Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-04-15
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE
From the New- England Magazine for dprH.
THE FEMALE MARTYR.
BY THE AUTHOR OF "1HE OPIUM EATE

Mary C, aged 10, one of the " SISTERS
OF CHARITY, "died IN one Of our Atlantic cities,
during the prevalence Of the Indlan Cholera,
while in voluntary attendance upon the sick.
Z" BRrNe out your dead!" the midnight street.
Heard and gave back the hoarse, low call:
Harsh fell the tread Of hastv ieet-
Glanced through the dark the coarse white sheet
Her coffin aud her pail.
What-only one" The brutal hackman said,
As, with an oath, he spurned away the dead.
How sunk the Utmost hearts of all,
AS rolled that dead cart slowly by,
With creaking wheel and harsh hooi tall!
The dying turned him to the wall,
To hear it and to del
Onward It rolled; while of. its driver stayed,
And hoarsely clamoureJ, "Ho bring out your
dead"
1t paused beside the burial place:
:. Toss in YOUR load! =" and It was done;--
With quick hand and averted lace,
Hastily TO the graves embrace,
They cast them, one by one
Stranger and fripnd-the evil and the just.
Together trodden in the church.yard dust!
And tlrou. Young martyr!-thou vast there
No white roDed sisters round tnee trod-
Nnr holy hymn-nor funeral prayer
Rose through the damp and nolsome air,
Giving thee to thy Gods
Nor hower,-nor cross-nor hallowed taper
gave
Grace to the dead, and beauty to The grave!
Yet. gentle sufferer there shall be
In ever, heart of kindly feeling,
A rite as holy paid to thee,
As if beneath the conventtree
rhy sis,eIhood were knetIi'g,
Al vespcr hours, like sorrOwing angels. keeping
Their fearful watch around thy place Of sleeping.
For thou vast one in whom the light
or heavens own love was kindied well,
Enduring with a martyrs might
Through wear, day and wakeful night
Far more than words may tell;
Gentle and meek. and lowly, and unknown
Tn, mercies measured by thy God alone!
Where manly hearts we're failing,-whcre
The thronsful street grew foul with death,
Oh-hish souled mar yr!-thou vast there,
Inhaing from the Ioathsome air,
POISON sith every breath:
Yet sinking not from offices of dread
For the wrung dying, and The Unconscious dead
And where the sickly taper she'd
Its light through vapors. da@p, confined.
| Hushed a. scraph'-. tell thy tread,-
A new Electra ny the bed
OF suffering humankind!
! pn,utin. Tie spirit, in the dark dlsmay,
F, To ;ha, pare pope. which fade,h not away.
Inroccnt teacher OF the high
Aud hniy mysteries oi heaven!
How turned to thee each glazing eye,
! L. mute ADD awful sympathy,
! AS ihy 10" prayers were given;
/ Aud the DER lowering spoller wore the while,
| An Angels features IA deliverer's smile!
, A blessed task and worthy one.
| Who. turning from The world, as thou,
Ere beings pathway had begun
To leave ITS -pring-um flower and sun,
| Had sealed her early VOW
Giving to Cad her beau,y and her youth,
Her pure affec tons and her guiieless truth.
Earth ma, not claim thee. Nothing here
| Could be for thee meet reward,-
! Thine is treasure lar more dear
Eve hath not seen it--nor the ear
| OF living mortal heard
The joys prppared-the promised bliss above
! The holy presence of Etetnal Love-
Sleep on in peace. The earth has not
| A nubIer name than thine shall be-
The deeds bv martial manhood wrought
The lofty energies Of thought
The fire of poesy-
These are but frail and fading honors;-thine
Shall time unto eternity consgn
Yea-and, when thrones shall crumble down,
And human pride and grandeur fall
| The heralds line of long renown-
The mltre and the kingy CROWN
PerIshlng glories all!
The pure devotion of thy generous heart
Shall live in heaven, Of which it was part!
Harerh,H, Sd month. 1888.
70 Cabinet Makers.