The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-12-21

you do you not know what morning has
begunf"
How should l know?' asked Fleming
How can any man who has been march
ing and fighting and skirmishing foI
weeks keep track of tine?'
This is the night OF the oath of De
cember, and ii 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 il
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
t.it'
1t seemed to Fleming. that the~inan's 8
manner now had the dignity apd forcs
that we Rscribe to the Hebrew prophets of
! old. His httIeHess had disappeared, he
showed no semhlance 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 ind, and even in the pres
ence OF those who carried arms in their
hands TO kill told OF peace on Garth and
! good will to men The sanRuinary scenes
of the night passed out of kleming's mind
Y for "a pSoihent, An,1 in cGeir place he 3aw
( 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 II
tell you again that God will strike you
( dead If you fight in his house ut such q
time. What, a sacrilege, and you but
boysi"
! 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 herei' 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 belIl 1t is declaring peace,
and no other voice shall be heard in this
place.
The last touch Of the battle fever passed
from Fleming Sveins, but he looked ques-
tioningly at the door behind which his
enemies had fortified themselves The
old mans eyes followed his
They, TOO, snail 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.
''Yes, we promise, said Fleming me
chanically, his mind still wandering back
with the notes OF the bell to other Christ
mas mornings.
T There is nothing TO fight for here, any
( way" said Evans in u low voice
| Not 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 leming and Evans
! saluted them with military courtesy.
! About face" 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 the smOidering
! 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 will should reign among men.