The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1839-11-09
Number as

|
the yerient accent of dispair, rang through
the court, and where it met with a human
heart pierced through all the cruelty and
oppression which armedit, and struck upon
some of the natural feelings that divide men
from monsters. That sound struck upon
Lord CromwelPs ear, his eye sought the
place whence it proceeded; it rested on A
melia and her father. A strange emotion pass
sed over the face Of the stern judge per-
fec. stiffness followed.
Lord Cromwell broke silence He CLAN
ced over the notes that had been handed 10
him, speaking in low voice apparently to
himself from ItaIly--a merchant-Milan
ruined by the wars-ay, those in Milan
were owing to Clements ambition, and
Charles kuavery the loss Of substance to
England to reclaim an old Indictment
Lord Cromwcll's eye raised once more
upon the merchant aud his daughter.
'Ye are of Italy--from Milan; is that
your birthplace!
.We are of Tuscans,' replied the mer-
chant, Of Iucca; and oh noble Lord, if
there is any mercy in this show it now to
this unhappy girl
ITO both, or to neither exclaimed tho
girl; we will live--or we will die together
The vicar-general made answer to neith-
er. He rose abruptly at sign from him
the proper officer declared the court adjour-
ned-the sufferers were hurried back to their
csll1-somc went whittier they would
others, whittier they would not; but all dis
, persed.
= = 4 a \ II Il
. A faint and solitary light glanced from
chink CT the prison walls-it came from
= the narrow cell of the Italian merchant and
:, his daughter.
The girl slept--ay slept. Sleep does
not always leave the wretched, to light ON
lids unsullied with tear. Reader hast thou
known intense misery, and canst thou not
remember, how thou hast fell and wept,
and agonized, until the very excitement of
the misery wore out thy bod's power Of en-
:: ducance, and slept like topper, lethargy,
" bound thee in its chains. Into such sleep
=, had Amelia fallen; she was lying on that
prison floor her face pale as if ready for the
grave, the large tears yet resting on her
. cheeks, and over her sat the merchant lean
: : ing, asking himself whether, treasure that
she was, and had even been to him, he could
wish that sleep to be the sleep Of death.
- The clanking Of the key caught the mer-
. chants ear; gentle step entered the pris-
:, on. The fathers first thought was the
:" child, he made motion to enjoin silence
g., lit was obeyed-hls vister advanced with
y a silent tread; the merchant looked upon
" him with wonder. Surely--no-and yet
- =, could it be ? that his judge-Lord Crom-
=, , well, the .general--stood before him,
and stood not with threatening in his eye
=! not denunciations on his lip, but took his
stand an the other side of Amelia, gazing
= on her with an eye in which tenderness and
~ compassion were conspicuous.
" " Amazement bound up the faculties Of tho
V" merchant. He seemed to himself as one
that dreameth.
- Awake gentle girl, Awake, said Lord
Cromwell, as he stopped over Amelia.
y" Let me hear thy voice once more as it
sounded in mine ear in other days
3 The gentle accent fell too lightly to
:, break the spell of heavy slumber, and the
W merchant, whose fears, feelings, and con-
- fusion formed perfect chaos, STOPPING
over his child suddenly awoke her with the
IN cry of Amelia Amelia awake and behold
e, our judge!'
at Nay, nay, not thus roughly said Lord
re Cromwell, but the sound has already re-
Id called Amelia to the sense ofwretchsdness.
g She half raised herself lrOm her incumbent
I'd posture into kneeing one, shadowing her
rl dazzled eyes with her hand, her streaming
ID hair falling in wild disorder over her shoul-