The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1882-05-11

y ing very stern TO hide his emotion.
The women began their wsilings ane
, and even some Of the men gave way. al
J begged for mercy
The young student nov falling on b
Z knees, once more appealed to the officer.
don't kneel TO You, said he. but will prs
to God 10 prevent you solling your col
science by snch cruel massacre
His cool determined courage quite owe
came the officer, whose eyes filled wit
tears. He turned to his men, now draw
up in line. and without utterinl word
gave them assign, Of which they silentl
signihed their comprehension. The
beckoning to the student he whispered b
him, | am about TO save you by strata
gem. Chose ten Of Won coolest hands
and arrange them in line before me.
will then order my men to shoot then
through the head. When say Fire th,
ten men must fall fiat on the ground; th,
soldiers will shoot over their head
aud none OF them will be hurt. shal
then order my men of the ground, whence
none of your people must stir till we are
fairly out Of sight.
This decision was at once communicat
ed to the villagers, whose distrust and
alarm, however, proved so great that none
OF them would venture to come forward
So the pastors son was the first to take up
his position in front Of the soldiers, saying,
stand here in the firm conviction tha,
no evil will befal me, and count upon
such of you as have any right manly feel
ing to join me.
Young Conrad, sturdy peasant, looked
reassuringly at the young girl to whom be
had recently been betrothed, was the frs,
to advance, and eight OF the other mer
presently followed him, all with the de.
termined manner Of men Drawing instant
death, for none of them implicitly believed
the assurance of safety, The women
trembled and hid. their faces; the children
stood around awestruck, yet inquisitive.
Once more the lieutenant's sharp eye
mustered his men, then came the word of
command, Present, take aim, and that
high enough 80 as as to do your work
well
The men perfectly understanding their
officer, he now commanded them TO fire
In the moment between his words and the
peal OF the muskets the ten villagers sank
to the ground, and, without losing
second, the officer cried, Right about,
march
When the measured tread of the retiring
soldiers resounded through the silent vii.
age street, and the women ventnred to. !
look up, ten men lying motionless. and II.
nj appearance lifelcss, met their view.
With cries Of alarm they rushed forward
o sec what had happened, and before
heir weeping was exchanged for joy, he
he last soldier had disappeared in be
djacont wood.
What these two Young men had done
vas not to lose its reward. AS for the
,astor's son. a manifest blessing attended
lin through life. In course OF time Le 4
nipistered in his fathers place to those
Vhom he had rescued and afterwards, be-
ng called to Leipzig, received the degree
{ Doctor of Divinity, and became we'll |
nown throughout, Germany as founder
IA distinguished association for the de-
enee Of Evangelical Professionalism the
iustav-Adolf yerein Meanwhile, The
Waldo RI people, whom from time to time
G visited. contiued TO hold him in CRATE
ii remembrance.
In 1856, three of the ten men above
lentioned still surviving in Waldorf, q.
ibilee celebration Of the great deliverance
as proposed. and DR., Grossmaun of Leip-
g-the pastors son, the young ma3
hose self-possession had prevented the
reat calamity invited TO take Is
'ading part in the festive proceedings,
nd gladly acceded to the request After
solemn religious service, he repaired to-
Ie spot where. fifty years before, be had
ICED the French execution party. and
ere related to the children and chil,lrens
lildren OF whom he had saved the forego.
X story. The whole scene has been de-
ribbed AS touching in the extreme. The,
iree old men sat next to the speaker, and |
'idently wildly recalled the ordeal which
icy had undergone in his company. In
Is address DIR. Grossmann did rot fail to.
AXE honorable mention OF the officer to-
hose humane device they owed their de-
yerance. Even his name said be, is un-
lown to me, and never have heard
ore Of him, though often remember
i'm ia prayer 1t would cheer my last.
Iys could l once see him and thank him 4
That very year there resi- led at Lyons. \
here very likely he still may live, an IN
lid veteran officer Of the army Of Napo-
on l., who, after changeable life, found
mself in old age, forgotten. lonely, and {
nor. His only support WAS scanty pen
on; his only amusement to frequent |
fe, where he read the news and studied {
e politics Of the day. One afternoon in
oyember. 1856. be went as usual TO his
fe, and took up the newspaper which
me first TO hand. This chanced 10 he
9 Augsburg Gazette, which, as he b III
ssed several years in Germany, he was /
lie to understand very well. His atten-
IN was attracted bya letter from Je % ,
tn an occount Of the bidori Jubilee. I
aldorff thought he, surely ] know that {
ace; where can have heard Of il, :
hen the Gray haired Captain Lamotto
a finished reading the report, his excite f,
snt, very uncommon phenomenon In him.
ew the notice OF the other gentlemen /
esent. DAyousi be cried. Waldorf, ten /
co, the parsons sohi Did | dream all