The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-11-06

the voices OF unearthly influence. Thur
the men gathered about the Pomeraniar
and with open eyes and solemn faces
listened greediiy to the slow, impressive
words OF the soldier. The camp fires
lighted their faces, and the great trees
shook their damp heads above them, as
the German told his story here in the vast
recerses OF the great wilderness.
These letters OF protection, many OF
! which were discovered circulating among
the soldiers I'm the late war OF the French
and Germans. are said TO be relics Of the
| Thirty Years War The fable that ex-
| lists concerning them says that this letter
| descended from heaven, and was first dis
covered in Hostein In the year 1879 II
was written in letters OF gold. and how
cred In the air above the baptismal spring
| Radnau. Many hands were stretched
| forth to seize IT, but II always eluded
| them; yet II willingly lent itself to be
| copied.
The non-Catholic soldiers gathered about
| Humboldt could not fully appreciate his
story because Professionalism had robbed
| them OF all the romance Of superstition.
Is poetry Itself not the romance OF super
stition? But still the men listened with
awe to the words OF the Pomeranian, for
they did not doubt but that some
secret charm lowered about the reckless
man.
Humboldt brought forth his letter and
unfolded It. II was written on yellow
parchment. and contained much that was
obscure and uninteligibe though it also
bore many Of the mystic symbols Of
Catholicism. We here present version.
Anglicized as far as practicable:
Klaus Bendas Moment
Lesebuch-I -Eanoment- jesus Maria
Joseph.
Stand still. all we visible and invisible
guns. that we may not be fired against
me. by order OF the Holy Ghost
/ beseech all we guns and weapons, by
the livi lg God, the Father the Son and
the Holy Ghost likewise all the saints,
that we may not kill me. nor wound me
with deadly gun God the Father. be mer-
ciful TO me God the Son be with mel
and God the Holy Ghost between all dead
ly bullets Amen.
R X D. I'D *
Whoever hath no faith in this letter
let him write these letters on a weapon
and stab an animal with it. and the ami
NAL will not bleed.
The bearded men bent over and studied
this document in solemn silence.
Humboldt continued in n low and
guarded voice: But what man can hope
for aid from such a letter If ne have no
faith? / believe in it, earnestly, deeply,
and no weapon on earth will ever injure
me; but l had comrade once who also
carried a letter. He had no faith, and
still he thought the letter would protect
him. A cannon ball carried off both Of his
legs at Solferino." The great soldier,
speaking thus. in hushed voice and with
warning hand appraised, suddenly ceased
and shrank together.
He shrank within himself, for head
had gided over his shoulder and sallow
face gazed with fearful interest on the
strange letter in the soldiers hand. A
slouched hat sat on his head. a shock Of
savage hair hung from It, and pair Of
flaming eyes glowered upon the mystic
rious characters traced on the supernal
document. 'tremor of superstitious
and unhOly awe had seized upon the ig-
norant Butternut, and shook the Utmost
recesses and foundations Of his soul.
Humboldt quickly and jealousy thrust
the letter into his bosom.
Distant shots from the picket line rose
family through the night, as gloomy
warnings Of the conflict on the morrow.
Tramp. tramp, sounded the hollow
footsteps of the many sentries as they
walked ceaselessly along their narrow
platform, and ever, as they walked,
clasping their guns to their shoulders,
they gazed watchfully into the stock
ade below them.
There. beneath them, stood many
groups Of men, thinly clad and trembling
in the cold wind Of a Northern winter.
Southerners were these, for the most
part reckless mountain men, ignorant
and poor.
Two grim comrades-Fever and Hun
among these wretched men
and moved them down.
Many stood In groups. with blankets |
tightly drawn about their shoulders, |
staring before them with despairing eyes.
Others, more unruly, wandered restlessly
about the grounds, hurting missiles or
cursing their bitter foes, the sentries.
At times a terrible roar would burst
from these many thousand men, cry
the Union soldiers knew too well-the
fearful war cry Of their Southern foes
A river flowed through the stockade.
sullenly licking its yellow banks and
carrying huge clumps of churning ice
upon its bosom.
Among those many moving sentries was
one Of extraordinary statue. 1t was
humboldt, the POmeranian. All the af-
and even now, as evening FELL
le had been marching 10 and fro, letting
lis eyes roam over the herd OF humans
beneath him. And whenever those rest
esS eyes OF his wandered over the prison
round grim smile of pleasure curved
he mouth OF the soldier and he clasped
lis gun more tightly to his shoulder.
Those beings whom his eyes sought out
we're two men seated on the frost-bound
arth as close as they were allowed 10
reep in the shadow Of the palisades
'hese were the two Butternuts whom
humboldt had captured, and he eyed
hem with the pleasure that a hunter
cells at the game he has captured. The |
reat soldier felt no enmity against the
wO-he had fought In too many wars
D any longer be partisan. But he was
hunter Of Humans, and he gloried in the
apture OF the mortal man.
The two men who sat there seeking
heller from the wind of winter never
'ined the sullen groups of their de-
pairing cOUntrymen; they never Ioamed
yer the grounds with their rebellious
they scarcely ever moved. But
3 the huge sentry moved TO and fro
Dove them the eyes of the one But
rnut were fastened on him. With the
Ovement of Humboldt moved those
ack and burning orbs. The Southern
)ldier made 10 sign and spoke no threat,
ut he gazed and gazed at his captor as
Re darkness of evening fell, even as
ght drew on and the form Of his foe
as but an outlined shadow.
Again that fearful battle cry rose from
he lips OF the imprisoned men. A clum-
ly-built wagon drew slowly through the
ockade. the INCREASED wheels creaking
shrill dirge. The wagon was filled with
ugh pine collins and the Wretched can