The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-02-19


concealed within the fold of his robe. From
the tenor of his life, hitherto dssolute and eff
feminatc but little vaIor stability OF purpose
was anticipated by his confederates His feat
ures delicately moulded, and habitually mid in
their expression, gave but slight indication OF
the resolution Of hostility ola conspirator. What
was their nstonshmcnt when the soft and vo-
upuous Scevnus plucked from his bosom a
dagger, claiming the honor and danger of the
blow.
"Romans !" he exclaimed "ook on this dag
ger!-'s sworn TO liberty 4! 1 wear it for ty-
rant. | have taken it from the Temple of For
tune, and invoked the blessing of that goddess
on our enterprise. For liberty | wear it, and
none shall loresall me in the blow. For me
care not if | fall, but let the eyes of Rome be
on me. Let the place then be the Circus while
he celebrates the games of Ceres. Let the hour
of fesivity be that of death, and the groans of
the dying be echoed by the eXulting shouts of
his people. l have carried this weapon on my
person conSecrated to freedom, and have sworn
not to part with it, till the task be accomplish
ed"
There was dead silence throughout the as
sembly, as they gaZed, not more in admiration
than wonder, at the change which circumstance
had wrought in the disposition of the voluptuary.
Scevinus advanced to the centre of the apart
ment, and motOned the conspirators to his side
They surrounded him. He pressed the dagger
to his lips, each following his example and as
he cousecrated it to "Jupiter Vindex, each
touched the hilt, and bound himself to "Death or
Freedom -
CHAPTER 1.-THE CHRISTIANS.
'And is it true, my Caudus, as thou hast
told me, that there is but one God g
Even so, Tita-a God who regards thee with
the love of II father. a God, who, in his own
being, embraces the power which thy faith hath
divided among many. One, perfect as he is
powerful, who looks on human sin only to for
give: whose affairs stream not with the blood
OF beasts, but whose only sacrifice is the incense
of pure and contrite heart
Yet continued the maiden, fearful 10 nhan-
don her early faith, and almost persuaded to be
a Christian, 'hath not that faith Il loltier beauty
which shows us 4 presiding power in all things
and ditfuses the glory of Divinity through every
object, whether it be the soft and sunshine
stream, or the flower thai grows upon its bank !;
Even so, my Tita, every object hath God
to thee. Thy faith, like the halo which circles
the brow OF thy Olynpan, would scatter It's
rays of worship on many while ours conccn-
trates its light on One. Thinkes thou, maiden,
this tcemng earth, and yon glorious sky, are
the works of Being fashioned and material as
ourselves, me save 81 passions. ne anecrs
control in others with whom the Disobedient
hath no hope save vengeance, and the FrIuous
no enjoyment save the passing hour of life p
Nay replied Tita, our faith limits not en-
joyment to life. Elysium opens her gates to the
whose verses and precepts have been the land
marks of their age
'And what said the Christian, 'can even the
poet create in that Elysium to compare with
the Eternity our God bath revealed TO us The
poet will still rehearse his song, and the
warrior repeat the story of his fight. Though
the outward form of nature shall be changed the
low and perishnble objects they have left on
earth, shall yet be the theme of every tongue,
and the desire of every heart. The Gods thou
trustest in, whom thou last worshipped as cter
nal, desert thee on the brink Of the future, and
leave thee to wander amid the darkness of the
Stygian shore. Cans. thou worship beings who
doom thee to eXpiate the crimes themselves
have committed who have never enjoined II
single law for the guidance of thy life, and yet
punish thee for violation New look, my Tita,
TO the eternity of the Christian the heaven |
have told thee of is the dwelling place Of our
God. and lows such as the ear hath not heard,
nor the eve seen, are the reward of those who
in the s,eadfastncss of faith iorsake all for the
love thew bear Him. Emancipated from the
bo,iv, our souls are purified from the lus,s which
bound us to life, and our senses cleansed Cor the
enjoymcnts of more perfect state. The saints
who have worshpped here in faith, and the
martyrs whose deaths have altested the truth of
that faith, will form that glorious company of
angels, whose hurps shall hymn the praises of
their God, and whose crowns of Immortality
beam us brightly as the stars Of their own heav-
en-
"And is this change to all?' inquired Tia.
"To those who believe rejoined the CHS
tian, ''even as | have told the, in the words OF
our God. 'All things are possible to those who
believe.' What can give as patience amid the
scoffs and courage amid the dangers which be-
set us--but that faith, which, like ray can pen
citrate the cloud, and reveal the bright heaven
which awaits us? An Enemyto our falth is on
the throne, and while he persecutes, derdes the
fortunes he inflicts. Bun the Christian can smile
on the pains inflicted by an earthly hand, when
he remembers they touch hui the body put can
not approach the soul. They are like the thorn
which bound the brow of his Savior, but could
not quench the halo whose light vas immortal nm; 1 u
Such is the hope OF the Christian; amid trlaIs u
sorrows he is supported by the sence . . ,ney
endcur but for a season, and the mana thdt per
seq, ties is rs mortal as the victim :, =,
81 trembe for the wrath OF Jubher; sa','
the maiden, titnidly, should abandon his al
tar
'And wilt thou replied Claudius, continue III
the worship of him whom his very Vo'a..s!s