Rensselaer Union, Volume 11, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 May 1879 — THE POCASSET HORROR. [ARTICLE]

THE POCASSET HORROR.

A Letter from ItTrs. Freeman, Giving *ll Account of What Led to the Sac* rlflco of Her Little Daughter—Her Pear that Their Faith was a mistaken One. Barnstable, Mass., May 17. Yesterday afternoon Charles F. Freeman, whw, some time ago, killed his little daughter in the idsane belief that he was glorifying God, was removed to the new County Jail. As soon as he was placed inside of his cell he removed his coat and began to sing. Un his Way from the old Jail he appeared m good spirits, and met the gaze of those he passed with calmness and unconcern. Mrs. Freeman was brought about half an hour later by Sheriff Harris, who had procured a carriage for her. Arriving at the Jail she jumped from the carriage and asked the Jailer which way she was to go, and was taken directly to her room on the second floor in the southeast corner. She had a pleasant room, receiving the sunlight and a view toward the railroad and depot. Freeman is still unchanged, but his wife seems to be suffering in her mind, and it is thought doubtful if she survives the summer. Thev will be confined here until the Grand Jufy meets at the October term, and will be kindly cared for. The following letter was received recently from Mrs. Charles F. Freeman by her sisters-in-law in Natick, where Freeman formerly lived: Barnstable, Mara., May 19,1879. Dear Bisters: We l ave received your letters. I had looked for one for a long time. I never thought it would find us here. Am glad to know you are all well. We are in need of nothing, but we thank you for your kind thoughts for our comfort. I have no doubt you stiller for us. I cannot tell you how It all came to te. You know how dearly we both loved our precious little one. We have tried for more than a tear to live entirely devoted to God and to the good of others. We had given up dress, the desire for money and everything that was not pure in purpose. You Would hardly have believed it was Charlie. He never was profane, had not drank since I Jtnew him, and was one of the best of husbands and fathers; but now he commenced a life of 1 rayer and faith iu God, and I with him. He read his Bible every spare moment, and his whole life was spent iu Christian, earnest work for good, and his whole aim (uot neglecting other duties) was to win souls to Christ, and seek himself eternal life. One trial of our faith came one after another, and God blessed us very much the more we trusted Him. By and by there came a week and mo-e _pf great and npw trials Charlie did not Bleep or ent scarcely for nearly two week=. During this time of painful trial he felt that. God required him to have the faith of Abraham. You know what that was in regard to Isaac, lie cpuld not get away from it; the more lie tried the more it came to him. At last he said to tbe Lord he wou’d be willing to bear the test; he thought that would tie all God would ask. That seemed 1 1 end it for the day. That iiiaht if came to him more piwerlully; he could not help it. Oh! God alone knows how I suffered. But having such great faith in God, to bel eve He would stop him just as He did Abraham—that it was only a trial of faith—knowing, as I did, Charlie’s life and love, his-fear lo disobey God, a’d that be liid Abraham’s faith, I could not hinder him. But neither of us thought God would suffer her to be touch’d any more than that the day Would fail to come. We thought God would see our faith and give ua some token of acceptance. We God would thuuder from Sinai before sny harm should come to our darling; but when I found my precious Edie gone,.oh, Father, how I felt! But comfort seemed .to come again. Abraham bellt-ved God would raise Isaac, and so we felt that it was God’s plan to take her, so as to raise her from the dead and thus show His mighty power and love. We did believe He would do this iu order to show the world that tbe God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of .Jacob still lives, and so wake tip the frozen Church of God to Ps duties—the Church so married to the world that, there is ec rcely any difference between the two. We believed th s was to be, and that Edie would yet go with Charlie to preach the Gospel Of the Kingdom. What a power she would be! What glory to-Tils cause! Elijah, Elisha, Chri t and the Apostles raised tbe dead, and ,whv should not God do it now ae then! We briieved He would. But the time has so far passed and we are here. God knows we are innocent of any crime. Charlie still thinks God is going to manifest His power and glory, and himself be justified to the eyes of tj»e world.‘ God grant it may be sol Ob, you cannot know my sorrow! It al most breaks my heart I My dear, dear Edie 1 Charlie Is innocent, oh! he-K, of any crime; bm I am alraid it was a mistaken faith in God. Dear Lord, trip ns in our need. Hattie. ■ a •- ..-Tv-' ’CW »- who put down thedirst oil United States twenty years ago, is to have a monument’ at Titusville, Penn. He died poor, reaping scarcely any advantage from hi* discover^.