The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-06-10

though you had anything that you could
tell if you wanted to-"
1t was the night before Memorial
day, and it was prayer-meeting night,
the service being held in the old YES
try. There were not many there, to be
sure. Perhaps they were saving their
energies for the next day. But there
were enough to be astonished when
Pastor Bean said at the end of the SER
vice:
"There is an act of justice to be done
here in Brier Hill tonight so startling
that it will require large hall, that all
the hearers may be seated. Every one
who wishes to go can adjourn after this
meeting to Town Hall. This is all l
shall say now"
1t was not necessary for him to say
any more, and the few at prayer-meet-
ing could scarcely wait with decent pa
tience until the minister said AmenW
and adjourned the meeting.
Then there was scampering over to
Town Hall, those at the end of the pro-
cession fearing that they would be I'M
BILE to get seats, and all lost in wonder
and amaze at the whole thing.
Nobody knew what they were as
sembled for; whether the bank in the
country town had burst, or whether the
minister was going to resign and
thought the church would be too small
for the audience that would naturally
be interested in the news, or whether a
dozen and one other things were about
to burst upon them with one fell swoop.
The tumult of all this whispering and
excitement suddenly ceased as Parson
Bean entered the side door, the select
men close at his heels, and then there
were seen to emerge from the two doors
Of the committee room, back of the
platform, a small crowd of people, each
looking as if he had something inter
esting to communicate. The parson
stepped right to the front of the plat
form and said, Let us pray"
Down went every head, although
sometimes eyes peeked out between
the fingers of the hands held decorously
before their faces. 1t is safe to say
that very few persons knew what the
parson prayed. Every one was watch
ing the group on the platform.
But after the prayer was ended the
heads were up again, and 1t was the
proper thing to stare in straightfor
ward way as Parson Bean drew for
ward tall, angular old man, bent ant
withered, who seemed to have grea
difficulty to walk even few steps t.
the front of the platform.
"Friends and fellow citizens" sale
the minister in deep tones, We hav'
with us resident of another town wh'
/ has emerged from the seclusion tina
has eveloped him to do simple act O
;. Justice to one of our townspeople
I, This is Jason Sparks. Perhaps som
j. of you know him."
}, Two or three people in the audienc
e started, craned their necks and stare
e long and hard at the old man on TIL
platform, but the rest looked on care
It lessly, not knowing in the least VIII
d Jason Sparks was.
k NOW, then, Mr.. Sparks" said Pas
tor Bean, "tell US what you kno'
/, about the battle of Bull Run-the littl
7. episode in which you and your CON
r. rade, John Dunscombe, took part"
q AT the mention of John Dunscomb
It every man was alert with indignation
it and the women also had curious loo
d of scorn on their faces, 80 deep ha
IS been the feeling of anger at the on
g. citizen of Brier Hill who had been
E. discredit to them in the eyes of tn
ID world.
IL ~ was with John Dunscombe," sal
10 the trembling voice of the man. &C.
is good many long years now, an
g I've kind of forgot bout most of it, bl
N it was in this way:
N 4" 1t was just this way: John said
Or me, Comrade, am feared, am, b,
at faint for myself. It's that the coul
Q, try will lose this day. Now" and I'll
st old mans voice trembled, 81 WI
ct feared, too, but it was because | WI
thinking that my legs was a'goin
a carry me off. l knew | should ruI
ID They made US charge with our bayone
k. all p'inted at the rebs, and did"
lg AT that the men stiffened involu
rt tarily, and the women all exclaimt
ur under their breath, " Shame on himl
"Go on" said the parson in a 10
c. voice, and the room was still as deaf
IS "Sure enough, ! did run; new
of looked behind me. just leaped out
en- my place and run. But I'll tell "
ly what made me. 1t was rattle behil
my ear, and ball whizzing by n
id arm, and John dropped by my sid
as just like this"