Northern star, and Warren and Bristol gazette. [volume] (Warren [R.I.]) 1826-1830, 1830-02-06
From the Library Souvenir.
THE CONFESSION.
BY JOHN aAI1snaQ.

BY JOHN GAIkD1DaQ,
! My IurIeqs had Nskj q xpircd ]
and rs H. Was to leave thS village
the next morning TO join my regi-
ment. then OIL the point Of being
shipped of at Portsmouth, for India.
several ofmy old companions spen,
|ihs Q, e,ening witt, INC, in tho Mari
{quish Of Granby. They we're JOY.
gus, hearty lads /; but mir'h bred
hirst, and drinking begot contention
was my self the soberest of) the
squad, and did what could to ap-
pcase their quarrels. The liquor,
HOW ever, had more power than my
persuasion, and at last it 80 exasper
ated some foslisl, difference about a
song, between Dick Winlaw and
Jen Bradley, that they fell to fight
ing, and 50 the party broke up.
4 bradley was handsome, bold,
fne X ICllsM. and l had more than
once urged him 10 enlist in our
csrps. = Soon afiei quitting the
house, lie sjoiped me on my way
home, and 1 spoke to him again u
bout enIis,iog, but his blood Was
still hot he would abide NJ reaso";
he couldnpnly swear ot the reVeng'
lie would inflict upon Winla".-'
This led tn some remonstrance on
my past. for bradley was to blam
Ia she dispute till. from less t.
more. VIC both grew fierce, aud he
struck me .uch blow in the face.
that my bayonct lsaped into his
heart.
My pasei0n Was in the same mo-
men, qaencheJ. I saw him dead ~
my teet I beard footsteps spproac'
ing;I fed towards NY fatici's
house ; tho door was left unbo''ed ter
ne +; / crcpt softly. but in a fiuiter'
TO bed ;bul could not sleep. | was
stunned T; a fearful consteT nation wa
upon me /; a hurry was iu my braln'
NY mind was fire. Icou'd not be-
lieve tina, / had killed Bradley.
thought il MAS the nightmare wi,lc'
had 50 pnisoned my sleep. M,
tongue became as parchcd us char
I coal (; had l been chokins With ash
es, my throat could hot have bee'
filled with more horn ible thirst.
breatbed as if l WIRE sulfocaliD.
withthe dry dust into which the dea'
are changed.
;, After time, that fit Of burning
ag, ny Ses, off /; tears came INTO my
eyes my nature Was soltened. 4
thought OF Bradley when We wer'
boys, aud Of the summer days ~
had spcnt together. | never owe'
n him a grudge ; his blow was occs
stoned by the liquor; ireer bear
than bis, mercy never opcped ant
l weptlike a maiden.
The day at last beganto dawn.
had thrown myself upon tho bed will
out undressing, aud | started up !"
inv voluntarily, and moved hastily
should rather say in.tinctiy; /; tow
ards the door. My father hear'
!, the stur, and inquired wherefore
:. was departing so early. I begge'
, him not to be disturbed /; my voic
!, ~ as troubled, and he spoke 10 m
kindly aud encouragingly, exhortinI
r inc to eschew riotOus companions.
, could make no reply +; indeed hear
NO more [; there was a blank betwee
5 his blessing and tho time when
found myself crossing the Common
: near the place Of execution.
l But through all that horror an
r frenzy, l fell not that ! had comm
$ ted a crime /; the deed was the doin
|, of a fash. l was conscious l coul
!, never in cold blood have harmed
9 hair Of Bradley's head. Iconsidere
Is myself unfortunate, but not guilty
b aud this fond persuasions So pacific
my alarms. that, by the time reac
% ed Portsmouth, l almost thought 8
j. light Of what 1 had done. as Vi III
9 fate of the gallant French dragoo'
% whom l sabred at Salamanca.
But ever and anon. during IL
Il course Of our long voyage to Indi'
" sadder after thonghts often came VI
, on me. In those frances, saw,
t, Liz we're, our pleasant village gree
oll sparkling again with schoolboys
their pa.times then l fancied the
gathering into groups, and telling u
story Of the murie, again moving
q way in silence towards the churchysr
20 look at the grave Of poor Bradle