The Delaware register, or, Farmers', manufacturers' & mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1828-1829, 1829-04-25


things sufficient to rritate ignorant and cruel
being, such as Mr. Macduff was to mplacabe resent
ment against Mr. Bruce, and he determined to have
him cut off Night and day, the two spies, whom the
curate still entertained, in search of him and
their search the more dihgent, government had
not only offered considerable reward for his appre
hension, but Mr. Macdufl had promised them hand
some sum HIMSELF if they would bring him certain in
telligence how this good man might be taken.
Mr. Bruce, although he seldom sleft the bounds of
his former CHARGE had still, however, eluded their
search He was so esteemed and beloved by the
peasants among whom he wandered that they would
have cheerluly risked their own lives to procure the
escape conceament of their pastor. And what
very surprising, such the faithful secresy of
the inhabitants Of the place to whom alone 1t was
known that although Mr. Bruce had, for several years,
made the cave the place Of his frequent resort it had
never been discovered by his enemies. An occur
renee at length took place, through which the perse-
cuors hoped to secure the apprehension Of MIR Bruce
Andrew had one afternoon left his father and Mary
in the cave, to amuse himself, he frequently did,
with The conversation of shepherd, who kept his
iocks hard by. Scarcely, however, was he half mile
away from the cave when party OF soldiers with
Macdull, came suddenly upon him. Tney had been
ont, we believe, chiefly that day for the purpose of
killing wCtfowl; but at the same time they requir-
cd every they met to take the test.-an oath by
which the party swearing renowned the covenant,
owned the king as the supreme head ot the church,
and rendered submission 10 the then existing eccesl-
ascal establishment. Andrew, without hesitation
fused to comply. According to the laws, or rather
TO the lawlessness of the times this refusal authorised
the soldiers to shoot the young on the spot But
lltough his dress that OF peasant. they remark
I'd something so superior and striking III his countc-
Hlncc. us well as in the manner in which he spoke
Which Immediately led them to the suspicion that he
might be the son of some gentleman OF rank in dis
ruisc, from whom useful discoveries might be elected
or on whose account a handsome of money might
be eNtolted.
Induced BY these considerations they spared his life
for the present. and conducted him prisoner to the
yage. On their way thither they repeatedly endea-
yorel 10 learn his name but Andrew, knowing well
that if they knew whose son he was he should
have no chance of escape without discovering his faith
or, was careful to conceal his name. When they
reached the village, however, the inhabitants gathered
round to the prisoner; and perceving tile son OF
their beloved MINISTRY they assailed the soldiers with
fhe most bitter execrations, exclamng that the judy
men OF heaven would fall upon them and crying at
lie same time, "Wl ye murder the son of our dear
minister? Ye have already murdered his wife, and is
your cruelty not yet glntted Y
4 When Mr. MacduT heard these words, "the son OF
our minister" he looked to Dalziel, who was him
self OF the party, and said with smile of grim salts
action Q we have made GOOD sport to-day. We
| sillI now get the scent Of the old fox"
Ilaziel now asked Andrew if lie the son of the
rebel Mr. Bruce for he termed this meek and
pcaccaLle servant of Jesus Andrew replied boldly,
am the son of Mr. Bruce" This short answer