The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-02-13
CASTLE WILLIAM.

chester. We had intended Ia visit the
Caslle-and here We were within a
mile eft. with a sheet of placid water
between us and its rampaits. II WIZ,
dne of those still MORNINGS when the
hlele floats clearly in the air, aud the
drum and fife come rolling ana seream-
ne on the air when the llao ham,
ho9ely on the staff, and the voice OF
hr sentinel, and the cliuk of he ham
ler, and the sound oftr,mpline feet are
distinctly heard IN the prev liling { I'M
a,s>. A liule sienal W ,run up, and IN
I few moments 4 boat WIS seen culln
.at I'll w9lcr, and n. hing Tow ID, q.
u h he sui strenpfh % us ours III "a
leu moments looroIf grated ON In and.
We spflap pn board, ,Ij "A few alnds
al ile lsr2a brought u to the enbgt-
Ii tslInt. ii The side Of the sea,
winch crnc ripping and murmnrlne al
Lost To .ts door, stood the little cottage
l. sn',j .I. lrw simple, bul II was
Il itlr 9ir4Ipse for q cuutcntcd mind !
an many blue aud batuulul eyes were
IN H., WI T. looked outilkc guard N stars
over h. .svcs. iierr we Talked md
held su DIVERSE. A. last 3, walk
WIS pr, ID. an W ,uunletel llong
upon .heralfy fosf Gt ION on W. II The
heb y 80 VS. wlasliHg o he wind,
aud where he canosu looked out with
a terrible cle ON he ocean beneath.
There SAFE Il noble officer who was
Al MY SIDE, (andra.atrd at a worn grave
Just at our fect,) : hero lies a soldier !;
he Wis shot through his heart on lhis
very spot, without II murmur, one re-
coil he had won his death by his dis
HONOR The storm had be,l upon Il,
and the path of he sentinel ran eli O.
by il; he laid there, and wis forgotten!
4 little monument JUS raised lis head
above tho hiqh grass below that, too,
WIS the crave Of 4 soldior-ne had fall
len IN high combat, and his eqerl sting
diroe was the wave which broke at the
side Of his tomb. We went INTO IA dark
plaae beneath The GROUND The air w,
deaIh-IiNc. Itw the place ofthc dun
gcon. Door, rustcd with damp and
covered with aeW, shut in ,Ir prisoner,
whose voice cane out in = 81 fed, Sc
palehral tone, when hi, comm ndcr
called 10 him. He was to stay ,hcre
in solitude, and darkness, and misery,
many long and drcary days 10 come.
We went TO the prison sickness and
sall0W melancholy wee there, and ml-
ny were leading out a wrctched exist
ence II AZ unwhoIesome air. We went
10 the hospital a man lay dead
thert-he had Jus. dicd within a few
moments, and h brow 09s scarcely
cold. A few day, before, heges treui-
inc tue wall with as firm . .'eD ~ tuy q.
them but now he lav , scnselc,s mas,
Of corruption in the chpmhors ofthe dy-
ing. | looked around me-the conc
W, grange and impressive. The m,r
lay lulsoless an sill, in II FIR corner
OF lht room h blood wa, stlll !: jfwa,
frozen now in his b]lackenine veins Ia,
eve WIS lustrous and gl,zcd. md his lip,
were purple II round hi, hair W
slraigh.. and his muscles were wastingi IL
death there was no moving there /! L.
other par, Of the room. wasted form,
raised themselves upon their elbows, N,
looked w%is.Iully upen the haoeard coun
~tenancc of theIr dead comradc. Som,
rose up, and stood TREMBLING At heir bed.
sides in horrible though solne wake,
from sleep, and foanu ice h hid com,
among them since thcy had s|lunbcrcd
aud lhoy looked upon him wi,h d deadly
fixed attitude Of feature, ami fhen shud
dared TO think they must lie there in
ew days---so still, 50 m~otionlcss.
The sun was near going down, wheI
the last rites were performed for he Ia
menlcd soldier. There was no pomu
or NOISE, or show. A small escort of h.
comrades marched quickly owe h. ora
vel.ande~.ood before the door of the his
pital. A ,iagle drum beat gu u hollow