Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-11-20
A Thrilling Incident.

attend the Legislature. then in session.
They were all men OF more than usual
intellect, and Of exceptional character.
Two were ex-judecs OF the Circuit
Court, and one | have seen chairman of
the Young Mems Christian Association.
The party found seats near together.
and after the salutalious were over, and
the news duly discussed, they began to
look about for means 10 while away the
time. After awhile some one proposed
a game OF cards. No sooDer said than
done. Two seats were turned apart so
as to face each other. a cushion i'm
proyised for a table, and three oS our
lawle including the chairman Of the
Young Mems Christian Association.
and Chicago runner, who was on good
terms with them. were soon deep in the
mysteries of game Of cuchre.
1 was surprised to see Christian
gentlemen and Judges Of law and equity;
leaders OF society, makers Of public
sentiment. lawgivers for great State,
directors of public morals, supposed TO
be public exemplars Of all that IS good
aud guides to the young, thus setting
publicly their seal Of approval TO most
dangerous aud evil practice. To be
sure, they played for stakes no higher
than the cigars for the party. But It
seems TO me that, in the eyes Of all dis
Greet persons, this does not change the
act nor lessen tbe danger Of its example.
but rather hciShtens it; as from the less
to the greater IS the inyariable course
of crime. But / did not intend to
moralize on paper. but was about to say
that while | was filed with such thoughts
as these, one Of the party crew tired oi
the game. and our remaining judge was
invited to take his place. | say the
blood mount, in mn hanest blush Of dis
approval. to his manly face, and he
hesitated and drew back. But the
game had become Interesting. and his
excited companions urged INN. Come
Judge. take a hand they cried, we
can't 90 on without you.' 50 the judge
slowly rose from his scat. inwarily con-
demniug the act, as l evidently saw,
and stepping forward. took seat among
the players, and the game went on.
| had noticed an old lady in a seat to
the rear Of the players, who had got on
board at Mcnasha, l believe. Gray
and bent with age. she had sat ashamed
and with eyes closed, seemed as.eep
most oflhe time, until the train, stop
ping at Oshkosh, took on board the
company Of lawyers. She then uu-
derwent a change. aud became greatly
interested in the company, locking often
from one to the other, as ii she recoS-
n.zed them all, or was trying to recall
their faces. When the game OF cards
was started she became very restless.
would hitch uneasily about in her seat,
take up the hem other faded apron and
nervously bite the threads. Once or
twice thought she wiped her eyes un-
der her Shaker bonnet, but could not
tell She acted SO strangely, | became
more interested in her than in the
PLAYERS. and watched her closely. She
gotup after time aad tottcred forward
holding on to the seats as she passed.
She brushed against Judse--'n
passing, but he had become Interested
in the game and did not notice her.
Reaching the water tank at last she
drank cup OF water, aud toOGa seat
near the door, with her back to the
nlayers. But she did not lon5 remain
there: rising asaln with difficulty, she
tottered back toward her former seat
but reaching the players, she paused
directly in freat Of them, and now
greatly excited, threw back her bonnet
from her face and looked around the
company. Her action at once arrested
their attention. and pausing IN theiI
play. they all looked up inquiringly.
Gazing directly in the face OF Judge
-, she said in tremulou' yo'ce
DO YOU know me, Judge"
No, mother, don't remember you'
said the Judge, pleasantly, Where have
we metz?
MY name is Smith said she; :
was with my poor boy three days, OF
and on, in the court room at Oshkosh
when he was tried fer-tor-ior robbin!
somebody, and you are the same mai
that sent him to prison for ten years
and he died there last June
All faces were now sObered, aud tn
Messengers began to gather close aroun
and stand up, all over the car, to lister
and sec what was going on. She dl
not give the judge time to answer her
hut becoming more and more excited
she went on: He was n good boy
Won did send him to Jail. lie helpe
IS to clear the farm. and when fathe
was took sick and died he done all tn
work. and we was getting along righ
smart. ill he took TO going t. town an
rot to playing keards and drinking an
| then somehow, he didn't like to wor
after that, bat used TO stay out often ii
mornin'. and he'd sleep so late, aud
couldn't wake him when | knowcd he
bin out so late the night afore. An
then the farm kinder run down, an
then we lost the team f; one oil them 60
killed when he'd bin to town one awiI
celd night. He stayed late. and | SUI