Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1894-04-19


which is so terrible to any country |
haracsed by it.
In PALMYRA there lived one Taylor, a
man of union tendencies, but obnoxious
~ both northern and southern men in
fhe place because OF his low standard
Of morality. He made ?. practice OF
spying upon his neighbors and report
ing to the guerrillas of like belief
MANY were the horses seized and men
taken prisoners at his instigation. 50
s,sn,t, even the children avoided him.
nd were seized with fear and trembling
Vhe came near. This state OF Things
ktinued for some time, until. one day.
k1and of southern guerrillas came
4 Tough the little place and captured
lavnr. He was never heard Of again
and the citizens breathed freer, and
said good radiance to bad rubbish
A band of the northern guerriilas
hearing of the incident galloped TO the
town, and seized as prisoners some OF
5 the southerners of the place. declaring
+. tina. il Taylor were not immediately pro-
duced. ten lives should be taken. Con-
sternation seized the people.
What were they to do? Taylor could
not be produced They did not know
what had become of him. 1t was sup
posed he had been killed. and a scaa
man could not be produced
PRAYERS and entreaties availei moth
ing. The men were determined ana
the people had to submit.
The day following the capture of the
men was set for the execution. me
whole town was in mourning. Wives
and children were weeping over the
: fate of husbands and fathers. mothers.
over their sons, and one young girl
monrned for her lover TO whom she was
to have been wed in two days.
: Early in the morning on the day Of
the execution. young Graves wended
his way toward the place of the shoot
Ing.
> most affecting scene was transpir-
inc. The final partings were taking
nlace. and the cries of the heart broken
won:s were dreadful to hear.
One little group particularly, ?t-
tracted his attention. 1t consisted of q
WIFE and six little children taking a
last leare of the husband and father
THE wife's rrief and despair were heart
Eenaing The husband was bowed
doAn with anguish at leaving them I'M
nrotected during the cruel war
Graves stopped. his own heart throo
hing in a great sympathy for them. lie
offered consolation. but nothing could
/comfort them. Fearing to intrude long
4 ,,ron those last solemn moments, he
LEFT them full of intense pity.
Tf could only help them he muir
,,,red 10 himself but there IS nothing
that can do-Ah." A sudden thought
aa,.ted through bis mind. Why moi
e.;,a himself in this mans place. lis
etopped short. Could he? Lie was g
/, sweet. so full sof promise. To mereiN
e~ist was a pleasure. And yet the wife
80 those little onesl How friendless
ho,v unprotected they would be! bui
wv should he? There was no call To-
.s.;n, 10 do it. Turning. he hastily mad
his way to a elump of trees where NJ
could be unobserved. and threw him
self on the ground Should he? m
tbougbt presented itself again an'
AGAIN. There was no one to miss MN
H M mother or sisters to grieve Il n
4 were TO OlE-HtitAN HNN
/ the wide world--and yet-and yet Lag
was "a fair. Visions Of the future ros
before him. Vistas Of glory and fame
Could he voluntarily lay this down?
The air came fresh and cool upon NJ
brow lie arose and looked aroun
him Was ever the sky 50 blue before
How the sun shone, and how clear u
Mississippi looked as it lay between tn
high bluffs of Missouri and the ioWlaho
- Illinoisl The trees hung over IN
banlTs 81 the river. throwing long deel
aarlr shadows like the shadows 81 deat
~death-what was it? Should ne soi'
the mystery in a few short hours,
still be living on the oeau'iIu, earel
Torn with indecision, he threw hims Sc
unon his knees. and cried ior IS. I
Win the prayer came faith and tFg =
and strength, and he arose paie ana q
'el Wnil.inr rapidly. he made his way, way
.he lsader Of the gang, and made snow
he reonest The man gazeo al III
n;th astonishment-
DO Won know what you are dong
.-,--.s Graves. firmly