The North-Carolina standard., 1843-05-03

JOSEPH /. MATTHIAS.
CHAPTER 1.
mo! nv free soul dsdains turn; the spark
OF Liberty hath kindled in my breast,
And never Will quench at earth-born mans
Bchest flame that Heaven commanded first
To glDw though on his frowning brow sat thunder,
I'd meet my tyrant and defy the bolt-'
Bride of .4bydos,
It was clear, beautiful morning in the sum-
mer of 1776 The bright rays Of Phnbus were
rapidly dissolving the glittering diamonds of dew
that sparled in resplendent magnfcence, cloth
ing hill and vale in a glorious robe Of golden
light. Not a cloud appeared in the whole cir
cumfcrcnce of the horizons vast expanse, to dim
the deep ethereal blue. Not a sound came up
on the air, save the delightful notes Of natures
sweet choristers, whose music, from the adjacent
trees. was waited to the enrapturcd senses on
light breezes, redolent with increase from the
perfumed flowers. The clear waters of the ma
iestic Delaware rolled en- in silent grandeur, oc-
casonally interrupted by the passage cf some
tiny bark, that glittered for while upon its pol
ished surface. and then was lost in the distance.
1t was 4 glorious scenc--a spectacle of splen-
dorI 4 scene we'll calculated to call forth the
poets brilliant conception:
ssB1eahcs there man with soul so dead,
Who never himself hath said,
This is my own, my native landP
Upon high emincnce, that rose above long
continuous range of hills, on that part of the
New jersey coast, designated as Red Bank
gazing upon the enchanting beauties OF the bright
moon, stood youth OF noble and commanding
figure. whose animated features glowed with en-
thusiasm as he pointed out the glories OF the sur
rounding scenery, to a young and beautiful fe-
male who gracefully reclined upon his arm, and
whose dark eyes sparkled with delight as she
fO fha of
"WaIter," said the fair girl, ''thou wilt not act
imprudenty-thou wilt do nothing rash!''
"Nay, Ida ~ replied the youth, "fear not for
me- The glorious cause of our Liberty is too
closely woven with the fbres of thy Walters
heart to tempt him to commit an act pcrnicious
to our righteous cause"
Il know it, Walter; full well l know it. But
still" and the fair Ida hesitated.
"Comc, Ida, give to the winds these melancho-
ly musings, which are but the idle phantasies
of some midnight dream, whose shadowy sub
stance fits before thy too creative imagination,
and fancy takes the form of stern reality"
''Well, Walter, will patiently await thy re-
turn But twice has Col Osborne crossed my
path What his intentions arc"
'.What, Osborner' interrupted the youth, the
indignant blood mounting to his brow, "that pam
der! If the villain dares to offer you an insult,
Ida, I'd tear him hmD from IHnD
NAY, calm thyself, Walter; perhaps he means
not HARM"
'Ah! my fair Ida, replied Walter, "you know
not what fend in human form this Osborne is.
If it be possible, avoid him.
81 will do so, Walter said Ida.
sit is well, my girl. Soon, hope, these Eng
!sh tyrants shall be driven from our land, and
peace and content once more become its in
mates.''
Heaven grant it, fervently exclaimed the
fair girl.
sCome Ida, however reluctant, am compel
led to leave this splendid view. The sun has all
ready mounted high in yon glorious east, and
bids me tarry not If it be possible, / will re-
turn tonight
"God speed thee, Walter ~ said Ida, and the
lovers retreated from the commanding position
they had occupied, and were soon lost to view
amid the forest foliage.
Walter Carlton was the only son of an aristo-
cratic old gentleman who resided at Gloucester,
Ind who had endeavored by every possible means,
to incucate the infatuated principles of which he
was possessed into the mind of his son. Open
ly, and in no measured terms, he denounced the
course pursued by the young advocates of free
dom and bitter were the invectves that he launch
ed forth upon the devoted Walter, when he per-
ceved that all his efforts proved unayailng, and
that his frail arguments in the cause of British
tyranny had no effect upon his noble-minded son;
his oft repeated threat to disinheft him was also
disregarded. In truth, the more the old gentle
man rallied, the frmer became Walter IN his re-
solution to oppose all oppression. Matters stood
in this very unenviable position, when his father
suddenly died, and Walter was left to pursue the
dictates of his own conscience; which soon led
him to take an active part in his country's quar-
rels. ...
In carly life, Walter had ever been the asso-