Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1842-04-02
From the New York ladies Compe Mon.
The Captive Prince.
pY MRS. CAROLINE oREE.

"Mine mas been the fate OF those
To whom the goodly earth and air
Are banned and barred"
1.-THE Prisoner of Chillon.
In one Of the apartments of Windsor
Castle, remote from those occupied by the
royal family, sat James, the son and heir
of Robert III. King of Scotland Books
of classic lore, and those containing the
productions Of the. most celebrated poets
of England and other countries were ar
ranged on shelves, while few favOrite
volumes lay on table on which he leaned.
He held pen in his hand and piece Of
paper laid before him, on which were
traced few poetical lines, but the free and
Joyous song of the birds. borne on the
summer breeze through the grated win
dows, by reminding him that he was a cap
tive, smote upon mis- heart and banlshed
the bright dreams that fancy had SUM-
moned up.
Having been made prisoner by Henry
Nv, at the age of eleven, while on his way
that he might escape the danger TO which
he was exposed by the ambition of the
Duke of Albany, he was not only retained
in captivity the remainder Of that Kings
life, but during the whole reign of his sue
cessor, Henry V, in order to prevent the
alliance of Scotland with France. Henry
" having had the generosity to bestow
on him an excellent education, and posses
sing a taste for poetry and music which
he successfully cultivated, the young Prince
was enabled to beguile many an otherwise
weary hour; yet, with all these mental re-
sources were there times when the chains
of captivity CALLED him to the quick, and he
would have given worlds to have exchang-
ed his lot with that of the meanest peas
ant.
He rose and went to the window. The
prospect of the Thames and the surro~nd
ing country, dressed in its summer garb Of
verdure anG bloom, was beautiful, and there
were times when he could gaze on it with
the loving eyes and imprisoned feelings of
the poet; but now his heart was far away
amid his native hills where in childhood he
used to rove at will, and his eyes grew dim
with tears. AS he fingered at the window
to catch the GOODNESS Of the breeze on his
burning brow and throbbing temples, he
succeeded in gradually subduing his feel
ings to that stern and determined compo-
sure learned only in the school of adversely
and attained only by those who have the
power and will to submit uncomplainingly
to its iron discipline. The royal gardens
lay below, but owing to the iron bars that
crossed his window, that portion nearest
the buildings was concealed from his view
and all at once he became conscious that g
soft female voice occasionally mingled it,
melody with that Of the wild birds CAROL
Notes Of so much sweetness, he imagined
could proceed only from the loyeliest o.
lips, he earnestly desired to obtain view o
the songstress. His wish seemed likely t,
remain unqualified, as she continued in tina
part Of the garden which he was debarre'
from beholding. At length, however, sh'
emerged TO view, and approaching larg
rose-bush, commenced plucking some of tn
half-blown flowers. The Prince had neve
before beheld face and form so perfect.
beautiful 1t was at so early an hour tina
she probably imagined there were no watch
full eyes to observe her, and her rich ches
nut hair, unrestrained by golden bodkin o
iewellsd braid, fell in long, glossy ringlet
over neck of almost dazzling whitenes
at every motion sweeping the dew from tn
glittering leaves Of the rose-bush as she ben
over it.
1t is singular how the lineaments, tn
I voice, and peculiar air, even after havln
!, been long lost, are sometimes revived in
Il descendant. The features of this Lowell
J. creature were almost the same as thos
which have 40 long since been made fami