The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1898-12-21

room in which their enemies lay, and
Fleming believed that they, too, had been
listening to the old man S words. Then
he grew angry at himself and sought to
shake off the spell
did you hear that?" asked the old
man.
Eyes, heard it," said Fleming, land
heard nothing but a clock striking mid
night"
"But what midnight!" exclaimed the
other. " And do you not know what morn
ing has begun?"
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 it's music, Fleming for
got for moment the wildness of the win.
ter night and the lust of battle which had
burned so fercely in his veins.
Listen, listen, / tell you'll" exclaimed
the old man, his face TRANSPORTED by the
ecstasy which possessed him. "Is not that
a better sound than the crack of rifles and
the groans of dying men9 Again, ask
you do you not know what morning has
begunY"
"How should knew" asked Fleming.
"How can any man who has been march
ing and fighting and skirmishing for
weeks keep track of time?''
This is the night of the gath Of De-
cember, and it's Christmas morning now"
cried the old man, ''the night when Christ
was born and came into the world to
preach forgiveness and to teach men to
love one anotherl I've rung that morning
in with this bell every year for the last so
years, and l came here tonight to do it
again, though you've followed me and
fought in the church itself Stand back,
/ tell you'll You shall not fight here with
the bells of Christmas morning ringing in
your ears God would strike you dead for
it.
1t 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 nc 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
whistle OF the wind, and even in the pres
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 Jennings mind
for 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 weaponsP cried the old
man, who never ceased his ringing. II
tell you again that God will strike you
dead if you fight in his house at such a
time. What a sacrilege, and you but
boysp'
The fever in Fleming 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 earth 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 herel" 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 belll 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