The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-08-01

"Greatbatch drum.maior in your
army"
The officer could not iorbrar smile as
he responded.
Wndecd, our Gideon is the most zeal
Gus Of our company, and must feel his
bonds sorcly." lie hesilatcd, and then
added, "May | consistently crave few
moments interview with the prisoner ?"
The countess gave him searching
look she was satisfied he was TO be trust
cd, and her permission was at once accord
ed.
AS the officer descended the stone steps
which led to the prison Of Gideon, he
could hear the voice Of Gideon singing a
psalm, in which all the enemies of the
singer, Including, in this instance, all the
defenders OF Lathom, were consigned to
swift destruction. With his feet in the
stocks, and his long back leaning against
the stone wall, sat Gideon, his eyes shut
and his mouth open. At the voice of the
visitor he closed the one and opened the
other.
81 grieve to find thee here, comrade,"
said the officer.
NAY, grieve not for that was the
answer. "Grieve, rather, that this poor
land of ours--But there Art thou
also prisoner ?'
"No; the bearer OF a message, and per-
mittcd few moments interview with an
old friend"
"Then on thy return to the camp
said Gideon "ct it be known that these
Lathomers have no bread that fam
ine'-
False tongue !" cried the gaoler, in.
terrupting him " there be bread enough,
and to throw away, or we shouldn't keep
thee alive There, take thy breakfast
He threw him loaf of black bread as he
spoke. The hungry captive caught the
bread eagerly, beginning to dcvour it
greedily, when he suddenly stopped.
"ThjS bread" said he-"ihS Christian
food for Christian folk A dog wouldn't
thank thee for it,"
"Therefore," said the gaoler, 'thou art
thankless"
Giving no heed to this retort, Gideon
handed the loaf TO his visitor. Take it,
take it, he said-and there was some
thing so impassive in his manner, that
the officer took the loaf as he was request
ed-"take it to the camp, break it before
our brethren, show them how vilely they
cntreat us
"Nilely entreatcd !" grumbled the
goaler. "'Tis well for thee the loaf was
thrown over the wall or thou wouldst
have kept the edge of thine appetite un.
spoiled till Tomorrow.
"Break it in the presence Of the camp"
continued Gideon ''Tis well they should
know what We who are captured have to
endure
"Thou art right anxious to be rid of
thy breakfast, quoth the gaoler. Marry,
one would think il carried 4 secret"
"Scarch, if you have any suspicion
said the officer.
suspicion not i faith but there will
be no more rations for him to-day"
Enough want no more | will sing,
and find it swceter than the eating of
black bread
"Shall | intercedc with the countess ~
whispered the officer.
"Intcrcedc !" roared Gideon mot if
rot piece-meal Intereede with Jczebel
Away away
Aud waving an adieu, he began to sing
in loud shrill key.
Leaving the prisoner to his fate, the
officer quilted Lathom, and returned to
the camp. 1t was not however, till late
in the afternoon that he thought of Gid
cons message, and took from his pocket
the black loaf. He related all that had
occurred, and broke the bread, as Gideon
had requested him. Close to where the
prisoner had taken his last mouthful, he
found piece of crumpled paper. 1t was
opened, and found to be a letter from the
Earl of Derby to the countess, telling her
Prince Rupert had beaten the rebels at
Newark, and kow the kings army had
hastily marched into Lancashire, and at
two days at furth would reach Lathom.
ave purpose" said the letter, "to come
upon them suddenly, so that they shall be
taken in their own snare"
This important intelligence had failed
to reach its destination. Some friendly
hand had thrown it within reach of the
besieged; but the gaoler, by whom it had
been picked up, was careless as to where
it came from, so long as it saved the
prisoners allowance to the il-fed garri-
son The prisoner, more cautious and re-
Elective than his gaoler, had felt the pa
per under his teeth, suspected some
message to the enemy, and had cunning
ly given it into the hands of his friendly
visitor. He had lost his breakfast
serious loss to man half famished with
hunger-but he had saved the Parlia-
mentary troops. The snare in which they
were to be taken wa, broken aud they
escaped.
On the news contained in Derby's let
ter being made known at II council of the
principal officers, the camp was broken
up and the garrison Of l.athom scarcely
believing what they saw to be true be-
held their enemies leaving their entrench.
mens in hasty and disorderl retreat.
So ended the first siege Of Lathom,
On the day after the retreat, the earl
arrived at Lathom, to the joyful surprise
Of his countess, and to that of the brave
defenders Of the mansion. Nothing was
known of the earl's letter, it had never
come to hand. 1t is probable, when the
gaoler heard of the means used for its
conveyance, that he more than half sus-
pected the truth but wisely kept his own
counsel.
Gideon Greatbatch obtained his release
in due course, and when he came to hear
OF the result of his self-sacriiice, it is
~a"'~rIy necessary TO suggest that Il very
great many people heard Of it also.
Minnie was bright child, three years
old. Fun and merrment sparkled in
every feature. Upon one occasion her
i lal h... 40.