The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1833-06-05


poriuniiy of serving The King not to be
lost SO he got his servants 10 arm,
called out the military who were quar-
tered in the village, and set out at full
speed to the place. But God had other
things i'm reserve for those at that meet
ing for, getting timely notice from IA
herd-boy who had seen the host advan-
cling, they all escaped, save and except
ing John Craig, who fell suddenly, be-
fore he was aware, into the hands of the
prosecutors.
Being but a young man, and never
before convicted Of correspondence with
the hill folks, many :hougat that he
would get free, or short Imprisonment
or small fine but Sir John was enraged
at the i'll success Of his expedition, and
determined to wreak his vengeance on
the poor lad, as fearful example 10 the
rest of the country. So he commanded
him to be tied on troopers horse, and
led him down the hill till they came to
his own little cottage, where his wife Is
obel was waiting his arrival to braak-
fast.
II was fine, calm, clear, winter
morning, the ground was covered with
snow hardened by keen frost, and
the sun alone shone brightly and cheer
lily, rs if on scene of joy and festivity.
His wife hearing the noise ran out to
welcome her John, and beheld him a
fettered prisoner, and in the hands of
those whose tender mercies she well
knew were horrid crueltes
But the God whom she served did not
forsake her in this her moment Of Bit
terness and despair she felt nerved
with strength which no human power
could ever invest her with and she
went up to her husband firmly and ftnr-
lcssly, as if she knew not that he. was
soon to be bleeding corse, and she a
friendless, houseless widow. She whis-
pered word of courage and consola-
ton in his ear, she chafed his stiff, half
frozen hands. she parted his long brown
hair over his brow-for his arms were
ted-and with the corner of her apron
she wiped the sweat from his cheek, and
the foam Of pain and agony from those
lips from which she had often drained
deep draughts Of love and delight.
The -murderous ruffians now rendered
the test. as the only means of escnpe
from death-instant death and what
test compromise of conscience, n
tranpling on the tepderest feelings of
devotion and principle. The agonised
husband cast an eye Of bitter meaning
on his wife, and she at once understood
the appeal, and nobly she answered it.
"John Craig" she said, with voice
slightly broken, for the woman and the
wife were holding a fearful strife in her
breast,-"John Craig, care not for me
l AIN friendless. l am poor, have none
on earth to care for me but you, but God
will care for me, John He is the fa-
thef of the fatherless, and the husband
Of the widow He who has cared for
me up till this time will give me strength
to witness this last trinl-to drain to the
dregs this cup of unmIxed bitterness and
grief. We have often prayed together,
dear John, when we sat in our own
sweet cottage, when we feared no dan
ger and suffered no evil and shall we
not pray now when the shades of death
compass us around, and hem us in every
side come, John, let us pray to HIM
who is the hearer Of prayer, and who
hath not told any of the seed of Jacob
to seek HIS face in vain" And he look
ed on her and was comforted, and shook
away the first and only tear he had shed
and there they knelt on the frozen
ground, the husband and the wife, and
prayed a prayer which made even the
rude and thoughtIess troopers turn aside
and weep.
But SIR Johns heart was hardened
he rudeIy broke in on their devo,ions,
cursed their canting whine, and COM
manded the helpless and manacled man
to kneel down on "A little stone, and the
troopers to prepare their carbines. He
obeyed without a murmur ; kissed the
pale and bloodless cheek of his Isobel,
and walked with stately and unflinch-
ing step to the appointed place but, be-
fore he kneeled down, he looked sieadi-
ly at Erskine castle, the windows Of
which were glittering in the morning
sun, and many thought that a shade of
sorrow passed over his manly brow
lie steod as if entranced for moment
or two, and then spoke in tones more
sorFowfal than angry. I'VE aro COM
manded to pray forour enmies, and from
my soul | beseech that my blood may
not he laid to the charge of tins man,
but | may not conceal what God COM
mands me to speak: Ishall indeed fall by
you hands but shall not fall unavenged
you will not see it-none here present
will see i.--but as surely as speak, it |
will come to pass. Yet three genera
tions, and the proud house of Rath will
"a On IN he aud 60 e. an, m al ~ <....< r. N