The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1895-01-11
THE POWER OF SONG.
10 Saves Traveller from the Designs Of
Two Highwaymcn.

IL Saves Traveller from the Designs Of
Two Highwaymcn.
Just few days after l had read
story on this page of The Times called
"Paul's Song" which told, if you re.
member, how little girl, Who was
lost In n pine forest, was found by
PauPs singing song she knew, hap,
pened TO meet gentleman whose life
was once saved by the singing Of a
song. He was friend of my uncle's,
In Virginia, and had often heard tho
latter tell the story, though do not
remember that he mentioned the gen
tleman's name.
One day at the breakfast table we
were telling tie various adventures
we had heard of and when my turn
came to speak | rcl"tcd this one.
Greatly u my surprise, one Of the
gentlemen. IL Sir. W, said To me:
You have told the main facts cor,
rectly, but you cannot know how
felt, for was the traveller who figures
IN your story. was n minister of the
Gospel, and, in the discharge Of my
duties, had to go near llarper's Ferry,
which was dangerous locality at that
time, for railroad was in course Of
construction thercabouts and there
were many rough and desperate look
ing mon working on it and living in
the vicinity.
ITO he thrown in their midst unpro
tected was thought to be as much as
ones life was worth. was not familiar
with the country, and not long before
night was completely lost and knew
not which way TO turn. However, !
kept on and in little while found
myself right in their midst. did not
feel easy, you may be sure, but l tried
to assume an indifferent manner and
asked them politely to tell me the way
to my destination. They looked sui
lenly at me and then two of them
offered to show mo the way. l was
not pleased at such company, but ac-
cepted the protfered aid pleasantly
and walked on with them, exerting
myself to tho utmost to make myself
agreeable to them.
After while we came to a dark
looking place where they had been
working on tho road, and they pro
posed that should stop and rest. /
was bound to do as they suggested
but could not help wondering if i
should ever get up again. Near them
took up, but said nothing. l secm-
them about Ireland, for saw at once
their families and everything l could
think of to interest them.
"At last l thought I would try
the power of song, for my voice
was then considered fine, so
oil IL. I 1
think Of. Still they seemed ut,
tcrly unmovcd and had the same
wicked look, and felt that did not
dare move, did not dare bring about q
crisis yet. ! then thought of one moro
Irish song ! knew, The Irish Emf.
grants Lament, and / sang it with all
the pathos ! could put into my voice
and did not omit single verse. After
singing a short while saw their coun-
tenances change, saw the muscles of
their faces twitch, saw their eyes fill
with tears, which soon rolled silently
down their bronzed checks.
when finished they turned ONE
and With voices trembling with emo
ton said: That song has saved your
life. We had intended killing you for
what money YOU might have, but we
could not touch you now. That song
of old Ireland has brought back the
dear homes and all tho loved ones so
strongly before us that now we will
guard and protect you and go with
you until you arc safe from all dan
GER
and SO they did, but you may be
sure l was glad when wo came to the
place of parting, for did not know
how long these better feelings might
last. When VIC parted, though, ]
shook hands with them cordially,
saying, Erin go bragh, Ireland for
ever and walked Off as rapidly as !
dared without exciting their i'll will
1t is needless 10 say how rejoccl I was
when reached my destination"
This incident is truo in every par
ticular=Cor plilalclnlia TimeS