The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-06-20

pity them y with slanderous tongues,
who waged their spiteful heads and tried
to besmirch the two fresh young lives
by slurs aud innuendoes. But Deliver
ance vindicated her life by her chaste
discretion, and her face was an irrefuta-
ble argument against evil report. For a
time she was very happy in her humble
home. But with the opening spring
IrJuble began to darken about her life.
It. was not in the Puritan nature to brook
Christopher's bold apOstacy. His case
was discussed at length in the church
conclaves, and with mu h bitterness Of
feeling. One dreadful morning early in
August the constable appeared at his door
and arrested the young husband for pes
tileIt heresy. After two weeks of sus-
pense in Jail he was sentenced to the
House of Correction for three months,
with not even chance for a parting
word with his sad wife.
Then month later the family of De-
liver nee were banished fIom the plan
tatiOn for outspoken utterances against
the gross injustices to which the peace
ab.e and inoffensive Friends we're sub
jeCtCd. She felt that her own turn
might come at any time. She was re-
garded with bitter animosity by the
mos. of her neighbors, who attributed
ChristOphers heresy to her acCursed in
flucnce. But she kept quietly at her
work, taking up the management of the
little farm at time when it needed q
mans strength AM Judgment. Her ten
der hands learned to guide the plow,
when the land WAS prepared for the fall
crop Of wheat. Indoors she kept the
fires, split the wood, and blistered her
pretty fingers oyer a hundred tasks
which ought never to rest on woman.
Still, she was not all unhappy, Her
bright spirit scared at times away from
the sorrows and cares of life and found
resting place in the shadow of the
great Rock.
1t was one pleasant morning in Octo-
Der, as Deliverance was working in the
garden, that she looked up and saw the
constable dismounting at the gate, He
held a legal looking document in his
hand and stood gaz ng earnestly at the
young and graceful figure before him.
SIS your name Deliverance Burden ?"
"Yea, answered Deliverance, quietly.
"Well, the Governor wants TO see you.
You have been spreading heretical doc
trines around and have missed the di-
vine service these many Lords Days.
You're a schIsmatic, and that isn't al
lowed, you know"
81 have spoken only the truth" SAID
Dtliverance firmly. And as for the
Lords Day service, have wOrshiped
where my own heart compelled me. /
We committed no crime against thee or
he law that thou shouldst seize me by
violence"
81 have my ORDERS" said the consta-
BILE sturdily. land am bound to carry
them out 81 shan't hurt a pretty wO-
man like you; so hope you will come
without any vain resistance"
at is the Lords will" murmured De-
liverance. as she cast despairing look
around over the distracted little farm.
HE will keep his children as in the hol-
low of his hand
When Deliverance Southwicke an
swered Here to the summons of the
clerk, there was start of surprise in the
court room. Her pure face, sensitive
with pain at the publicity Of her posi-
ton, was flushed to a radiant color, and
her full lips were half parted. She look
ed bewitchiugly beautiful as the carmine
fed from her throat TO her brow and
then receded, leaving her cheeks as pale
as lilies. The Governor, after regarding
her earnestly, began his severe examin-
alton. 1t does not concern us here to
give his stern, scathiDg questions, nor
the fearless answers which Deliverance
made. He could not make her quail,
nor would she admit the justice of his
inquisition. His brow darkened with
fierce passion. The glory of God TO say
nothing of his own glory demanded
that this hereto, who dared uphold the
right of free speech, should be made an
example of. Deliverance had expected
some punishment, perhaps severe one;
but she nearly tainted with horror when
the clerk of the court read in monot-
onous voice the sentence that had been
decided upon
"Deiverance Burden, you are to be
tied to carts tail, with your clothes
stripped off to the middle, and to be
drawn through the town, and to receive
twenty stripes upon your naked body"
A murmur of pity ran around even
among those hardened spectators. Those
who were near TO her might have seen
Deliverance's eyes fash with righteous
Indignation under her meek Quaker de-
meanor, as the unjust sentences were
pronounced against herself and five 9th
er deienceless women; but in moment
her glance fell, and meeknes sat upon
her bowed head as she laid half aloud /:
"The chastisement of our peace was
upon HIM, and with His stripes we are
healed. Shall the servant be- greater
than his Lord 7"