Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-09-10
From q LoRd0s Megusine.


THE REPpIEvED MALEFACTOR.
I'm affecting scene lately exhibited at Nezo.
-" A dreadful din was wont
To greet The sense, when entered here from
groans,
,As,d howls Of slaves condemned; f,om clank,of
Chains
And crash of rusty bars, and creeking Of hin
ges!
And ever and anon the light was daeh'd
With trigh,ful faces. and the meagre looks
vi grim and ghassly execu,icners.
The tolling of the dreadful bell, sum.
rnoning the miserabi. to pay their forfeited
lives to their country, awoke Henry from
the first sleep lie had fallen into stree lie
entered the walls of a III. mai prison.
Henry had been merC.lan, and married
the beautiful Eliza, in the midst OF aiilu
ence: but the capture oil our West India
fleet, In the American war, was the first
stroke his house received. His creditors
Z from the nature of line loss, W ere Tor some
time merciful bu; to satisfy some partial
demands, he entered into . dishonor abb:
'IeHy, which being discovered, Henry
was thrown into some loa,hsome Jail. lie
had offended against the laws, and was
Condemned to die.
Eliza possessed Roman virtues. She
would not quit his side ). and, with her
infant son, She preferred chasing away
his melancholy in dungeon TO her ia
theirs house, which was still! open to re.
ceiyc her. The hopes Of repriuve from
day 10 day had fed; but nul before the
death warrant had arrived. Grief over
r0werlng all other senses--sleep the
baimy Charmer of the woes OF umani!y,
IN pity 10 their miseries, extended her sill
ken embraces over them, and beguiled
tie TIME they bat! appropriated for pray.
er; and Eliza, with her infant, still cont
nUed under her influence.
Father OF mercies,"e Exclaimed Henry,
=" lend thine ear to supplca;ing penienl;
give a,tentionto my short prayer. Grant
me forgiveness, endue NE with fdr;itude
TO appear before thee: and, O God /! ex.
tend thy mcrcies to this injured, this best
OF thy servants, on whom have en,aiIsd
undeserved heartfelt woe. Chase not
sleep from her till am dead"
The keeper Interrupted his devotion, By
warning him OF his fate. "If there be
mercy IN you" replied Henry, SNAKE no
noise, Tor would not have my dear wife
and child wake Till am no more"
he wePt--even be---who was Injured
TO misery--he, who with apathy till now
looked upon distress, shed tears at Hen
'y's request-Nature for once preGomi-
mated in jsilor.
AZ this instant the child cried {" O bea-
Vehs' SAID Henry, am two guilty to
have my prayer heard ~ he took 1p his in.
1ant, e fortunately hushed il again to rest,
while the Jalior STOOD pelriied with asto-
hishmenl. AT last he thus broke out :
!" This is too much, my heart bleeds for
You; would had not seen this day."
VIVA; do hear :" replied Heory. Is
,his an angel IN the gab cf my keeper
Thou art indeed unit for lily. office-this
is more THAN was prepared 10 hear
hence, and let me be conducted TO my
fate"
Those words awoke the unhappy Eli,
"a who with eagerness 10 atone for The
lost times began 10 appropriate the few
moments lei; in supplicating for The hus.
bands salvation.
oide by side the unhappy couple pray.
cd, as the ordinary advanced 70 the dis.
NAL celi--They were too intent on their
devotion to observe him. The holy man
: came with more comfort than what hi;
function alone could administer. Il was
a repreve, bat with caution he commu.
nicatsd the glad tidings to the loving, but
hapless pair.
The eife6l it had on them was TOO affec.
ling to be expressed. Henry's senses
we're ovefpowered while Eliza became
frantic with JOY she ran to the man oil
God, then to he's child, ere she perceived
her husband apparently lfelsss. lie soon
iuha!ed life from her tender kisses, while
the humane jailor gladly knocked OFF his
feGerS.
hia ~ - - a. 49, Z, T.. y 70