Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-10-25

dom, and exposed in the market place, and was
sold as slave to the highest bidder.
"A merchant Of Thrace becoming his purcha-.
ser, Alexander, with some other companions OF
distress, was carried into the region OF desola-
ton and steriity. His stated employment was
to follow the herds OF an imperious master, and
his skill in hunting was all that was allowed
him to supply precarious existence
Condemned to hopeless seryitude, every morn
ing walked him TO renewal of famine or toll,
and every change Of season served but 70 ag-
gravate his unsheltered distress Nothing but
death or fight was left him, and almost certain
death was the consequence of his atte mpting to
fly. After some years OF bondage, however, an
opportunity Of escaping offered; he embraced
it with ardor, and travelled by night, and odg-
ed in caverns by day:to shorten long story,
he al las, arrived in Rome The day of Alcan-
der's arrival Septimus sat in the forum, admi-
nistering justices and hither our wanderer came,
expecting TO be instantly known, and publicly
acknowledged. Here he stood the whole day,
among the crowd, watching the eyes of the
jndge, and expecting to be taken notice of; but
so much was he altered By long succession OF
| hardships, that he passet. entirely without no.
tite; and in the evening, when he was going up
to the prelor's chair, he was brutally repulsed
by the attending lictors. The attention of the
poor is generally driven from one ungrateful
object 10 another
Night coming on, he now found himselfunder
the necessity Of seeking place 10 lie in Elna-
| Grated and IN rags, as he was, none OF tthe ctl-
gems would harbor so much wretchedneSS, and
sleeping in the street might be attended with IN
terrupuon or danger: i'll short, he was Obliged
to take up his lodging in one OF the iombs With
out the city, the usual retreat OF guilt, poverty,
or despair
! In this mansion Of horror, laying his head up
OIL an inverted urn, Alexander forgot his mise
ries for awhile in sleep; and virtue found, on
this hard flinly couch, more ease than down can
supply to tn, guilty.
1t was midnight, when two robbers came to
make this cave their retreat, but happening TO
disagree about the division Of their plumber, one
of them stabbed the other TO the heart, and lett
him weltering in his blood at the entrance In
these circumstances he was found next morning,
and this naturally lnduced further inquiry
The alarm was spread, the cave was examined.
Alexander was found sleeping and immediately
apprehended and accused of robbery and mnr-
der. The circumstance, against him were strong;
the wrelchedness OF his appearance confirmed
the suspicion Misfortune and he were now so
long acquainted, that he al last became regard
less Of his fate. He detested world where he
had found only ingratitude, talsehood and cru
ehy; and was determined to make no defence.
| Thus lowering with resolution, he was dragged
| before :he tribunal OF SeD(imuS. The proofs
were positive against him, and he offered no.
thing in his own vinGication; the Judge, there
fore, was proceeding TO doom him 10 a most
cruel and ignominous death, when, as if ilumi-
mated with ray from heaven, he discovered
through all his misery, the features, though dim
with sorrow, Of his long lost loved Alexander.
It's impossible to describe his joy, and his pain,
on this strange occasion; happy in once more
seeing the person he most loved on earth, and
distressed at finding him in such circumstances.
Thus agita,ed by contending passions, he flew
from his tribunal, and falling on the neck Of his
dear benefac,or, burst into an agony Of distress.
The attention Of the multitude was soon, how
ever, divided by another object. The robber
who had been really guilty, was apprehended
selling his plumber, and, struck with panic,
confessed his crime. He was brought bound
to the same tribunal, and acquitted every other
person Of any partnership in his guilt. Need
the sequel be related? Alexander was acquitted,
shared the friendship and the honors of his
friend Sep,imus, lived afterwards in happiness
and ease, and left to be engraved on his tomb,
"That no circumstances are SO desperate which
! Providence may not relieve
a.,