The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1900-05-05
STORY OF A POLE.

acquainted with them, my happiness has
been a thing of the past. 1t all came about
in this way: remember it we'll. 1t was
my goth birthday that spring-one of those
days towards the end OF long winter
when you feel the world under you rising
and stretching as after a long sleep when
winter and spring seem to come to close
quarters for final wrestle, ere spring is at
last triumphant. We were eagerly drink
ing in the fresh spring feeling in the air,
our bougha gently waving and our needles
rustling in the light breeze, exchanging the
news of the day when suddenly a new
note was added TO the familiar sounds Of
the forest Since then l have had cause to
at the time it vas the sound Of human
Voices We waited in suspense to see what
it meant, every twig on the alert. We had
not long to wait. In few minutes there
appeared through the distant pines group
of men, five in number Three of them
were dressed in large loose tuncs, and
baggy trousers, with some Chinese chargC-
tiers, as found them out afterwards to be,
worked on both back and front of their
tunics, marking them as soldiers. One of
the three carried large axe, and the other
two each pot of white paint with brush.
The fourth was dressed much as the first
three, save that he had no lettering on his
clothes. All four had black caps Eith red
tassels, marking them out as in the service
of the Government, while their black hair
was braided in quene, which hung down
their backs. The fifth was of different
stamp entirely. His hair was light colored,
short and curly on it peaked cap. He
had on tight-fitting jacket and trousers,
with leather belt round his waist. He
moreover seemed to be the leader of the
party. After they came near US, he stopped,
and the others stood waiting behind him.
With quick penetrating glance he slowly
ran his eye among us, till he seemed to ne
looking right at me, when he TUNED and
said som thing to the man in plain clothes.
He in turn quickly gave an order to one O!
the soldiers with the paint pot and in
moment he stepped right up to me. What
could it mean? | tremhled in every fiber
and my very sap ran cold. Not long was
left in suspense. With quick motion lie
dipped his brush in his can and then with
two turns of his hand painted two great
strokes Of white making an \ across my
trunk BY the time'it was done the leader
had sought out another young tree, con-
spicuous, like myself, for a strong erect
bearing and Oh it, too, tine fatal mark
was made. few yards beyond he found
third and then the party moved out Of
sight, marking here and there tree as
they went As soon as they had gone, all
my friends began to talk at once, and
speculate on the meaning of the heroglyph
ic in white The fact was, none of them
had the slightest idea what it meant hut
that didn't prevent them having all kinds
of explanations 10 offer; for they were
almost bursting their barks with curiosity,
and, if the truth must be told, envy at such
distinction being conferred on me. As
for myself my instinct told me, it foretold
some trouble and felt sick 70 the core
and my very needles began to droop.
Afterwards, | discovered white was the
color of sorrow in that country, and the
great glazing marks seemed for that reason
to have a still more sinister look. On the
third day our suspense was ended. Another
company of men appeared, much larger
than the first, all evidently soldiers, and
armed with axes, saws, and various other
implements Just before they appeared
we had been struck by curious loud
knocking, which grew palmer as they came
nearer. We were not left long in doubt as
to what it meant Horror They were
cutting down every tree that had the white
cross on it believe my very needles
stood on end with fright seemed frozen
to the ground where | stood. The execu-
TONERS drew nearer, and | breathed hard.
They were only two trees away, and my
breath grew shorter. They were at the
ncAt tIec anu saspCu' lHeJ "tlb at he
The first blow made me culver from my
topmost needle to the lowest root-fbre.
few more well. directed blows, and my
heart was cut in twain, and | knew no
more
When came to once again, I was a
sorry sight Without bark or branch, head
or root, there | lay, with more than
hundred others in like condition. AS well
as l was able in my crippled state looked
around, and saw that we lay at the foot of
mountain, down whose side we had evil
IDENTIFY been rolled. What was the object of
it all? Next morning brought the answer.
With great confusion and much shouting,
great rough OK wagons were drawn up
alongside and | and my companions in
misfortune were loaded into them After
five days o: horrible iolting, during which
I was thankful there was only my trunk
left to suffer- we came to the end Of our
journeyngs. From time to time wagon
with its load had dropped out Of the long
h. ,nI 7