The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1841-01-02

said. Net this, eh, let me be spared this
worst grief yet, no. the sacrifice mus a
be completed; give me only the strength to
bear it, Then she advanced and led Fla Z
vius Torsuatus to her couch, and meekly {
kneeing before MIN, prayed him, yet once
more to lay his hand upon her, and to bless
her.
The old man answered, 1T is not for this;
come TO tell you that all my en,reaties
have seen in vain, the orders of the empe-
ror must not be disobeyed, and his orders
were, that all Of your fanatcal sect should
be exterminated. Were Marcus here, the
tears and prayers of his faithful old servant
might avail; but he is beyond the Danube;
Tomorrow, general execution!-Oh,
Bernice my child, my child! must live 10
see yout blood flow forth by the hand Of a
common executionerr
Il come not, as came yesterday he
continued, after long pause, with tears
and entrea,ies to move you; yesterday; ]
kneli TO implore you to save your fathers
heart from breaking, and all in vain. To-
day come with harsher purpose. You
asked me but now TO take you, as l did
when you were little child. Berenice, if
you do not abandon your infatuaton, if you
persist in bringing eternal dishonor on your
line-Berenice, listen! may the curse OF
y our father
The girl pressed his arm heavily; she
tried to speak bu! her parted lips, were
white as marble, and refused to utter a
+ sound.
The old man looked on her;and the curse
: on his lips was stayed. He looked on her
and kissed her ere he went, for he had ten
/ deily loved her mother.
My sister! shs family answered., as h,
# moved away, but Flavius answered.
8 you will never see her again;you woul'
II infect her with your superstition; caEno
n be left chidless in my old age And tn
If old man went, and as the last sound Of hi
l. departing step died away, Berenlce though
!. her worst trial was over, and she Withdrew
d her thoughts from the world, and sought Il
prepare her soul for death.
g Late in the following day, the people Q
If Rome assembled in the ampitheatre, to wit
r ness the martyrdom Of the Christians
If Horrible deaths they died Some wer
If torn to pieces by wild beasts; Others wer
burned al slow fire; some few were cruel
g fed, ,and they counted such death an unmer
II tied honor. Berenice was reserved for tn
e last, and because she was OF Roman patri
= clan blood she was to suffer the mi!der pun
e ishment of deeolation. The sign was Civ
en-, and when it was proclaimed by the her
aid, that the Christian maiden was coming
e forth, there was SO deep silence amonl
!; that vast multitude that even the advancing
n steps of the girl and her conductors wer
d heard. But what was the surprise of al
e present, when they beheld, not enc, bu
d Two young maidens, both dressed alike il
N white raiment, both coming forth with tn
n same quiet step, ane placid demeanor; an
N one, it might be the most tranquil, adva.l
CT ced step towards the seat where he win
re- governed the city, during the absence Q
le Marcus Antonus sat, and thus addresse
ID him.
le 1T is /, most noble perfect, who am Bel
enice the Christian; this girl, my sister, 70
love OF me, would lain take my name an
o. punishment on herself, but credit her not,
is is who am the condemned
Mt Then arose touching dispute betwee
v the sisters;-sisterly love lending one tn
o. sloquence which the other derived iror
ar truth. Many of their friends, and even {
I'd their relatives, IN the ampitheatre. wer
p called on to come down and decide betwee
Is them, but some spoke for the one and som
r. spoke for the other. Veronica, in her age
I'd nizing fears, had lost the light and joyou
IN expression of her countenance; and Ber'
I'd nice's meek and hsly hopes had chase
n, the deep melancholy from her face dS mleI
sn One or two brutal voices arose and sai'
he 'they both call themselves Christians, IL
IL 4. IL ~ h,,t IF AZ