The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-07-09

the county.
My Olood bolfs to think that while
some Of our best men are crowded
mo our dirty county Jail, these un-
leeilhS men and women are making
sport Of our trouble, and dressed
themselves in DISCUSSES that were de-
manoed by the exigencies Of those
lark days-making merry while We
fllled with fears. May God forgive
them.
Twenty men were taken to the iail
yesterday evening n last night It
was a lovely moonlight night. was
too excited to sleep. How can any,
one sleep IN peace. or enjoy any
lnlhg, when old and young, high and
low, are being dragged from homes
all round US?
must have fallen into an unquiet
sleep; then / was suddenly aroused
by the sound of many passing on
horseback. Will | ever forget the
scene hat greeted my eyes when 1
sprang out Of bed and ran to the
window? I think not.
Here came a squad Of twenty gal-
liant cavalrymen, their ~bayonets fash
ing in the silvery moonlight, escorting
two men-an old white man and a
negro who walked ahead Of them.
My cheeks burned. l wanted to call
out: Cowards. but / didn't.
Today l find that the old man was
Mr.. c., a highly respectable farmer.
After the family had retired, his wife
woke him and said:
Mr.. c., | believe that Merrill's men
are here
oh, no, I guess not" he said,
laundering knock at the door, and Mr..
C.'S name was called over and over
He was about to get up, when his
wife said, in a tone he dared not re-
sist:
stop, MIR. C. They sha'nt come
into my house. I'm going to the doc,
myself to see what they want"
She took her husbands pistol, slip,
on her wrapper, and wen to the door
Who's that, and what do yor
want?' she asked, opening the door
a little way.
The men were about to push in
She raised her pistol, pointed it ant
said quietly:
You are a dead man if you eros
his threshold. What do YOU want?'
The men were startled. Heretefor'
people were sc broken in spirit the,
had surrendered at once.
I'VE want Mr.. c."
Very we'll. Stay where you are
When Mr.. c.. is dressed he will com
out to you,' and she locked the doc
and went back to the room
They want you, Mr.. c. There ar
twenty Of EN-; there's nothin' for 70
to do but 60" And he dressed an
went.
The Jail is full-horribly full
Brother says they are huddled to
gether, black and white, in h sam
cells. l cannot ear to think of i
and yet, of what else can We think
Nobody can forget that If their love
ones are not there now they may b
before night.
Brothers elders have ~repToved hi1
for his recklessness in speaking
the officers, his complaint OF IN
dirty, crowded Jail, Of white-heade
old men and young boys being al
3 rested. There's one boy just sever
teen there now.
Last Sunday, with two whole sea
Of resplendently dressed officers j
: front of him. brother prayed for thos
: cruelty thrust into Jail, and for thos
-! in authority, hat they might haN
l '.saner minds and wiser ~counsels.'
believe that those officers, SON
e of them at least. admired his couI
age. Brother likes the young CON
mandant at the Jail. He express
l his nOlRnaIlOn ana SIiS1 at IL II
S dignitieS offered the prisoners, Of
Y he cannot depart from Merrilrs orde
He never fought in the Civil Wa
was out West, and has no feeling II
wards the South but admiration +
her sublime courage"
: Yesterday was one Of the most e,
citing and one of the saddest days
a all these sorrowful times. It was
t typical Southern spring Sabbat
e The air, laden with the perfume
! iessamine and roses. The ma
d nolias opening their pure chances
catch the blessing Of Gods sunllgf
There ought to have been peace
It every heart and praise on eve
tongue.
n Alas, how could there be? Scare
n " a half dozen families in our lit
: town of two thousand inhabitants b
q had husband, son or sweetheart
sometimes all there, ncarcerated al
awaiting a fate all the more tryl1
,r boco,ce So uncertain, To many to