Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1871-01-13

YOU The skeletons from which drop
ped the black flesh, dense with vermin
in the winter misery, the summer horo
. of Andersonville and Belle Isle, ma,
they haunt your dreams! OHl-soI
without father, man without land
off with you, forever !'
Bitterly weeping, Rupert fell away Il
the door. There was a slight and hush
ed commotion III the despairing room
Women, who had silently sank in deaC
swoon, were being noiselessly removed
Then all was still again, and for a mo
ment there was a dread syncope anC
pause.
The carpenter advanced with solemn
and stately tread, composed and calm
but dilated to his fullest manly majesty
and, from brow to foot, he seemed all
clothed with an august and strong iIlu.
mination. Weakened by the recoil ot
his fury, and bracing himself with vio-
/ lence to meet the one he felt to be his
true antagonist; looming in virile Drawn.
with massive, corrugated lion-face, and
/ locked Jaws, and eyes like orbs of fero-
cious azure glow hard, savage, aroused
/ redoubtable as an embattled tower, the
old man confronted him. Both were
still. No words could paint the Titan
sculpture of that moment. All hearz.
4 ened for the first immense crash of the
expected duel. All waited, with eyes
strained in pain, for the gray stranger
to speak; but his lips were firm, and,
to the general surprise, he only, in utter
silence, extended slowly his left arm.
Every one turned. They were lead
/ ing IN Mrs. Dyer, and she was near.
/ The extended arm received her, and
/ those that led her retired. Silently the
/ carpenter sustained her short and totter-
/ ing step, till she paused near her hus-
band. She stood very quiet. Not a line
! of her dark dress quivered her wealth
of unbound hair, strealled with reverent
| silver, streamed upon her shoulders; her
face was gray and dead her lifted eyes
were like stone her raised hands were
clasped together only her ashen lips
ceaselessly moved in speechless inplor-
ing. IN the long, soundless pause, it
seemed as if heaven and earth were
still.
His mother = said the carpenter.
1t was as if a shock struck the room.
The brief speech had the effect Of
thunderclap, and in a roaring inward
whir and overthrow, which never reach
ed the outward silence, every heart was
bathed as with bright fire. Oh, how he
uttered those words They were electri-
flying. The Stern energy, the melting
tenderness, the divine depth of signif-
canoe, the hearl-shaking associations
that he threw into them, would have
reached a soul though housed in granite.
Elkanah felt them to the very marrow
OF his bones. In one instant, his vigor
OF pride and fury was dissolved, and he
was cold
Slowly without moving from his
dreadful POsture-slowly, while the
Pallid assemblage gazed with dry, hot
eyes-the old man turned his head, as
if the weight of all the world hung 10
it, till at last it became fixed, and his
appalling gaze rested upon the ghastly
sCOuatenance beneath his own. She new
er spOke-speech was impossible it had
been like the effort of one bursting from
death, for her to merely reach his side;
but without ceasing her hueless lips
moved IN an agony of mute beseeching.
Not a breath was heard not an eyefash
quivered the tapers burned unwaver-
ing; the shadows slept upon the floor;
mo leaf of the dense, branchy roof of
the holly trembled. The old husband.
the old wife of many years, stood move
lessly, their eyes locked to each others
faces with fixed regard. But in his
soul, like the rush of remembrance to
the drowning, was a hurrying stream of
memories and images, the fond old days,
the sweet, glad times of marriage, the
cradle by the fire-lit bearrh, the infants
ldimpled hand caressiag the white nursing
bosom, the young mothers face thrilling
with the divine Joy of maternity, the
baby's shoe, the PratlIe, the tiny dresses,
the light, the comfort, the magic sights
and sounds of home. All the weak,
weak things that have. power to. shake
the hearts of the mighty, came to him
as he stood gazisg at her. The moment
was sublime.
She pleads for her frst-born," said
the carpenter, in low, clear tones, like
sOundless light upon the silence, and
awful in the grandeur of their pathos.
The old mans visage gradually sway
ed away and his large eyes, from which
the fame had gone in glisten, rested
upon the calm, lit face of the ilIumina-
ted man before him. Erect, bent for
ward, he stood like a leaning column,
intent upon the carpenter.
In the silence. George, mad, wild,
unknowing what was happening, sud
denly sprang up, though without noise,
and in the pallid sWarth of his fierce
face, his lips curved open for some fiery
utterance. A commanding gesture from
the other, striking him mute upon the
instant, also summoned him to his side.
He came, with measured, clinging. steps
that duly struck the floor, and paused
with down-bent head beside. his SUM
moner, Without haste, the latter took
his empty sleeve by the extremity. and
1rffaI r. 77T1- 9afr,r-ea fF7ta oil
This pleads for him, he said. sol
emnly.
For a moment, he upheld the brave,
pathetic sleeve, then let it fail. a
strange and indeterminate stir went
through the assembly, and. as if from
the arrival Of a new spirit among them,
there was a change.
Elkanah Dyer was weeping
He had not altered his attitude nor
posture he still leaned forward, colum
mar; but his head was bent, and the big
drops, as from the eyes of some stricken
deer, fell visibly to the floor. At once
relief came to the pent bosomss of the
throng. and from wOmen's eyes, and
from mems eyes unused to tears, the
moisture began to flow.
Shall add my pleading ?''-said
the carpenter, in gentle yet sovereign
voice No Not one word of weaker
supplication from my lips. Tis God
Himself implores you in this mothers
heart and bosom yearning for her child
this arm the soldier gave to his coun-
try, not to destroy, but to restore. -
A change had come upon him. The
rosy color had died from his face in a
clear splendor, and his form, regnant
and masculine, was clothed with inspira-
ton, as with dazzling aureole.
81 have dreamed a dream Of my
country" he said slowly. II saw her,
angel of the cradle, mother of all that
are, in her strength of loving benefeence
to her many children, and to every
member Of the race Of man. Out Of her
womb issued the armed soldier, cham
pion Of her Democracy, savior Of earth S
slaves. Not to rend my land in twain.
No; but to bind anew, in love, her
warning citizens, to unite the broken ties
Of kindred, to give the brother to his
earliest mates, TO reconcile the father
to the son, to restore the mother to her
chile"
- I. H.