around the old Court house. Let us
fancy ourselves among them tonight
Let rs approach the dark pine thai
stands at the corner of the house and
throws its broad and waving shadow ovel
its rude and shapeless logs. Let vi
stand there and listen to the murmurs o
the crowd. Just before the door you cal
see a group gathered together by them
selve,-you can see their lips move, the.
speak in husky whispers, and as thu
l;uht f,l1c anon,r thapo Won nap raod /,
their features the workings of dark ant
terrible passions. They are tories. Yon
der stands pale youth scarcely NOR
than boy, leaning against the fence
L. biting his thin lips till they bleed, ant
talking to the white haired old man a
his side That old man had seen tn
blighting frosts of many winters. Once
he was stout and athletic, but time AM
sickness, and exposure, have shrunkel
his limbs till he seems scarcely NOR
1 than mere skeleton. But mark tha
old man well as the dim light falls OIL
= his withered brow. How his eyes flash
d. And see his lips move, he speaks, let u
listen:
"we respect the King, but we vii
never submit to tyranny. No, boy, oil
as am 1 can handle rifle and if thes
hirelings persist there will be blood
work ere the sun comes over the mouI
tains again.
But will explain the meaning of tn
old mans words: In yonder court room
sits Judge who has come from the L
land of Great Britain, under the broa
seal and sanction of his Majesty, appoin
ed and paid to administer the laws of b
Master, not according to the dictates {
humanity and equalrights but accordin
= to the will and caprice of crowned t,
rant. He has come to America to judg
the rebels in their own towns and teac
them to bear the yoke, however gallin
it may be, in humble submission. Il
is backed by few rich and infuenti'
tories; but the mass Of the people hay
risen in rebellion and now, burning f
revenge, they stand in a dark mass
the shadow of the old courthouse
Three times has the judge sent out Il