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

CHAPTER VH,~-THE CROSS.
| Midway between the palace and prison, stood
the place appointed for the execution of Paul and
Claudins. 1t was past midnight he cleared the
palace gates. AS he proceeded with haste, dark
and shadowy body approached. low and stihed
anentallon swept on tho night blast, and the light
OF few struggling torches shed melancholy and
sIckly glare. 1t moved at a slow and measured
pace, and it was not till the moment of their meet
ing, that he recognised it as the funeral procession
of the Apostle.
that was Godlike in nature he forgot alike Tho err
rand he had been engaged IN, or the maiden he
had left in his own prison. His mind abstract
ed from everything earthly, and its powers were
| suspended between love for his master, and prayer
for his last moments. AS he gazed on the Apostle
sublime and erect, his hands bound u ma lefac-
tor, and folded on his breast his eyes turned in
prayer TO that God for whose name persecution had
no terror, and punishment no pain as he heard
him repeat with vigor and dislinctness that model
of all prayers, his Divine Master had taught his
dicples as he gazed on, and heard HIM, the beau
tiiul conformity OF example and procept rushed to
his mind and the teaching ofPauL never so strong
ly Influenced his mind as the faith, the courage and
subIimity of the didIty.
As Claudus turned to Join the procession. the
eye Of the Apostle fell upon him. "My son." he
said, "have not we'll told thee that life is but
shadow. Even as now the word of n min can
rase il. Remember, them the words Of the dying
which speak as from the oracle of the grave, and
with the frown of an Omniscent Judge before
them. Fear not say even as our Master hath
taught us, those who hurt the body, but cannot
touch the soul; but rather fear Him who can de-
stroy both soul and body together" lie raised his
fetercd hands to Heaven and bowed his head
he mentioned the name of God, and the tear
which dmmed the eye of Paul. fell like dew
the heart of that young disciple, quickening the
growth of that faith his words had planted there.
Through that long night CIaudius stirred not
from the foot Of the Cross where hung the lfcess
body of his master The hours rolled on, the SEN
tries were relieved from their posts, but the cxter-
nal world and its objects were closed from him, as
he knelt absorbed IN prayer. The torches had al
ready sunk in darkness, and the drowsy sentinel
leclincd upon his spear, No sound was heard Oh
that 1esolate spot, save the prayer of the Christian
and the aroan Of anguish which escaped him as
his eve occasionally glanced upon the Cross. But
round that martyrcd Apostle lowered the halo of
Divinity, Frightening the hopes ofthe disciple with
the light it borrowed from Eternity.
The night was on the wanc, and the stars were
gradually fading before the misty light of morning
and Claudius still remained praying by the Cross
So deep and distracted had been that prayer, that
he heard neither the word passed by the sentines,
nor the dull and heavy tramp of armed men an.
proachlng, The first words which broke his re-
verie, were rudely addressed him by a soldier
''Rse, Nazarene seek filter place for prayer"
Claudius started from the ground. Tie whole
had been.as adream. He looked upwards The
pale form Of the Apostle met his gaze. He clasp
ed his banda couvuIsvely 10 his eyes. He looked
round him the night had already passed. and the
dim light Of morning family srcaked the East.-
Tita and the danger in which he had left her rush.
ed through his mind with The speed rlightning-
s'H ad the maiden braved death for the love she !
bore him Had he shrnnk from the death whose
triumph and glory he painted TO her - were ques.
lions which passed through his confused and viii |
dcred mind AS ho unused upon her danger he |
was about TO rush from the spot, when one OF the
soldiers held torch to his face, and recognizing
seized him.
aha Nazarcne, is Thy faith" he exclaimed. /
" to leave gi,t TO die i'm thy paces''
"Unhand me, cried Ciaudus, vanly endeavor.
ing 10 extrcate himself from the grasp of the sol.
der. 81 fly to her rescue, and TO death"
"SheiS here, cried female voice from The cen.
tire of the troop, and 6nging from her mantle she
bad found in Claudus' cell, the speaker disclosed
he form OF Tta. In a moment he burst from
the hold of the soldier, and clasped the maiden TO
his heart.
'Was it Thy will, my Tita," he exclaimed, to
die orme So young, so beautiful life as
nought thee ?'
81 have been welded to thy faith, answc cred the
maiden, Gin sorrow and suffering. Thou hast told
ne that life is dream to the Christian aud IIeav-
IN his reward Thou saidst in that Heaven we
orgst the smile which corrupted, aud the enjoy
nents which fade beneath the hand which touches
hem. The martyr of our faith, w ho regard life as
IN offering to God, thou hast said, will be our COM
,any and rs she spoke she extended her hand ,
o the lfeless form which hung upon the Cross
'Caudius, am Chrislian and for that faith
would die Thine hour had come they entered
ny cell disguised myself with thy mantle, and
vas content to seek in thy Heaven the happiness
he Chrstion could not find on Earth" ,
"Seize him. seize him, Christian hath deceived ,
he Emperor, echoed the soldiers. ''To the pal :
ICE, they shouted "the wild beast shall devour ,
v hat the Cross has spared
They wer" rushing forward seize Claudius ,
when Iia releasing herself from his embrace, flew y
o the foot of the Cross, aud her knees, clasping
with one ARM while the Other was extended To 9
he guards, "Hold' She exclaimed "the God of !
he Christian will protect his servant" ,
A few sultry drops OF rain which had hitherto +
alien, porended an approaching storm. The a
iouds rolied on in an heavy and sable mass while ,
mon their broken edges gIowed with the lurd
avs OF Summer lightning. A peal sung through
nc Heavens, whose hollow reverberations culver
ID the Croos to which rita ciung. Tho phenom.
non OF appeal and answer, addressed itself to the
upersllilon ofthe Heahens, and for moment they h
we're as those who hear in the thunder the voice n
y God M"iioness and silent they stood fixed to- t
he spot till the clouds dispersed and the echoing
hunder that died in distance. But with the storm G
assed lis terrors, and selling the Christians they il
onducted them to the palace. +,
CHATTER vHI-THE TYRANT A JUDGE. n
on tto E,Il Iax, fhoI ,