The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-02-26

their sufferings Nero added mockery and de-
rision, ANNALS OF TAcITUs.
(COnclndcd)
CHATTER v,-THE CELL.
We left Caudins in the cell adjoining that of the
Apostle. The suddenness of his Seizure sufficient
iy disclosed to him the certainty of his doom
and the implacable will on which his life depended
ale, however, enjoyed the privilege of daily inter
with Paul and from the contemplation of
his example, and the inspired beauty Of his insruc
ons which contrasted the futility Of life with the
glorious prospect of the Future, derived holy
strength which fortified him against every pain 20
which he should be exposed.
Master" he said, q it is my will TO die with
thce."
essay not so, my son. returned Paul II" Not
thine, but the will of God be done. 1t matters not
how when die. Let but our last moments
be full Of assurance TO God, and faith TO His Son,
and the sutferings we endure below shall be ex-
changed for that happiness the world cannot give.
We part here but for moment, my !; our
meeting shall be eternal, and our JOY shall no man
take away.
Such were the exhorations o r,he apostle to con-
firm his faith, and diminish attachment to life,
whose tenure at best precarius.
His desire was at length granted the execution
of Paul and Claudus was appointed for the night
before the Kalends The period at revived
to the memory orthe Christian the words of Rufus,
"that the Kalends should the Tyrant dead
He shuddered at the death even of his enemy, and
actuated by the tenets of n relig ion which forbids
retaliation for injury, the entertainment of vim
dctive feeling, he only freely lorgave the En-
peror, hut desired, If possible, his life. The
Kalends were approaching and he himself was 10
die the night before If he could absolve his con-
science from prvity to bIoodshed, he content
to die. There was one other reflection which en-
Uttered his approaching fate, and taxed all the
powers of submission He had not seen Iita since
thor violent separation, and she had been torn from
him at The moment when her conversion to the
true faith had consccrated their love. Nor was
their separation more painful than the uncertainty
Of their next meeting. In this, however, he de-
rived consolation from that beautiful portion of his
faith, which taugm him that the Future reunited
the broken ties of life, and purified affection from
the senses which controlled il here that the tear
with which we parted would be exchanged for the
smile, and The suffering and broken hearted forget
the pain which dimmed the eye and bowed the
head.
The night preceding the Khlends had at length
arrived He was appointed to die after the Apos-
tie, and yet no opportunity had offered Of divulg- |
ing the conspiracy, and acquitng his conscience
from the secret which weighed on his last moments
lie heard the tumult of the soldiers without as they
prepared for the execution and he stood moment !
arly expecting their entrance to conduct him to
the place. AS he thus stood his last moments oc-
cupled in prayer, in which he implored blessing
upon Tita, the door of his cell opened, and the
object Of his thoughts and prayers was before
hm.
"Welcome, welcome, my Tta,' he exclaimed,
"even though it be in the hour of death. But VIII !
weepest thou. girl ?" he continued, caspiHg her
TO his breast he felt heI convuisive sobs.
"Ask me no,,' she replied. "Thou art to die
the faith thou hast bound me to, must be sealed
with blood. Oh my CIaudius, was it for this
abandoned creed which withhods not its pro-
tccting power from the humblest object on the
earth Yet, for thy sake, will love it still, see
ing it has not left thee comfortless without sup
port"
"Comfortess ?" retored Caudins, his eye beam
ing with that light which hope and truth had Dor.
rowed from purer world. "Comfortless l tell
thee, Tita: the dungeon of my pain has for me
the holier companionship of those thoughts which
dwell with the Christians breast it's etteis press
lightly on my hands when think the glorious
liberation OF the spirit from all that is unhoy and
corrupt Remember, maiden, that told thee of,
that we must pass through fear and tribulation ere
the tainted soul can appear before God. The saint
rs content 10 pass through suffering here for the
promise which awaits him beyond Jordan. Thou
said st rightly, Tita, not comfortess, for the
last words of our Divine Master were, will not
leave ye wholly comfortless." Canst thou doubt,
my Iita, the cafe of our God, while Rome itself
is in ashes, not flame hath touched the prison
OF his servants ..
"And l. replied the madden have Ju-
plter station hurled 10 the earth. But she cont'n-
verse must be brief, for the hour approaches-
Guarded by Fenius Rufus, it is by his permission I
am mere His last words, "The palace hath dan:
gers Tor thee return not" flew to thee, for l
heard this night thou vert to die. and if could
with thee e' =
On sudden, the laeness of the bour ,rd the
conspiracy rushed TO the mind Of Claudus His I
conscience shrank from the possession Of its guilty
secret and on Its disclosure hung the life of his
enemy. .... -. S
"Bear with me, Tita, he exclaimed hastily "I Il
must see the Emperor before die. 1 have a Sc
cret which his life and the safety of his
throne. That disclosed. die happy. The Chris.
tian fogves where he is prosecuted returning good
for evil. The entrance to the prison is guarded
could not pass in my own garment. Lend me thy .
ma will return ere the hour arrives
Their raiment immediately exchanged
-, Remember" said Tita. :" came to die with :,
thee" '. ~' .
n
" Ere thathour shall be here, replied Claudins +.
Fhe God Of our faith preserve thee,' ejacnlat- =
ed the maiden, the door of the cell shut Claudi- Y
us from her view ,
CHAPTER vL-THE TykANr's MIDNIGHT. &
having passed the guards in safety, he flung the
a'sguise from him as he approached the palace f