Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1893-09-21

Snock came at the door, and two men.
who had often eaten aud drunk at nv
uncle's table, came in and made me a
prisoner, conhscsting all the possessions
Of the family TO the state.
In those days mans foes were often
they II his own household. offered no
resistance; the shock of the day had
completely unnamed me. made GER
tain that l, too, should die that night.
But my time was not yet come
In consequence of the lateness Of the
hour l was taken to the town prison, a
dismal building, which l had never
known to be occupied. There was
thrust into a deep dungeon, and left in
total darkness till the morning, when
doubted not | should be conducted to
the same cruel fate as my poor relatives
had met. But morning came, as | had
guessed by the sound without, and still
no summons. Worn out with suspense
and waiting. fell asleep. When l
awoke hunger and thirst oppressed me.
Happily | had stored some bread and
meat and a small bottle of wine in one
of the pockets of my coat preparatory TO
my intended flight. OF this l now ate
and drank. No one came nigh me, and
yet | could hear sounds as if wretched
prisoners were being led forth out of
nelghboring cells, doubtless to death;
for they wept and pleaded vainly as it
seemed to me.
"But the third day great stiffness fell
on the prison. | could not understand
1t; my senses were enfeebled for want
of food, for my small stock had long
been exhausted and almost lacked
strength to wonder why l was left to
live so long. Presently arose an awful
terror, lest this should be my sentence,
to perish miserably for want of food in
this damp dungeon. Death on the scaf-
fold appeared light by comparison.
clamored at my prison door. | shouted
as loudly as could-all to no purpose.
Then | burst into an agony of tears; my
fate was too dreadful to bear. With the
soft nature of my youth pitied and be-
moaned myself sorely. All at once
words came into my mind that had
learned years ago as text in the school,
Fear thou not, for am with thee: be
not dismayed, for | am thy Cod
"They came like ray Of light into
my prison, and l clung to the promise
as II 1t had that moment been made 20
me by pitying God. felt soothed
and hopeful, and in this condition
sank back in doze or swoon.
"How time passed l could not tell
day and night to me were alike in my
cell. l woke mp to find light and warmth
and kindly faces about me. Slowly
regained consciousness enough to under
stand what they told me. had lain
five days forgotten, the stiffness l had
noted the third day was accounted for
by the fact that the news had Just
reached our town of the death of one of
the greatest leaders of the revolution.
and the consequent decline of the party,
In fear of his life, our terrorist mayo.
had fled, and the old mayor, resuming
power, had ordered the prison doors TO
be set open. |, in my solitary cell, had
been forgotten, and but that some one
pCch oSub W tAdullHt dil lut Cells
and collect the fetters used therein,
might have perished most miserably.
AS it was, l was carried out perfectly
senseless and brought to life with some
difficulty.
81 am safe now, as you see, comrades.
in my own country, but the anguish of
those few days will never be forgotten.
| bear about with me in my face the re-
membrance of it. Daily l thank God
for light and air and food, and yet these
good gifts of his fail to make my heart
rejoice. Still those dreadful days in the
dungeon have given me firm reliance
on his mercy, and know that / shall
one day be joyful again in the city of
which the gates are never shut and
where there is no darkness. New York
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