The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-05-07
BY MRS. EMMA c. EMBURY

"De,ny may delay but not forge, punishment
NRAR the village of Oakhamp'on, in the wild
and picturesque county Of Devonshre, stand the
romans Of large, anliquated building erected IN
the limo of Elizabeth, and still known among the
peasantry, by the name Of Oxenham Hall. One
wing 10 still in perfect preservation, and its massive
and cunbrous architecture would lead one to won
dst how 80 noble structure could become runous,
if the blackened and crumbling walls Of the dia-
pida,ed portion did not Immediately solve the mys-
tery by exhibiting the traces Of the action OF fire.
To the supers,tous, the Cd Hall Is an object OF
dread, and he would be brave indeed who should
venture within its grass grown courts after the sun
had set. Indeed, it is generally believed through
the district, that curse hangs on the place, and
the utter desou,ion in which it stands, offers n
more reasonable excuse than s usually TO he found
for popular superstition. The immense size OF the
apartments. which still remain, The rich OAK car
wings which decorate the wuinscot,ng, and the large
window once filed with beautiful stained glass
attest the former sp'endors Of the place. But the
moudy tapestry which flaps mourniuIIy 10 the wind
AZ i, sweeps through the broken easement, and a
moth eaten state bed, over whose velvet draperles
the spider has woven his web for years, are all tina,
remain of the costly furniture which once adorned
the mansion The ravages of fire in the left wing
Of the Hall, have left nothing hut backencd mpsscs
Of stone, save in one angle Of the building, where
the peasants, in shudderng horror, point out the
sleeping chamber Of the Lady Of Oxenham and tel
YOU, that although the fire originated in that cham
Der, il is the only one which was not entirely con
sumed. II is true that only few half burnt raft
ers remain BY which to mark the fatal spot in nhrl
the ancestral curse on the house of Oxenham wa
finally fulfilled in the extinction Of the race.
Belonging TO an ancient noble family, the Oxen
,l,.,.,,- had IN Ia
stirring scenes Of camp and court Always pros
porous, they had acquired, by kingy lnrgess AM
wealthy alliance, princely fortune; and when, i
tho reign Of the unfortunate Charles L., the chief
the family Joined the royalist party, no sacrificed
hi. LOYALTY one of the richest estates IN the king
dom. He hsd the grief of learning how vain ha
been his sacrifices, when, from hi prison in tn
tower. he heard the cries Of the popuIace, proclaim
ing tho murder Of his monarch Not many day
after the execution Of the King, The summons q
death came to the unhappy Lord of Oxenham, and
wcaried with life of turmoil, he would have laI
his head calmly on the block, even as one lies dow
on the pillow Of his nightly rest had II mo- been 10
the ties Of affection which still bound him 10 eNls
,ence His wife and only son lay in close conceal
nent, suffering privaion aud want not daring I
venture from their humble retreat, and 1t was hei
future fate which weighed heavily on the heart o
Inc doomed prlknntIs H"b't w '''N"' ""' W.
ten token Of his affectionae remembrance. h
charged his faithful servant 10 bear 10 the Lady O
Oxenham, his las, farewell, together with ring o
plain black enamel, inscribed with the single word
i'Sps.," thereby indicating that she had more
hope from his death than from his prolonged III
pri,onment, since the parliament would scnrcel
pursue lone widow and fatherless boy. In III
old records Of the house Of Oxenham, still pre-
ssrved amid the archives Of the Delmane family,
the following letter, written by the eAiled King
Charles H., 10 the unhappy lady:
Brussels, goth Oct, 1867.
"lh1s been my particular care NJ you, mat have tht
long deferred to lament with the create osse that
and have sustained least in stcrde Of conorne iRi
further expose YOU the will Of those who VIII be glad
any occasion TO do farther prejudice, bnt am proh
1901 mat this shall he put safely into yOur hands, tonsh
may he not so soon wish. and am very WILING 70
should KNOW, which I suppose cannot doubt mat
behre herente pae with Won Of your affection, and whe
snai be IN my power to make il lighter, you shr
see retayne kinde ot your friende, bv the
shall nave ot you and all his relations and OF this 70
may depend upon the word or
Your very arectionnte fiende,
CHARLES n"
Nor was Charles unmindfu Of hi. pledge. At n
restoration. the O1enham estates reverted TO N
yonns heir, and, though oaks had been feed psrl
ruined, plate melted down, and the fine old mai
sion used as barrack by the parliamentary arm,
yet a short time suficed to bring back mpcb of n
ancient spendors Of the family As further oro
Of hi. gratitude for the fathers LOYALTY. Charl
took tho yonth under his especial pio,sc,i.n. an,