Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 October 1880 — Think Again. [ARTICLE]

Think Again.

Queen Victoria was not twenty years of age when she ascended the throne. Coming into possession of power, with a heart fresh, tender, and pure, and with all her instincts inclined to mercy, we Day be sole that she found many things that tried her strength of resolution to the utmost. On a bright, beautiful morning the young queen was waited upon at her palace of Windsor by the Duke of Wellington, who had brought from London various pipers requiring her signature to render them operative. One of them was a sentence of courtmartial, pronounced against a soldier of the line — that he be shot dead I The queen looked upop the paper, and then looked upon the wondrous beauties that nature had spread to her* view. “What. has this man done?’’ she asked. ' ! The duke looked at the paper, and, replied, “Ah my royal mistress, that man, I fear, is incorrigible? He has desertcd three times.” “And can you not say something in his behalf, my lord?” Wellington shook his head. A “Oh. think again, I pray you!” Seeing that her majesty was so deeply moved, and feeling sure she would not have the man shot in any event, he finally confessed that the man was brave, gallant, and really a good soldier. “But" he addpd, “think of k the influence !” . L ’. "'“lnfluence?” cried Victoria, her flashing and* her bosom heaving with strong emotion. “Lti it be ours to wield influence. I will try mercy in this man’s case; and I charge you, your grace, to let me know the result. A good, soldier, you said. -Oh, I* thank you for that 1 And yon may tell him *that your good words saved him." • Tnen she took flie paper, and wrote, with a oold. firm hand, across the dark page, the bright, saving word —“Pardoned I” • . I The dnke was fond of telling the story, and he was willing also to confess that the giving of that paper to the pardoned soldier gave hint far more joy than he could have experienced from the taking of a city. >