Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1901-11-06

heir protectors, and I was meditating
in half stupefed way the same meas
IRE wnen knock came at the door,
and two men, who had often eaten n,d
drunk at my uncIe's table, came in an
made me prisoner, confscatIng
the possessions of the family to the
state.
Sin those days mans + es ere Of
ten they of his own household. L Of
fere / no resistance The shock of th
day had completely uAmanned me. ]
made certain that 1, 20, should die
tlat night. But my time was not yet
come.
SIN consequence Of the lateness o,
the hour was taken to the town pIis =
on, dismal building, which ha | new
en- kdown to be occupied. There 1 was
thrust into a deep dungeon aid LETT in
total darkness till the MOI ming, wien l
doubted not l should be conducted to
the same cruel fate as my poor re.l
tives had met. But morning came, a,
had guessed by the sound wiiLouf, and
still no summons. Worn out with sus.
pense and waiting, 1 fell asleep. When
| agoke, hunger and thilst oppressed
me. Happily L had stored some bread
and meat and small bottle of wine in
one of the pockets of my coot prepare
tory to my inteuded flight. Of this |
now ate and drank. No onecane nigh
me, AMI yet [ could hear sounds as if
wretched prisoners were being led forth
out of nelghboring cells, doubtless to
death, for they wept aud pleaded vain
ly as 1t seemed to me.
"But the third day great stiffness
fell on the prison. I could not under
stand it. My senses were enfeeoled for
want Of food, fol my small stock ha !
long been exhausted, and 1 almost lack
ed strength to wonder why 1 was left
to live so long. Presently arose an aw-
full terror lest should be my sentence
to perish niserably for want of food
in this damp dungeon. Death on the
scaffold appeared light by comparison.
[ clamored at my prison door. shout
ed as loudly as 1 could, ali to no
purpose. Then l burst into an agony of
tears. My fate was too dreadful to
bear. With the soft nature of my youth
| bitied and bemoaued myself sorely.
All at once words came into my mind
that l had learne years ago as a text
in the school, Fer thou not for 1 am
with thee; be not dismayed for l am
Thy God.
"They came like a ray of light into
into my prison, and L chung to the
promise as if it had that moment been
made to nay by a plying God. 1 felt
soothel and hopeful, aud in tets con-
dItion l sauk back in doze or swoon.
Chow time passed L could not tell;
day and night TO me were alike in my
cell l woke up to find light and
warmth and kindly faces about me.
L had lain five days forgotten, The
stiffness l had noted the third day was
accounted fer by the fact that the
news lad just reachsd our town of the
death os one of the greltes- leaders
Of the revolution and the consequent
decline o! tho party. In fear of his
life, our terrorist mayrr had fed, and
The old mayor, resuming power, had
ordered the pris n doors to be set
open. | in MY solitary cell had been
'org )tten, and but That some one had
been sent to examine all the bells and
collect letters used therein I might
have perishel most miserably. AS it
was, was carried out perfectly sense
ess find bro 1T to life with some diff
guilty.
81 am safe now, as you see, CON-
AIDES, in my own country, but the an
yuish of those few days will never be
bear obout with me in my |
ace The remembrance of it. Daily 1
hank God for light and air and food,
nd yet these good gifts of his fail to
make my heart rejoice. Sill those
lreadful daps in the dungeon have Civ |
N me firm reliance on his mercy. |
nd know that I shall one day be
oyful again in he city of which the
rates are never shut end where there
s no darkness"