The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1824-02-19
@igreitanp.
TH4 DxsERT6RS.

pers of sir. Mason. Secretary 10 the Duke Of Cum
beriAnd. A- alfsa rtatttN
There were, In the regimen, Of -, two
ycung soidisrs above the eommcn level, both
from the ssme place, > small town in Lanesp.
shire 3 snd each hsd much friendship for tho
so,her. They hsd enlisted ,cee,her, thoush
from Different motivest they. matched to-
eeiher, snd were inhsbissns of 'he ssme
tent one, whom I shslt call the Lover, he'd
enrolled his name ,hfooeh an unsssiness from
his being disappointed IN whs, he thought oil
he hsppiDsss centered--lhe msrrisgc Of n
sweet gnh at his own town, by whom no wss
much bsloseti her relations wets Inc xoss sble,
ard his hopss IN vain the oiher,s lad of
spisii, believing . soldiers life - fine 80 tho
recruiting s.i jesot had described IL, willing
to see The world, accompany HE friend, end
serve HE country, likewise secepIed tho
kipg's pictured and csiled the Volup,eer.
He wss The opiy, con Of his mother, and sho
WAS a widow she was much Rtieved o, tho
s,ep, which he had taken without her p,ivty
and consen, bu, being In en- essy situation,
snd not wsu,ing his ssss,soce for her support,
she lsmented it enly through her affection for
him. The widow cent tonh her soh with
tears end b'e"ipRst the maid eyed her tvsr
from dis,snt window, "a nearer spprovch
not being pesnned) best ume 10 his s,ep,
with her heart sill he wss out oi sight, then
sent her whole sopl sitter him IN cetp fetch
ed sigh. They bsd not long been 10 camp
be fore The Voluneet had wcsfvi proof OF Tho
wide difference between tee ;dsss sHt's man
soldier which he bed dressed up 10 his imse-
ination, and tho miserable halt stssved slsvs
the food Tor powder. As Tor the Lover, no
wasinseosibie 20 ,he, ,hsrdshjps olAthe body
,he sei,siions Of ,he. mind shpotbe6 he Whols
attention 10 vstn had he eots3vosed 10 Nv
from the object oI his love, he hn<hroOght ~
way his person only. leaving sllIhIs thouGh,s
and heat, behind him; aud wss - absent
from himself in The nuisc end bus'le Of tho
day ss IN the silep, midn'gh, watch, OF when
stve,ched upon HE bed oi straw. Ihsy eom-
rpuuicste d abeir sentiments 10 each other, spd
took the fatal iesola,iqn tn, desert. Thus
winged by Iove, sod urged by lear, the hilia
of Sco,..na h.~ from their heels, end they
hsd arrived st . vilisRe within . mile Of their
own, when they were ovsuekea by . horso
pursuit, end re.eondvcted 10 their camp. A
court msr,isi wee held and they were con-
dsmned to die but the scnsrsi ordered as
IL usual in sncb cases, thst ieey should cs,t
tote, and only one should sofier. The dsy
following was 10 decide his tate. Al the sp-
pon'ed time tho ,ioe wss formed, the drum
placed IN the centre with tho box and dco
upon i,s heed and the de,rquen,s made ia en-
tet. The horrors ich he'd set broodinR on
their souls the preceding night, end wero
now ove' ~helTicg the st the ewiul crisi.,
were sUongly painted on their wsn and psllid
countensneet. Their friendship wss rssl end
sincere, bui ,ho, Of that isbuious and heroic
kind - to wish TO die Tor each Other each
wished TO live. and each was disquie,ed at tho
thought that his own ssfe'y mus, be bull, on
the dsstrpc,ion Of his hiendi They. alter.
ps,eIy rtqueslcd esch Other 10 begin. Tho
Lassr looked earnestly 81 the iinle ins,su-
msnt, Of lilo and death, took Them in his
trembling hand and quickly laid them down.
The officer was obliged TO inre,pose, sod
commanded ,hs Volunteer 10 thfow He
lifted the box in his ueh hand, then shifted ie
in,o bis left, then gsse II 10 his right bend o.
gain, snd, ~ if ashamed OF weakness or su-
petsii'ion, cast his eyes upward for Q mo-
Wepi, and was IN tho oct 10 throw, when tho
shrek, Of female sorrow struck his car and
10 bursts ftom opposite psrts of the circle,
the Widc& aud the Maid ! their hair dishev-
slled, and their gsrmon,s trsvsl.soil and torn.
What q sigbt vas this ! The mother and the
son on ono side Of the dtom, sod the Maid
end the Lover on tho other. The 6tu Trans
potts of,heis frsniic joy S fading them alive,
were boon sbsfed By their d'ssdiu' uncer,sin-
y Of whst must follow. The officer wss
mao, end did not hurry. the Volunteer to
throw. lie put his hand 10 the box Of his
own seco'd. His mo,hsr fell PROSTATE upon
the earth, - did sDso me maid, soJ both, with
equal ex,s,y and fetvor. poured forth their
diHerent prsysss :--he ,hfew-Nioe la
g'esm Of imperfect joy lighiensd up The WI
DOVE face }; end she looked - you niehs
have supposed her TO hsvs done, II, standing
on the shore, shs hsd seen her son ship
wrecked, bur 10 bufedng the waves, when
presently he gains ,sIs and psddling 10 tho
shore, end slfeSdy she thinks 10 feel his fond
embrace, bot s,ili IL snxious, lest svoo sons