Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1870-04-22


of the former officers of the prison
A New STORY OF PRESIDENT LIN
coLN.-During the darkest days of the
rebellion, about the close Of the year
1863, when open enemies were defeating
us in the field and secret foes were plott-
ing against US at home, and giving aid
and comfort to rebels at the South in va
rious ways, it was decided by the Cabinet
that some decisive effort must be made
to stop the currents of information that
seemed to flow uninterruptedly between
the North and South. The Government
at last determined to seize all the tele-
graph Offices in the country on certain
day, and to hold possession of them for
one hour; aud to forward every message
that passed over the wires during that
time, with the names Of all the parties
in sealed envelope to Washington.
The plan was successfully carried out
on the day appointed, and an immense
number of dispatches Of all kinds were
collected. The Cabinet, by special ap-
pointment,. had assembled for the sole
purpose of acting upon the information
thus obtained,-to defeat and punish
those who should be found engaged in
reasonable correspondence with the
South. One by one the kilograms were
opened and read, until the evidences
against many, heretofore unsupported and
supposed to be above suspicion, was as
founding, and painful in the extreme
while many suspected parties were impli-
Gated by the clearest evidence.
What was to be donef Thus far, the
only result had been to confirm the worst
suspicious and arouse many new ones
The Secretary Of War said, "Bring them
all to justice; let no one escape" Others
said anxiously, these are but a few Of
thehundreds unknown to usbefore. We
have before us the results Of only one
hours work." At last the Secretary
turned to Mr.. Lincoln, who had thus far
been theughtfully silent, saying, Mr..
President, what shall We do J? The coun-
try is threatened'with betrayal and de-
struction by enemies in our own camp"
Mr.. Lincoln, putting himself in . fa-
vorite attitude remarked, I have . sto-
ry which is expressive Of my feelings.
When was cut West, I knew an old
farmer who had moved, and settled in .
dense forest not far from my house. He
cleared about an acre of land. built him
log cabin, brought his wife and chill
dren there, bought COW. , pig and
some fowls, and dsseemed to beliving very
happily and, doing finely. He had q
truck patch on most of the cleared
ground, on which be was growing his
winter store Of vegetables. Allthe trees
had been cut down except one old mon
arch, which he had left TO, shade his
house. s
1t was a majestic looking tree, and ap-
parently perfect in every part, tall,
straight and Of immense size, 1.-The grand
old sentinel Of his forest home. One
morning, whik at work in his garden, he
saw squirrel run across the ground be-
fore him, and, thought he, that fellow
would make me nice dinner. So he
picked up stick and sent it flying at
him but, squirrel-like, he lodged i,
and went up the great pine tree. The
woodman went into the house and got
his gun to shoot him. After looking .
long time he spied hole, and thought
the tree might behollow. He proceeded
to examine it carefully, and, much to his
surprise, he found the stately monarch,
that be had spared for its beauty and
grandeur to be the pride and protection
of his little farm, was hollow from top
to bottom. Only rim Of sound wood
remained, barely sufficient to support its
weight, all the inside was punky or rot
ten.. What was he to do? If he cut it
down, it would spoil nearly all his truck
patch with its great length and spread
ing branches. If he let it remain, bis
family was in constant danger. In .
storm it might fall, or the wind might
blow it down, and his house and children
be crushed by it. What should be doi
As he turned away, he said, sadly, !" !
wish / had never seen that squirrel !" and
said Mr.. Lincoln, wish we had never
seen what we have today Bsscher's
Magazine.
The following story il told by the
Middletown Comm Sentinel and Wit
ness In the revolutionary war there
was sergeant of the name Of Arnold.
On an occasion Of the troops being re-
viewed by Baron Steuben-who was :
great disciplinarian-the name Of Ar
mold was called. The baron inquired Of
the commander If he had one in the
ranks who bore the name of the arch
traitor. The reply was, he had. "Call
him to the front" said the Baron. Ser