Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-08-14
Written for the Herald
A Iseminisence of Rebellion Times

.E3itoy RHtIand Herald During the
Rebellion there were some battles, though
bloodless. fought for freedom against
towards and copperheads, at home, that
did good service for our country in its
peril. Though these conflicts have no
place on the roll of honor, or the records
of history, yet the loyal pulpit and the
loyal press made it possible for the gov
ernment to prosecute war with men and
means furnished by loyal public, in
formed and inspired by these educators
of the people.
The following "reminiscences OF those
times furnishes an illustration of the
fact, that bloodless battles are some
times, if NOT always heroic. In a
town not thousand miles from your
place, there lived man of means, and
great meanness, for he was copper
head of the meanest type. Your cores
pendent was often greatly annoyed by his
bitter curses on the loyal Lincoln, the
loyal army, the loyal press, and especial
ly'the loyal pulpit, that prayed for the
President and preached patriotism to the
people.
Stepping into the village store one
Saturday afternoon, we found this near
neighbor and his brother, who was visit
ing him, from another State. and, if
possible, proved q ranller rebel than him
self. talking treason, and loudly cursing
our loved Lincoln, and the cause he so
righteously maintained. We.listened for
! few moments only, for our boiling blood
! could lily breach the insults and curses
heaped upon the head of the President,
who was the pride of the loyal people,
Remembering the injunction of the Lord
and Peace Maker-'Cast not your pearls
before swine, etc. we kept close mouth
and our own COUNSEL but, going home,
/ we prayed the God Of righteousness to
help us in that hour of need, and we
! think he did AS we paced our study
floor that evening we said Oh, you
miserable traitor, you had the floor this
afternoon, and l had to listen to YOU
curses and your treason, but tomorrow
by Gods grace, we shall have the pulpit
and if you are in the pew your ears shall
Jingle. .-...
Well, Sabbath morning we acre in The
4 pulpit. and felt pleasing sensation a!
| we saw these two traitorous brother
] take seats in the family pew, in The
corner at the left. Our text was: SAND
he did that which was right in the sigh
of the Lord" No matter what we said
our aim was to show it was right in thu
| SIGHT of the Lord to sustain the govern
ment in pulling down treason, and tn
people must do it, at any price. p.
i With barely an exception we had al
intensely loyal congregation, and tn
people were enthusiastic. As we go
warmed up in our subject, for if was 4
hot summer day, it grew too hot for com
fort at our left, and before we got two
thirds through our discourse, up jumps
the visiting brother, opened and slamme
the pew door, down the aisle he indie
nantly stalked and out doors he went
He was Just mad The skeedadle in tn
enemy's camp was an inspiration to us
human perhaps, not heayenly-but
helped US.
The moral shot and shell fell hottie
and thicker around the tlngllng ears 9
the remaining sinner, till he in tur
banged the pew door and retreated dow
the aisle and out of the house. He we
!, just mad
The young people in the congregatio
, of that country church were convulse
at that Sabbath scene, while the oil
, folks looked-foolish.
For closing piece the choir sang IL
I hymn containing these words:
; ''But shall believers fearI"
; "But shall believers hyY'
' and that choir. almost convulsed wit
. laughter, sang like larks.
i The pulpit that day was the victo
the enemy was vanquished.
r When our copperhead neighbor eoolt
8 off he felt chagrined, for he had mao
;. an-long ears of himself, and wh'