Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-11-26

One day, in one Of the inclOsed buildings
near Lucknow, a great number Of prisoners
were taken, nearly all Sepoys. After the
| tight they were all brought in to the officer
commanding nv regiment, and In the the
morning the order came that they should
all be shot. 1t chanced that 1t was nv turn
to command the firing party. | asked the
| prisoners their names and regiment. After
| hearing some five or six. one Sepoy -aid no
belonged to - regiment, which Was that
my son had been in. | of course asked him
| 1t he had known my son. Anuntee Ram,
OF the light company. lie answered that
that was his own name but this being Il
very common name, and having always
imagined that my SOD, as | bad never heard
from him, must have died in the Scinde
fever, it did not at first strike me but
when he informed me he came from iiio-
wee, my heart l6aped to my mouth. Could
this be my son? There was no doubt of il, ,
for he gave my name as his lather, aud fell
down at my feet. imploring my pardon.
lie, with all the other men, IN the reg lment
had mutinled, and had gone to Lucknow.
Where was he to 90. If he had ever been in
cline to escape? A O'Clock the prison
ers Were all to be shot and | must be my
sens executioner. Such is fate
went to the Ma or Sahib, and requested
that might be relieved from this duty a. IA
very great favor but he was very angry,
and said he should bring ne to c0grt
martial for trying to shlrk my duty he
would not believe | was faithful servant
OF the English government he Was sure
my heart WAS in reality with the mutineers
he would hear ne no longer. At last my
feelings as lather got the better OF me,
and burst into tears | told him | would
shOOt every one OF them with my own hands
II he ordered me, but confessed that one
OF them was my son The major declared
what urged was only an excuse to get off
shooting my own brotherhood But at last
hl~ heart seemed 90 be touched and he
ordered my unhappy son to be brought he
fore him, and questioned hm very strictly
! shall never forget this terrible scene i.r
a moment | never Thought Of asking iur
his life 10 be spared that lie did not de-
serve. lie came convinced OF the truth of
my statement, and ordered me to be relieved
0i TINS duty. | went into nay tent. bowed
down with siiet, made Worse 10y the gihes
aud taunts poured on me by the Sikh~. ho
declared | was renegade
Ia short time heard the deadly volloy.
My son hat received the reward OF mutinv.
lie showed 10 fear. bu, had rather he had
been killed in fight Through the kindness
OF tie major | Wa- allowed 10 perform the
funeral rite over my misguided s0n-tte
only one OF the prisoners over whom IL wa-
performed, for the remaining bodies were
Al! thrOwus to the J4ckals AID vuliures.
had not heard from my son since Just after
my return from slavery bad not seen
him since welt 20 CabJoi. and thus
met him again, untrue u his salt, in open
rebellion against the master " ao had led
his father and himself But enuugh-m1rc
l. unnecessary. lie VS. not the only oue
who mutiuiel. Literally ae WAS not alone
when he mGaniei The majar tlld me
aiierWar'. taut De was much blamed by the
other ot'Ieer~ i,r aii1wI9e the funera!I.te 90
be performed On rebel. Bat If good deed,
wipe away sins, which | have heard some
Slhlos believe as well as we DO. his sin Will
be very white. Bad fortune never attends
ou tae ,nerciiul May my major soon be-
come general Contemporary R.riao