Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1835-09-17
From the Lady's Book.
THE PARTING HOUR,
R,-THE THREE SEPARATIONS.

II Through the iron network of the dungeon
bars obliqucly fell the last rays OF the setting
sun, and shone with a cold glare upon the
chains of the prisoner, the links of which had
been worn smooth by restlessness like that
of a cbafed tiger in his cage. Under the
| workings of an excited mind, he had paced
| the floor, as far as his fetters permitted, with
hurried, irregular tread, till nature became
| exhausted, and he sunk into ieverish sleep
upon his pallet Of straw. His hair that had
| grown TO great length during his eonhne-
ment, fell in rich masses OF gold around fea-
lures of exquisite formation, from which the
pale hand Of sorrow had plucked the roses OF
early youth. Though TIE winds Of his nine
teenth sumner were tanning his cheeks, the
prison damps and the strong passions that
had been at war in his mind, had marred them
with lines Of age. They were pale and sal
low, and their hollow appearance when the
long eyelashcs lay in folds upon the sunken
orbs Of sight, was that Of a skeleton. His
| lips were pale and parched with fever, yet
scorn and defiance were palpably traced on
their indignant curl. The expression OF his
brow was different, for its marble expanse
was unmarked by linej all was smooth and
placid save some slight corrugations, where
| it Joined his well formed nose, as If reason
held her throne composedly during the TEN.
pest of passion His sleep was restless, and
his murmurings frequent-broken sentences,
wild and incoherent, mingled with curses
1t was awful to hear the very soul OF being
soon 20 be launched into eternity, even in
dreams, breathing forth blasphemy and ours.
ing. The prison door opened, and an aged
woman entered She was plainly but neatly
attired, and in her appearance was that inde-
scribable something which bespeaks ct once
birth and respectability. Her countenance
was sorrowful, and her eyes gave evidence OF
former tears; but she had regained her com
posure, and was evidently striving to keep
down the strong emotions that were stirring
in her bosom. Her feet glided noiselessly
over the pavement, and the broken-hearted
widow stood over the prison couch OF her con-
demned child. She gazed upon his haggard
features as he slept in mute and motlonless
agony. She thought of his innocent child
hood, his promising youth, his manly beauty,
and then the fearful thought of his alteration
from virtue darted across her mind-his
guit-his condemnation-the sundering Of
his earthly hopes-hls eternal destny-and
her own utter desolation. Nature trumphed
over the camness which the spirit Of religion
had infused into her bosom. Her lips quiv-
ered-her large tears like rain poured upon
the face of the sleeper as she fell upon him,
and clasping him in her arms wept aloud.
Aroused from his slumber, the condemned
lay in the embraces of her who had pillowed
his head in childhood. There was Wild
ness in his looks that beggared description
an occasional emotion of Sorrow and tender
ness which was suddenly checked by PRIDE
Twas the sunshine Of his better nature
cleaning out, which was soon darkened by
the stubbornness of despair. The tear that
was due to his situation, and to maternal sor-
row, he troze at its source, lest he should In
cur the imputation of weakness. lie was
naturally youth Of great decision of charac-
ter, and falling into evil society, had been ap-
plauded for his stoicisIn, till to raise it to its
highest grade, as he mady supposed, he ex-
changed all the fine sensibiities of his nature,
and the religious precepts of his mothers in
culcatlon, for the apathy of philosophy, falsely
SO called, and the wild tenets Of an impious
infdelity. The foundation Of all just princi-
pies being thus subverted, he became the
companion of smugglers, forfeited his life to
the offended laws Of his country, and was en-
deavoring now by the doctrines that he had
embraced, to sustain his soul amidst the hor-
rors Of an ignominious death, that was about
TO usher him into the presence Of his Creator
and Judge. 1t was in vain the frantic mother
besought her misguided child to implore the
forgiveness Of the God whose protection he
had abandoned, and seek the consolation Of
that religion which alone could smooth the
asperities Of deaths thorny path, and shed
the light of eternal consolation upon the
darkness Of the yawning sepulchre. Unsha-
ken in his firm resolves, unbiased in proud
stubbornness Of heart, he beheld unmoved
the streaming tears of his widowed parent
and with unblanched brow prepared to meet
the fate that awaited him, and the face of his
offended God. As she hung around his
knees, tears, prayers and entreatiss were
mingled with an earnestness Of soul that
might have moved q statue; but when expos
tulation had failed, her sorrow broke forth in
the loud, passionate wall Of despair, and then
when her voice and faculties were exhausted
in broken incoherencies, were heard in gasp
ings, "My son! my son! Death! Judgment
Eternity" /
The light boat danced over the waters
like thing of air, till it reached the ship that
waved its light wings as if rejoicing in the
ed-lessened-became point on
the horizon, and disappeared to view. /
Leaning against the point Of rock, with
ner mana ConVulSlVeIy pressed against her
huttering heart, the sorrow stricken widow
stood, and followed with intent yet fearless
eye, the "living prison" to which her son, the
only hope Of her existence, had been con-
signed. Others had parted with their friends
upon the beach, but there was something to
reconcile them to the separation-the emo
bling consciousness Of the discharge Of duty
to their country, and the proud renown to be
derived from participation in the triumph Of
the English flag; and while the parting tears