The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-12-29


FLEMING AND EVANS sALUTED THEM WITH
MILITARY COURTESY.
were shining with o feverish excitement
and his courage seemed to grow as the
fever rose.
"Stop 1 tell you again" I" he shouted.
"This is murder that you and those in
that room, too, are bent upon r.
"It is warl"
at Is not warl The battle is over, and
you fight here without purposel What is
the possession Of this church to either Of
your And to fight, too, at such a timew
Fleming looked scornfully at the old
man who vet held his attention and i'm
pressed him.
"At such timer" he repeated "It's
true that it's night, and the snow is fall.
ing, but we're not parlor soldiers to seek
our tents because of winter night"
IT'S more than winter night" said
the old man stornly, raising his accusing
finger again and pointing it at Fleming.
"ListenP'.
The unseen clock overhead began to
strike and Fleming and his men, awed de.
spite themselves by the old man s manner,
counted the strokes under their breath
One, two, three, they counted, and on up
movement, as II some new power possessed
them. Nor did any sound come from the
room in which their enemies lay, and
Fleming believed that they, too, had been
listening to the old mans words. Then
he grew angry at himself and sought to
shake off the spell.
"Did you hear that9" asked the old
man
Yes, heard it," said Fleming, land
heard nothing but clock striking mid.
night"
But what q midnightp' exclaimed the
other. And do you uot know what morn
ing has begunY'
Without waiting for an answer, he seized
a rope which hung by the wall and as he
pulled with strong and practiced hand
bell far above them began to ring Its
mellow note, steady and strong, echoed
through the night, which heard no other
sound now, and rose and fell in a song of
JOY. Listening TO its music, Fleming for.
got for moment the wilduess of the win
ter night and the lust of battle which had
burned so flercGly in his veihs.
"Listen, listen, l tell youl' exclaimed
the old man, his face transflgured by the
ecstasy which possessed him. ''Is not that
a better sound than the crack of rifles and
the Groans of dying menf Again, ask
you do you not know what morning has
begunP"
How should l knowP" asked Fleming.
How can any man who has been march.
ing and fighting and skirmishing for
weeks keep track Of timer"
This is tho night of the cath Of De-
cember, and it. 5 Christmas morning now,"
I'd tI,x 4.
was born and came into the world to
preach forgiveness and to teach men to
love one another I've ruIS that morning
in with this bell every year for the last so
years, and came here tonight to do it
again, though you've followed me and
fought in the church itself. Stand back,
tell you! You shall not fight here with
the bells of Christmas morning ringing in
your ears. God would strike you dead for
it.
seemed to Fleming that the mans
manner now had the dignity and force
that we ascribe to the Hebrew prophets of
old. His littleness had disappeared, he
showed no semblance of fear, and his eyes
blazed with the force OF the spirit that
was in him.
The notes Of the bell rose far above the
ence of those who carried arms in their
hands to kill told of peace on earth and
good will to men. The sanguinary scenes
of the night passed out of Fleming's mind
for a moment, and in their place he saw
the peaceful Christmas morning of his
childhood. Then he looked weakly at
Evans, as If he would seek counsel from
his second in command.
Lower your weapons" cried the old
man, who never ceased his ringing ~
tell you again that God win strike you
dead If yea fight in his house at such
time. What saCrilege, and you but
boys"
The fever in Fleming's veins was dying
He looked at his men and saw that the
lust OF combat was passing from them.
In his ears rang the joyful note of the bell
telling him that Christ was born and had
come on Garth to teach peace and good
will among men. He turned his eyes
from his men to those of the sexton, who
pulled the rope with regular and rhythmic
stroke and they fell before the gaze of the
| old man.
And you purpose to fight here" fam
ed out the old man "You should be
down on your knees and thank God that
you are alive this Christmas morning.
Listen to my bell 1t Is declaring peace,
and no other voice shall be heard in this
| place"
The last touch Of the battle fever passed
| from Fleming's veins, but he looked ques-
| tioningly at the door behind which his
enemies had fortified themselves. The
old mans eyes followed his.
They, too, shall put down their guns
while the Christmas bell is ringing" he
cried. Come out These men give their
| promise that they will not fire upon you. 4"
eyes, we PROMISE" said Fleming me-
chanically, his mind still wandering back
with the notes of the bell to other Christ
mas mornings.
"There is nothing to fight for here, any.
way" said Evans In low voice.
mot now at least, replied Fleming in
the same tone
The door in front Of them was opened,
and their enemies, gun muzzles down,
came slowly out. Fleming and Evans
saluted them with military courtesy,
about facet" said Fleming TO his men,
Then with their lieutenants at their
head the little band marched down the
stairway and through the church and out
into the snow and past tho smoldering
embers of the houses to their camp And
above them and around them the clear
notes of the bell were proclaiming that
Christ was born on earth and peace and
good win should reign among men.