The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-06-19
Wartime.
THE OLD MANS STORY OF HIS BOY.
HOOD.

THE OLD MANS STORY OF HIS BOY
When I was Just such boy as Pete
here, lost my father and mother il
one day; so did manyothers, for tha
was in the time of the Thirty-years
War, when 10 man was sure of hi:
home. Many, many were the orphan:
in those days, and many the beautiful
ladies who lost all they had in the
world and became bcggars. But as
was going to say, we lived in the city
not outside the walls, as you do here
there was large army Of soldiers all
around it who wanted to get in. Fol
long time the soldiers who were in
the city kept them out; but at las
they got in and every one was in ter
ror.
L was at school, and our master was
reading prayers to US, when all at once
we heard a shout: 1.-THE town is tax.
emp Up we rose and our master told
US to 60 quickly to our h5mes, saying
that he did not think we should ever
see him or each other again.
I ran very fast along the widest
street, where saw many soldiers with
their swords drawn, and by them q
great number lying on the ground
dead this made me. run faster still,
and 7 turned into the way which led
to my home. AS got to my fathers
door 1 heard voice, saying: "Your
mother has gone to the great church
20 quickly to her."
I could not tell who spoke to me,
but as I turned away from the door,
that might run to my mother, I met
two strange looking soldiers who had
Just killed poor man, and were wet
with his blood. Then I was afraid
and hid myself in doorway, when a
kind old man came up to me and said
"Child, why CONTEST thou here? Save
thyself before the soldiers seize thee"
So he pulled me all trembling into his
house, and was going to put me in q
cupboard, when the soldiers came in
and held q sword to his throat, and
told him to give them all his riches.
"I will give you all I have" said he,
elf you will not kill me-" So he open
ed box full of money and beautiful
Jewels, rings, and chains "these are
all have, and You may take them" "
So they filled their pockets with them,
and as there were more yet, they took
little basket into which they put the
rest.
AS soon rs they had taken all, they
shot the poor old man and / tried to
hide behind some empty casks. but
there found a beautiful young lady,
who begged me to go away and tell no
one where she was. ,
Then / thought I would try to find
my mother; SO I ran to the Cathedral.
but the doors were shut, and / could
not open them. l heard the people
praying inside, but though called
very loudly, no one answered. L neV-
er knew whether my mother was
there, but I think not; if she had
been she would have tried, OF least, to
open the door. for she loved me dearly.
Well, when I left the church, the
same two soldiers who had murdered
the old man came up to me again and
said "Dog carry this basket for us !"
so was forced to go with them Wher-
ever they went. Then / saw sorrow
indeed For they took me into Gel
lars, where there Were Ladies, chlldren
and servants, hidden for fear behind
all manner of rubbish. They had no
pity for any of them, but killed them
all, even tie babies who lay on their
mothers bosoms; and took away
from every house all the gold, silver
and Jewels they could find.
Just as we came up from one OF
these cellars we saw that the 'front.' OF
the house was on fire, and the two sol,
diers whose basket l carried snatched
it from me and ran away; SO J. saw no
more of them. But soon found that
the town was burning; from hun
dreds of houses the bright flames shot
up at once, and the air was filled with
smoke. .,
You cannot know the misery l felt
then. Voices were screaming around
me, and heard people imploring to be
allowed to 60 away, who promised all
they had i'm the world to the soldiers
if they would but let them go; but
there were few spared, though L was
taken by q soldier who pitied me to
the other side of the river. where a
kind fisherman took me into his house.
Long afterwards / used to ask OF every
one who came over from the city
"Have YOU seen my father or my
mother?n but I never heard OF them
again! War is Il terrible thing.
"But what quas the war about?'
"I don't rightly know" said the old
man. II never could make out.
There was q King of Sweden on one
side and the Emperor on the other: l
suppose the Kings was the right SIDE,
for our town took that, but as l tel
you, I don't know; can only teil you.
that it took my father and my mother
and my home from me. / used to
have many servants to wait on me,
and eat from silver dishes; now | am
an old fisherman, but | am thankful
TO those who cared for me-"
[These atrocities were conmItlea III
the name of rcligion.l
1uking cf Nftg'e6"'y.
1c~~