The ladies' garland. [volume] (Harpers-Ferry, Va. [W. Va.]) 1824-1828, 1824-02-21
FGoH COIN, LoSnoN MAGAZINE.
TIE CONVICT.


TIE CONVICT.
TO the south of Fort Cumberland, on the IIIlnp-
shire coast rises little knoll of ground, from which
the adjacent landscape assumes the most pictu
RESCUE appearance. On one side, gloomy mo-
r:iss dmlv biatkens the distant horizon but to the
gilt Of the fort, tle gently swelling hills that
stretch along the sca-coast assume fainter tins as
they rccedc from the view, till at last they terlni
nate in the deep blue ocean; beyond, at the very
verge OF distance, stands the gibbet which the
unhappy convicts we're executed. 1t is situated on
Il bleak dcsolac moor; and as the Wondering REM
nans of the victims of justice swing loosely in the
gale, Or drop l,ecemeal on the earth, the seabirs
3crean around the spot, anxious for their prey,
Ind presenting an image of unrelieved horror
III hen the day is stormy, the dark waves dash
against the hills, the sea fog rolls down their Sides
and the artificial knoll of earth wet with the spray
that foans around it with rcsistless energy The
eye Of the passing stranger is then, perhaps, attract
rt TO the spot for when the low lands are partially
Inundated, rcars its blue SUBMITS from the sur
rounding ocean. 1t is interesting to his feelings.
from its utter esolation; but becomes sacred to his
memory while he listens to the tale of sorrow con-
Hectcd with II, which we have often heard i'll orr
infancy. and can never wholly obltcEite.
About thirty years ago. young man, with an
aged grandmother and son, came to reside at tr-
fling distance from Fort Cumberland they took
up their abode at small cottage i'll the ncighbor-
hood, and principally depended for subsistence on
the precarious occupation of fishing They had
once been respectable tradesmcn at Portsmouth
but variety of unforeseen circumstances had re-
duccd them to poverty, and compelled them to
seek the security of solitude. For few months
alter their arrival, the encouragement they receiv
ed from the Fort, where they daily carried their
baskets OF fish, had restored them to perfect TRAN
ruillty, when the unusual violence of some cq,H-
noctal dashed their little fishing smack against
the adjacent rocks, and rendered their humble oc-
cupation at once dangerous and proftlcss. To IN
crease, if possible, their misery, the old lady and
thc father of the Young man langushcd i'll the ago
ny of extreme want, without either friends or rela-
taycs to succour them. He could have borne his
own sorrows with frmncss but the sight of his
dearest connections dying from positive eAigcncy
and sinking On their couch Of sickness without even
mouthfuio OF bread, and scarcely rag shield
'hem from the chilly night-air, drove HIM TO the
verge OF distraction. When he saw the fading us-
trc IN the eyes of his aged grantmother-her form
slowly sinking III the grave-her wan looks implor-
ING even one solitary meal to comfort her. and her
pall!d check gradually assuming the caeaveroushue
OF DEATH hls agony assumed the aspect of deter
mncd INSANITY lie seized the opportunity when
ms father, partially recovered from inelispositon,
had gone to petition the governor of the Fort for re-
het, to station himself by the hghroad, with the IN
tlnton OF Wrestling money from each traveller, for
the purposes OF future provision. With brace of
horse pistols in his pocket he sailed out from the
cottage to put his netarious designs into nnme-
date execution. The night was well adapted to
the occasion it was dark and stormy, and the con-