The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1909-04-16

! he had curbed in his plays with his
young master he had now put forth,
freed himself, and was gone.
Optimus wept hot tears of grief; but
Malchus, his father, was not wholly
regretful at the animals departure. He
had become more and more anxious,
during the past year, lest some sud-
den fury might break out in the ami
NAL; he could not share the boys con-
fidence in his pet. Optimus often
mourned in secret, and many night
cried himself to sleep
Four years went by, and Optimus
was now man in strength, and was
known as an upright member of the
little band of Christians who stole out
into the Campagna, each Lords Day,
and one by one glided down the brok-
len ravine into the catacombs, and
there worshipped the true God, and
sang hymns, in low voices, in honor
Of Christus the Nazarene.
The season of Christmas, in the year
! 127 A. D., was now close at hand and
Optimus had planned to spend the
sacred festival in Rome. He had
friends there, Christians like himself,
and word had secretly gone forth
among the faithful that at this Christ
mas-tide Polycarp, the aged bishop of
Smyrna, would meet q company of the
Christians in a certain house in the
city
Accordingly Optimus, carrying on his
strong shoulders some Ieathern bot
ties of milk, and leading two kids by
strings, as offerings for the feast Of
Christmas, walked the ten miles to
Rome, on Christmas Eve, and found a
warm reception at his friends humble
home.
The Christians had planned to meet
early the next morning, Christmas, at
the house of one of their number in an
obscure part of the city, and there
listen to words of counsel from the
good bishop and to hear tidings of the
brethren in Asia Minor But a dread
full blow fell upon them. Somebody
must have betrayed them; for, as OPP
timus with his friends knocked at the
barred door of the house appointed
and whispered softly the phrase agreed
upon, Christ is born" they did not
receive the expected reply, but, instead
the door quickly opened, and armed
soldiers concealed there dragged them
within, and, stupetied with surprise and
fear, they were thrust into room
where ten or twelve others with fam
liar faces sat covering in silence and
dread
Other Christian brethren were ex-
pected; the trap had been set for more;
but none came, and an hour later the
hopeless little company were chained
in pairs and were hurried away to the
Mamertine prison.
An hour later, a harsh voice spoke
to them through the iron grating OF
their dungeon, Prepare, yourselves!
When the dial this day casts no shad-
ow, you go in to the amphitheatre. y
And the same relentless voice added
scornfully: Call upon your God! Per.
haps he will deliver you"
The low sobs were heard through
the darkness of the dungeon, and low
ing arms were clasped around dear
forms which soon would be torn by
jaws Of wild beasts The hours passed
quickly, and at the time named the bru-
tai jailor returned and drove the
Christians before him like sheep along
winding passages, armed soldiers
guarding them, out for few moments
into the sweet sunshine of heaven
then again underground and through
more winding galleries. Now they
could hear the subdued growls and
mutterings of savage beasts, and knew
that the end was near. In a few mo-
ments they heard the distant blare Of
trumpet; and with commands and
curses they were thrust out through
the gratings of door, and found them
selves in the sanded arena, gazed at by
hundreds of curious, careless, cruel
spectators.
They chung together, and most Oh
them kneeled in prayer Then some
heavy gratings at the other side of the
arena were flung open. and the spotted
form of leopard glided forth, then
| another, and after him several jackals
and two yellow and brown tigers; mex;
a lordly lion, monarch of the forest
and after him the 1.-the, dark body OF
a panther that went creeping around
the edge Of the arena, under the high