The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-02
; EW ENGLAND was filmy red
with bursting maple buds.
Silver troops OF rain flOated


spring, whose memory draws its sons
soon or late from all the worlds places
to 90 home.
1t was such a morning. promising
to become hot" as had lain on Mas
sachusetts In the dawn of April 10,
1875. when men were gathering at
Concord and Lexington.
The country was as still as II must
have been on that far OF day. The
mill towns were still and smoke,ess.
The machineries were still. There was
nc cry Of ploughmen in the fields.
It was a supine New England,
hushed, apprehensive and conquered.
So at least 1t seemed to the invaders,
whose patrols. spreading fanwise, were
beginning to pierce the country In all
directions, pushing forward far in add
vance OF their armies and finding no
opposition.
Through New England the church
and town clocks struck seven. The
land was peaceful as death. The hour
passed. The lazy clocks began 10
strike eight.
In a village north of New Bedford
stood a little crowd Of farmers
gathered around the general store and
listening to the Sheriff. He was warm
ing them that they must not attempt
to resist the invading troops when
they came.
81 know that you and you." said
he. pointing to men as he spoke.
brought arms with you. You'd better
give them up to me-"
"And you an American" growled
one OF the men.
The Sheriff did not retort. He was
scarcely past middle age. but there
was a great, slow patience in his face
that made him look old.
He shook his head and said: ITS
only for your own sake
Look" cried a farmer. who is
coming here?"
The man who was coming was n
man on a motorcycle. Man and ma
chine were so coated with dust, were
speeding so desperately. that even
without war in the land one would
stare at this flying thing; one would
wait with eyes and lips open to
learn what startling message II was
carrying.
Man. roaring motor and their brother
pillar Of dust crashed by. They had
disappeared before the GREATNESS
watchers realized that the man had
waved an arm at them and had
screamed Soldiers"
A farmer ran TO his wagon and
pulled out rifle from its hiding place
under the wagon seat.
Come on, boys" he said.
Listen. Listen" The Sheriff shou,-
dered forward. men! Neighbors!
Old friends. For Gods sake listen!
You have no right to fight
"What?" The Sheyiff's young
brother, sturdy. handsome, suddenly
ferocious, brought his face close to
him. NO right to defend our coun-
try? Are you crazy, Jim?"
The patient man shook his head
again. 1T is against the rules Of
war"
Then curse the rules Of war"
shouted the younger. Are you
coward?"
The Sheriff reached out and touched
his brothers arm. 1t was secret
almost a timid act. The brother threw
off the appealing hand.
Don't touch me-" he spoke through
set teeth. IT you are coward and
traitor may you be damned through
all eternity. Again For the last
time. Will you fight?"
The Sheriff raised his hands dumbly
The men went to their wagons and
returned with arms.
ITO that stone wall yonder.." said
one.
He pointed into a field with a rough
stone wall dividing its centre thre.
or four hundred yards from the road
This man was an old hunter, and the
others had followed him often. liz
took command now as a matter %
course.
The Sheriff watched them fiounde
through the ploughed field. He stoo'
still for a minute. Then he hurrie,
to his house, emerged with a gun ant
Joined the party.
Two miles away a squad Of tel
cavalrymen cantered over a ridge AM
examined the country through thei
field glasses. They studied the grount
foot by foot, almost inch by inch
Satisfied, they trotted toward the vii
lage.
Around a turn they came on it'll
knot of women and children. VIII
scurried, screaming, into the ditch.
rider headed off woman who wa
carrying a child He stopped to he
from his tall back horse. Laughinl
he nodded and said something To he
in a foreign language.
STOPPING still lower he snatched IN
cnild suddenly and swung it out of tn
trembling woman's arm. He lifted
and danced it up and down.
He fumbled in his saddlebag an
brought out some chocolate, which d
fed to the baby. Then he handed
back to the mother, roaring agai
with laughter at her frightened fac
The other riders, laughing also, wave
their hands at the group and ear
tered on.
They entered the village, swift
examined it, riding through garden
and into alleys. assuring themselv,
that there was nothing there to mas
danger for the troops that were b
hind them. They passed out OF II
other end and into the road leadir
past the ploughcd field with the stor
wall.
1t was still and very lonely. The
was not living being in sigl
throughout all the softly tinted Ian
On tree branch that hung over u
stone wall bluebird began to Sit
with all the power of it's little throa
1t brought hot choking to Il
throat of farmer who was lying b
lt No. "a, 10.