Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-09-17
A Thrilling Appeal which Saved a Life.

In Il recent case in the recorders court,
Attorney j. w. Donovan told the follow
ing story, which is, the Public Spirit be-
lieves, quite new. 1t halls from Texas:
One hot day in July, 1860, herdsman
was moving his cattle to new rancho
further north, near Helena, Texas, and
passing down the banks of stream, his
herd became mixed with other cattle that
were grazing in the valley, and some of
them failed TO be separated. The next
day about noon band of dozen mounted
Texan rangers overlook the herdsman
and demanded their cattle, which they
said were s,olen.
1t was before the days of law and court
houses in Texas, and one had better kill
five men than to steal mule worth five
dollars, and the herdsman knew it. He
tried to explain, but they told him to cut
it short. He offered to turn over all the
cattle not his own, but they laughed at
this proposition, and limited that they
usually confscated the whole herd, and
left the thief hanging on tree as warn
ing to others in like cases.
The poor fellow was completely over
come. They consulted apart few mo-
IllGulS, ullll tllCu lOlu lllI IL uG uttu ally
texplanation to make or business to do
they would allow him ten minutes to do
so, and defend himself.
He turned to the rough faces and COM
menced: " How many of you have wives?'
Two or three nodded. "How many oi
you have children?" They nodded again
Then l know who am talking to and
you'll hear me-" and he continued: 81
never stole any cattle; | have lived in
these parts over three years. | came
from New Hampshire; ! failed there in
the fall of 81, during the panic; | have
been saving; lived on hard fare; 1 have
slept on the ground | have no home
here; my family remain east for | 60 from
| place 10 pldUu; thooU elotlIvo wear nrS
rough and am a hard-lookfng customer
but this is hard country; days seem. like
months to me, and months like years
married men, you know that but for the
letters from home-(here he pulled out a
handful of well-worn envelopes and letter:
from his wife)-I should get discouraged
l have paid part of my debts. Here are
the receipts" and he unfolded the letters
of acknowledgement. Il expected te
sell out and 90 home in November. Here
is the testament my good old mother gave
me; here is my little girls picture" and
he kissed it tenderly and continued: "Now
men, if you have decided to kill me fol
what am innocent of, send these home
and send as much rs you can from the
cattle when I'm dead. Can't you sent
half the value? My family will need it."
Hold on, now; stop right thar!' sale
n rough ranger. Now, l say, boys" he
continued, 81 say, let him go. Give u.
your hand, old boy; that picture and then
letters did the business. You can go free
but you're lucky, mind ye."
"We'll do more than that" said maj
with Il big heart, in Texan garb, and car
rying the customary brace of pistols in hi
belt, "let's buy his cattle here and let hin
60"
They did, and when the money was pait
over, and the man about 10 start, he wa
too weak to stand. The long strain o
hopes and fears, being away froul hom
under such trying circumstances, the sud
den deiverance from death, had combined
to render him helpless rs a child. IL
sank to the ground completely ovel come
An hour later, however, he left ON horse
back for the nearest stage route, and. a
they shook hands and bade him good-by
they looked the happiest band of men
ever saw.-New York. Dispatch.