Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-01-18
From Sketches By Boz.
a VISIT TO NENGATE.

'~.''3 ~ " WIN WIN ~ DtuCH tut
end. under which were common horse-rug.
bible and prayer-book. An iron can.
dle.stick was fixed into the wall at the side
and a small hieh.window in the back admit
teslsAs much air and light Aas could struggle
insbeleeen q double row of crossed iron
bars. II contained 10 other furniture ofany
description.
Conceive the situation Of a man spending
his last night on earth in this cell Buoyed
upwrh some vague and underlined hope oil
reprieve, he knew not why--indulging in
some wild and visionary idea OF escaping.
he knew not how--hour after hour OF the
preceding days allowed him for prepara-
ton, has fled with a speed which no man
living would have deemed possible Tor none
but the diving man could know He has
wearied his friends with entrealies, exhaust
ed his attendants with opportunities. neg
lected in his fevcrish restlessuess the timely
warning of his spiritual comforter now that
the illusion is at last dispellrd. now that
eternity is before dim and guilt behind. now
that his fears OF death amount almost to
madness, and an overwhelming sense Of his
helpless, hopeless condition rushes upon
him. he is LOST and Supplied, and has neither
thoughts TO turn 10 or power 10 call upon the
Almighty Being from whom alone he cun
expect forgiveness, and before whom alone
his repentance can avail.
Hours have glided by. and still he sits up
on the same stone bench with folded arms,
beedless alike OF the last decreasing time be.
fore him. and the urgent enireuties Of the
good man at his side The feeble light is
Wasting gradually, and the death-like still
ness OF the street without, broken only BY
the rumbling of some passing vehicle which
echoes mournfully through the empty yards.
warns him that The night is last waning
away. The deep bell OF ST, PauPs strikes
one He has heard tit has reused him
Seven hours left He PAGES the narrow H.
miis Of his cell with rapid strides. cold drops
oil terror starting on his forehead. and every
muscle Of his frame quivering with agony -
Seven hours He suffers himself 10 be led
10 his seat. mechanically takes the bible
which is placed in his hand, aud tries 10 read
and listen. No his Thoughts will wan
der. The book is torn and soiled by con.
slant use how much like the book he read
his lessons in at school jus, forty years ago !
He has never bestowed thought upon ii
since he leh il as child--and yet the place.
the Tine the room-ny, the very boys he
PLAYED with. crowd as visibiy before him as
il they were scenes Of yesterday; and some
forgotten phrase, some childish word OF
kindness, rings in his ears like the echo OF
one uttered but moment since. The deep
tones of the clergyman recalls him 10 him
self lie is reading from the sacred book
in solemn promises Of pardon or repentance,
and its solemn denuncialion of obdurate man.
He falls upon his knees, and clasps bis hands
10 pruy. Hush what sound was that II
cannot be two yell Tlark two quarters
have s,ruck--,he thrd---the fourth. Ii is
Six hours left tell him not OF repentance
Six hours repentance for seven times six
years Of guilt and sin He buries his face
in his hands, md throws himself on the
bench.
Worn with watching and excitemen, he
sleeps. and the same unsettled state OF mind
pursues him in his dreams. An insupporla.
BILE load is taken from his breast be is
walking with his wife in pleasant field,
and fresh and boundess prospec, on every
side-how different from the stone walls Of
Newgate She is looking not as she did
when he saw her for the las, time in that
dreadful place. but as she used 10 when he
loved her-long, long ago, before misery
and ill-treaiment had altered her looks. and
vice Ind Changed his uot"ro. and che is
leaning upon his arm and gazing in his face
with tenderness and affeclon--and he does
not strike her now. nor rudely shake her
from him And oh how glad he is 10 tell
her what he had forgotten in their last hur.
ried interview. aud fall upon his knees be-
fore her aud fervenlly beseech her pardon
for all the unkindness and cruelty that vast
ed her foIm and broke her heart The
scene suddenly changes. He is on trial
again, There are the judges and jury ard
prosecutors and witnesses, just as they were
before. How full the court is-whai a sea
OF heads-wiih a gallows. too, and a scat.
fold-and how all those people sla re al him,
Verdict, GUILTY" No natter lie will
escape
The night is dark and cold. the gates have
been left open, and in an instant he, is in the
street. flying from the scene OF his mprison-
ment like the wind The streets are clear
ed, the open fields are gained, and the broad
wide country lies before him. EDWARDS he
dashes in the midst OF darkness, over hedge
and ditch, through mud and pool, bounding
from spot TO spot with speed and lightness
astonishing eyen'to himself Al length he
pauses he must be safe from pursuit now
he will stretch himself on that hank and
sleepul sunrise,
A period Of Inconsistencies succeeds
He wakes cold and wreiched; the dull gray
light of morning is stealing into the cell and
falls upon the form Of the attendant turnkey,
Canfiisad hy HE dreans he stn re from, his