Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-07-17

heart throbbng between hope and fear. In
a few minutes the woman returned and placed
in her hand small sealed package, with
these words:
place this in his hands, and leave the rest
for his manhood and his lofty love to accom-
plsh. Depart speedily as thou camcst.'
Ere Ophicl could thank her or question
her Of the contents of the package, she was
gone.
V.
The succeeding morning band of thou
sand soldiers marched out of the northern
gate of the cIty--lhcir numbers serving rath-
or to add dignity to their mission, than as
necessary to guard the chained prisoner, who
moved witt, proud step and unbrokcn bear
ing in tlrcir centre. The first night they en-
campcd within league of the mountain.
The youth slept in his guarded tent, and his
dreams were of love and ambition--for IA
stout heart like his, and one that loved so
truly, did not despair of success, even where
his path was over the footsteps of million
who had gone before him, and left their bones
bleaching on the mountain side. At mid
night his dreams of Eyla were disturbed by
a slight touch on his shoulder. He started,
opened his eyes, and bchcld an ndistinct
figure gliding from the tent, without waking
the tired and sleeping guards, who, doubtless,
thought their prisoners safety sufficiently Sc
cured by his heavy chains--hc at the same
moment discovered that something had been
left in his hand. Instnctively he hastily con-
ccaled it in his bosom, and turning over with
clanking chains, which reused his guardians,
once more sank to slumbcr.
With the rising sun the camp was in mo-
ton, and under select guard Of one thou
sand men, the prisoner was led TO the foot
of the mountain and Invested of his chains
The captain Of the guard then embraced hin,
for he had compassion ON his youth and
gcn,lcncss, and wishing him success, accom-
panied him few PAGES on his way, and bade
him farewell.
For the first two miles the ascent was COM
paratlvcy easy. But at length the youne
man, of whom the soldiers never lost sight
reached the region of eternal snow, agains
which his dark form was but just relieved
appearing like a speck, which, save tina
they had continued to keep it in their eye
could not have been detected.
| When the young Montezuma, after grea
hardships gained the region of eternal winter
the verge Of which, far down the mountain
was whitcned with myriads of bleaching
bones, of those who had persisted before him
but which made him no fainter hearted, h
pausedto survey the icy pyramid that pierce
nearly league higher into the skies, pre-
senting to the eyes of those below one polish
cd cone Of glittcring snow, crowned by tn
starry gem that had burned on its crest fror
the first day Of creation. NOTWITHSTANDING
the probably fatal end of the attempt, Mon
} tezuma, after gazing upward awhile and see
ing many assures in the sides of the glacier
invisible to those below, resolved to make i
Lying down on the last spot Of verdurc t
+ rest his weary limbs, he rcposed for an hou
and then with a bold spirit and inspiring hin,
self with the thought of Eyla, he began t
scale thcicy steep. He had toiled two hour
and won but a twentieth part Of his wa,
when, as overcome by the cold and cxcrtio
h, was about to admit INTO his mind despair
, ing doubts of success, small package te
4. from his bosom, and after sliding down
hundred feet, lodged in a deep cleft of II
t glacier. 1t recalled to his recollection ii
mysterious visit of the preceding nigh
= which until MAUI. bod nat n".orod his mnC
and he rapidly descended to recover it. O
] opening it, he found transparent substanC
+ like gum, Of a delightful fragrance, enclose
D in parchment, on which was written thes
r words:
"Thc gum of the herb that containeth Il
prime pie Of life. Eat sparingly a, mornr
noon, and eve, and thy strength shall be
u the sun and ncilhcrthc four clements nor II
two great principles of heat and cold shs
have power over thee. Child of the su
II run thy race, and rejoice in thy strength"
y The weary young man, ready to sink III
y der fatigue and cold, and hitherto just abo
II to give up the further ascent IN despair, pl
;, ccd small particle of the gum between h
y lips. 1t instantly dissolved, and suddenly
!, felt new prnci pie of life. The stagna
- blood warmed and glowed in his stilIcnil
g veins; his heart lcaped; his sincws BEGAN
- strong; his spirits cheerful and full Of clast
- city; and hope and anticipated victory on
! more filled his soul. He was new bcin
y lie felt the strength of AN immortal, and Il
!, enduring power Of the treless sun. His fiji
:, :" impulse was TO spread his hands in grautu'
Il to this visible dispenser of life and heat, vi
w. was at that moment descending the wcste
20 horizon to light unknown realms beyond
verge. Then carefully placing the renal
der Of the gum in his vesturc, he sprang |
Is the cone with the strength and lleetness of
II c AMOS. Upward and onward, and ST
&c upward, unwearied and unceasing he Ike
l. his skyward way, till the astonished troo
'e below, who had followed HIM until he appca
III ed like minute speck on a snow white spi
'c could scarcely see him, and soon the mounta
s. mist and twilight yelled him from their vie
W Three days and nights they remained c
y camped at the foot Ola mountain, and he {
81 not reappear. His death was then considt
~ ed certain. The camp was ordered to
~ struck, and the soldiers returned to the cal
!; tai. The emperor received the news Of
- failure and death of the bold aSpirant for
~ crown, with undisguised delight. For,
~; ~ sending thilhcr, he had only sent him tc
La more lingering species of death than he COZ
~ have receive from the axe of the headsm;
c' Tho nrinrnss thounh struck with deem pri