Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-03-30
THE POLISH woMAN's PATRIOTISM,
OR. TIE WEDDING RING.

r.
We find the following in the Courier DIES Flats
Unis, and give it hasty translation Tor the pea-
sure of our readers. True plety anu an eN-
allied patriotism are never inconsistent, anu per-
haps both NAV have exhibited themselves IN the
way mentioned in the succeeding paragraphs
THE WEDDING RING.
"Suwloiska, open this window; desire to die
in the sound of the church bells"
Suwloiska had not courage to obey She looked
pensively at her mother.
"My daughter, is not this the Sabbath The
hour of PRAYER has come Help thy old mother
IN nr,strate herself before our good God;" and,
pious child, the young Polish woman helped her
mother to kneel.
..Suwloiska, impore thee, my daughter, open
this window. in order that | may hear the hymns
of the church."
She opened the window on the public square
in which the church was situated, and then re-
turned and sat down at the feet of her silent mo-
Their.
..Suwoiska, do not hear the sound of the
BELLS
mo, hear!!''
:. Ii is the cannon"
Eyes, mother, they have come down from the
steeples of the churches to kill the Russians"
s.God is with u.s."
The mother listened again.
''What has happened. my daughter; not sin
rle chaunt. not one voice in the church; what Is
our priest doing!"
ssHe has turned soldier"
LET us pray TO God for him. He has prayed
for us often enough. 1t was he who blessed thy
marriage, my daughter. Oh, well do | remem-
Der it. Thou vast beautiful; had dressed thee
myself. Then the bells rang out joyluly. Then
on thy knees before the altar, thou didst promise
fidelity to thy Suwloisk.''
IL have kept my OATH replied the young wo
man, bushing with pleasure.
The aged mother pressed the hands of her
daughter closely IN hers-but suddenly starting,
she exclaimed in Il shriil voice,
"Where is thy wedding rings'
~ have given it away" said the daughter,
holding down her head.
"Suwloiski. has God reserved such afiliction
for my old age! Oh, my daughter, who has caus-
ed thee to forget. to such an extent, thy duties as
a wife? That ring, the token of an eternal COW
enaut between Suwloski and thee; what hast
thou donewith it? TO whom has thou given it,"
..To Poland!" and she raised her head with
confidence. .Our husbands are soldiers, our
priests are soldiers, our church bells have been
melted into cannons; our collars, our earrings,
our pearls nave Oeeh d''ei'u 'ui "ushc'o. we
wives, we had no longer any thing to give. and,
nevertheless. PnIand lacked powder. We'll. there
are six thousand of US already, who have, for our
country. made sacrifice Of the only property
which remained to US, that which woman es-
teens of all ornaments the most precious in the
world, our marriage rings. Wehave given them
up to purchase powder.
The aged mother slipped from her withered
fingers, the golden covenant, which she had
thought she should never part with; and after hay
inc kissed it repeatedly, she wiped her eyes and
said:
"Suwloiska. take this ring; let it be sold with
thine Go, my daughter, tell our victory; for
the country in which wives sell their wedding
rings to buy powder, is free. Perish the Rus
slams; now, Suwloiska, open all the windows,
DESIRE TO DIE IN THE SOUND OF THE CANNON"