The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-09-26
CHAPTER XIII.
SUMTER, S. C.
ee,r.,esr. ,sss. sr rsE AUTHOR.


TEE GROWING OF GUATEMOC.
Our businesswith the people of the Oto-
mie being ended for awhile, we returned
to the city of Tenoctitlan, which we reach
ed safely, having been absent month and
day. It was but little time, and yet
longenough for fresh soErows to have faii-
en- ON that most unhappy town, for now
the Almighty had added to the burdens
which were laid upon her. She had tasted
OF death By the sword Of the white man;
ncw death was with her In another shape,
for the Spaniard had brought the foul sick
ness Of Europe with him, and smallpox
1aged throughout the land Day by day
Thousands persisted OF it, for these ignorant
people treated the plague by pouring cold
water upon the bodies Of those smitten.
driving the fever inward to the yitals, 81
that within two days the most OF them
died This treatment is followed among
the Indians Of Mexico to this day, but II
the writer may believe what he heard IN
that country the patient is frequently
cured by It'll
It. was pitiful to see them maddened
with suffering as they wandered to and
'tro about the streets, spreading the dis
temper far and wide. They were dying In
the houses; they lay dead by companies in
the market places awaiting burial, for the
sickness took its toll Of every family; the
very priests were smitten by it at the altar
as they sacrificed children to appease the
anger Of the gods. But the worst is still
to tell Cuitlahua, the emperor, was struck
down by the Illness, and when we reached
the city he lay dying. Still he desired to
see rs and sent commands that we should
be brought to his bedside. In vain did I
pray Otomie not to obey. She, who was
without fear, laughed as me, saying:
.sWhat, my husband, shall shrink from
that which yoa must face? Come, let US
20 and make report of our mission. If the
sickness takes me and die, it will be be-
cause my hour has come.
So we went and were ushered into q
sheet as though he were already dead and
with incense burning round him in golden
censors. When we entered, he was in
stupor, but presently he, awoke, and it
was announced to him that wetwaited
Welcome, niece, - he said, speaking
through the sheet and in thick voice.
teYou find me in an evil case, for my days
are numbered; the pestilence Of the Teules
Stays those whom their swords spared
Soon another monarch must take my
throne, as I took your fathers, and do
not altogether grieve, for on him will rest
the glory and the burden of the last fight
Of the Aztecs. Your report, niece, let me
hear it swiftly. What say the clans OF the
Otomie, your vassals?"
my lord" Otomie answered, speaking
humbly and with bowed head, may this
distemper leave you, and may you live to
reign over us for many years. My lord,
my husband Teule and have won back
the most part Of the people Of the Otomie
to our cause and standard. An army Of
90, 900 mountain men waits upon your
word, and when those are spent there are
more to follow
well done, daughter Of Montezuma,
and you, white mad, - gasped the dying
king. 1.-The gods were wise when they
refused you both upon the stone of sacri-
fee; and was foolish when would have
slain you, Teule To you and oil I say be
of steadfast heart, and ii you must die
then die with honor The fray draws on,
but shall not share it, and who knows
it's end?''
Now he lay silent for awhile, then Of q
sudden, as though an inspiration bad seiz-
ed him, he cast the sheet from his facea
sat up upon his couch, no pleasant sight to
see, for. the pestilence had done It's worst
with him. ,z.ssss
.sAlas,'' he walled, land alas! Isee the
streets Of Tenoctitlan red with blooda and
fm- see her dead piled up In heaps, and
the horses Of the Teules trample them. I
see the spirit Of my people, and her voice
is signing, and her neck is heavy with
chains The children are visited because
of the evil of the fathers. Ye are doomed,
people of Anahuac, whom would have
nurtured as an eagle nurtures her young.
He'll yawns for you, and earth refuses you
because Of your sins, and the remnant that
remains shall be slaves from generation to
generation till the vengeance is accom-
plshed-
Having cried thus with great voice,
Cuitlahua fell back upon the cushions, and