The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1901-10-24

!. FEAR THOU NOT
A Tale of the French
Revolution.

the last century, when cruel men SelZ-
ed on the government of France, when
human life was of no account and
when, as if wearied with its wicked
ness, God seemed to have hid his face
from the. sinful land.
No one may count up the tears that
were shed, the means that were made.
the hearts that were broken in those
dreadful times, but here and there out
Of the great mass of human misery his
tory has preserved a record Of the trials
and sufferings- of some hapless ones.
reading which we shudder and thank
God that we live in happier days.
Some few years after the reign Of
terror-as this Outburst O. sin and
madness was we'll named-a man Of
middle age entered small inn in Ger
many and called for refreshments. His
manners were timid and shrinking and
he looked as if he might just have re-
covered from some terrible illness-he
was so strangely, CHASTITY pale.
The landlord supplied his wants. and.
half curious half in kindness. he made
some remark as to the strangers ap-
pearance, coupling it with the ques-
ton, do you want aught else for your
comfortY'
NAY, nothing" said the pale man
hastily. Il have food and light and
air. What could want more" And
he sighed deeply.
"My friend" said the landlord. seat
ing himself, you speak as if you had
known the want of these things. Have
/ guessed arightW
His guest looked up.
"Would you hear my tale?' he ask
ed. For years have kept silence, but
today it seems as if it would tighten
my heart to speak. Listen and believe
it if you can. Less than seven years
ago l was gay. light hearted youth in
this our quiet fatherland. Having no
near relations, | was led to visit some
distant ones who had lived for many
years in small town in France.
''My uncle, as | called him out of
friendliness, was a kind. good fellow.
we'll known and respected in the place,
where he carried on the craft of a
matchmaker, and he proposed that |
should become his apprentice and part
ner. | liked the little town. liked my
uncle. liked my aunt, and | soon gave
my consent. They had no children
thank God for that now-but my aunt's
kindly soul could not be content with
out young people around her. so she
kept and clothed two house maidens.
children of some poor neighbors. Trim
and neat they looked. too. wearing the
costume of that part of Germany from
whence my aunt came. a pretty fancy
of her own. 1t seemed quaint enough
in a strange land.
at was happy household. No Won
der | was glad to belong to it. But.
alas, it was soon to be swept away by
terrible affection! For some time we
had heard of strange troubles going on
in Paris and the large towns, but our
little place was still quiet. One morn
ing, however. we woke to find every
thing in confusion. Our mayor had
been ordered to resign. and his place
was to be filled by some one sent from
Paris.
"Still. we never dreamed of what
fearful misery this was the forerunner
We had no time to dream. either the
blow fell so suddenly There had been
stir going on in the market place for
the two days following the arrival of
the new official. but my uncle and |
were busy over discovery which he
had made in our trade. and we were
less than usual in the streets.
"At noon on the third day. however.
he went out for stroll to rest his eyes
and look about him for few moments
My aunt and her maidens arranged. as
usual, the midday meal. and we were
all ready to sit down, only my uncle
was missing He was usually so pune
tual that we wondered and waited and
at last we dined without him. At the
close of the meal stepped out TO look
for him
81 had not got dozen yards from
our house when met our bakers wife.
her eyes staring out of her head
eco backp she said 10 back, 1t
is too late The monster. the wretch.
He has executed the honest man. with
out even the farce of trial. on the &C.
cursed guillotine yonder"
81 was petrified with horror. Could
she be speaking of my uncle. so re
spected so quiet as he was! 1t was
2 too true The wretch in office had lost
no time. but had begun his work of
bloodshed at once. and my uncle was
his first victim. his only crime being
that he was of foreign birth and had
sheltered under his roof some months
since a poor Swiss. ! retraced my steps
to the house. My aunt's anxious face
met my troubled gaze. She had begun
TO suspect evil. The two girls waited
fearfully In the background tried to
speak. but turned away and burst in
TO tears. was young then. Master
Landlord. and had tears to shed. My