The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-05-20

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Cnnese cnafaesess TO appreciate how
cioSeiy tnese eo1npeess are adhered I.
~ gVtn par.!,; .
All sums ulsoutseu oy .tneS elders il
tnis way aIo lep0i1 W theni within
perlod OF Ten eAys py tie otnef mem
6ers, eacn consriputinS "a pr0poftiont Z
the number OF acres oI land ne ho!ds
Membership is mol compulsory; bu
tne results nein8csoinet tihes uhpieasan
% those VINO decline 70 yoih, they ar
Seheraiiy IN smaii nailoflty.
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Caasnt IN HIS OHn Trap.
! -,ss q .a.s..s----- :. .,nir b..r..e :.
A poor Christian widow, residing II
England, struggled hard to support be
fatherless children, of whom she had
several. By her industry and econo
my, she was not only able to effect hel
| object, and keep herself and them
above want, and free from debt, but
had also managed to- put by about
thirty shillings toward some domestic
want i'm prospect. A wicked neighboi
heard of this, and being an abandoned
man, devoid of pity for the widow and
the fatherless, he resolved, If possible,
to possess himself of the poOr wOman's
hard earnings. knowing her charac-
ter, and that she was Industrious on be-
half of her helpless children, lie went
to her cottage door one very wet night,
shortly after she had retired to rest, and
knocking loudly till he had awakened
her, begged piteousIy in feigned voice,
for shelter from the storm, assuring
her that he had travelled far, was wet
through, and faint for want of food
and rest. She objected strongly against
admitting man at that hour of the
night into her house, telling him that
she feared the reproach which must be
brought upon her as q Christian wild
Ow. But he begged. 50 hard and told
90 sad a tale, that, moved by pity for
him, she resolved to grant his request
and though she had but little food i'm
the house, she proposed to make him
welcome to what she had, and re-light-
ing her fire, to allow him to sit by it
till morning. ..eai..,e.,- q
With these Kind intentions she has
tily dressed and descended to the door.
But, alas! for the hard heart of the
wretched man who stood without, she
had no sooner opened TO him, than.
pouncing upon her like wild beast.
he seized her by the throat to Stiiie her
screams, and threatened her with, jn-
stant death if she did not. tell him
where she had stored rier little savings.
Terrified almost to ilsensibility by
the suddenness and brutality of the at
tack, she directed him to the place.
He secured the money and rushed from
the house; but as he turned to leave, it
suddenly occurred to him that being
known to her as neighbor, she must
have recognized him, and i'm the MORN
ing he would, as q matter of course, be
pursued and apprehended for robbery.
One crime almost invariably brings
another; and the thought now arose
i'm his wicked heart, that he must dis
patch her to secure His own safety. |
With this fearful intention he returned
to the house. The door was still open, I
for the poor woman had swooned, and
Law HELPLESS and dunconscious lust where
he had left her. And now he began to
consider how he should effect his DUR.
nose. He had no knife or other instrl-
mentwith hin-iiotliug butsa piece of
cord. Tn this he made a moose. and
passing il around her neck as she Law
OF the floor. he looked about him for
some hook or place OH which to, sus
mend his victim. A beam ran across
the room. where, he stood: but the
house was yervold. and the wood might
be rotten. Should If rive way beneath
the strain he was about 10 mt If To. his
moor victim might SO far recoyer con-
Seriousness as to struggle for her life:
and his coward heart trembled Mt the
Thought of the children beinr awaken
ed by their mothers cries. and alarm
ing the distant neiglIfurs. What was
to be done: Time was hurryiuy on: a
mistake might lead To his detection and
! He would trust the beam
before he trusted an To IFS strength.
I ,ayinp down the cruel cord with which
he meant to murder her, who had
o,ened her door i'm COMMISSION for his
need. bel.sprang inward and claspe,i
his hand over the beam to ascertain
whether IL would hear his weight. Yes.
it bore him we'll. 1t neither bent nor
cracked beneath the strain as he swung
TO and fro some feet above the ground.
II would do we'll To hang the kind
hearted woman who had sought to do l
him good, and he had only to unclasp
his cruel hands and descend to do the
fearful deed. All, but when he tried
to unlock his fingers. he cavid rot. No; |
God hosl fired tLfb, there, and he
could not come down. -al -sf .-.-
In vain he tried to tear his hands as
,under. In vain he sought some foot
hold, that he might relieve the weight |
that locked his tangled fingers fast 4
with each other. and would not let !
them part. How those cruel fingers,
fiat had cIutched the helpless woman's !
throat so savagely, ached. How his 1
wrists and elbow ;oints and shoulders !
cracked witt, the fearful tension, as he /
hung aud s,roaned in aiyst;.h! And |,
the nirht cIept on. and every moment !
made discovery more certain, while /
Judgment seemed tls have q sIready os.ss.
LaLen him.
Hardened as his lesyf was, ;and dark /
rs his understanding must have leeil,
he could not but perceive that Gad had
nterferetI to save His child from accrued
oand 10 the Wdo", anu iSaissr 10 tne
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