The Democratic Whig. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1842-1843, 1843-01-05
THE coYENANTER's BURIAL
A Legend OfIhe Scottish prosecutions
Ely HENRY W. HERBERT

A Legend Of The Scottish prosecutions.
Ely HENRY W. HERBERT.
Deeply embosomed in the wild gor.
ges ofthe Penflaud Hills, seven Scot
fish miles, at least, from any human
habiiation, there stands a small old
moss-grown chapel, partly dilapidaied,
although il is still 10 use, built in the
very earliest style Of Norman archiec-
ture. II has no tower, nor aisles, nor
trausept, and could not readily contain
a hundred worshippers, consisting,
merely Of one oblong apartment, with
short, massive column at each angle,
whence spring the groinings grotesque-
y carved in daik gray feestone, which
support The steep slated roof Il is
lighted by one large pointed window at
The east end, and a small loop-hole,
more resembling a crenelle for arrow
shot, than an aperture designed TO adj
nit air and light, on either side. The
entrance is by a low.browed arch ia
cling the window. aud Immediately be-
meath the lille open belfry, which is
perched like a dove-cot on the point
Of the gable. The whole exterior of
the chapel has, evidently, at some for
n'r day, been decorated by full many
a scu!plured efligy oc virgin, saint and
angel as may be still seen from the
empty inches wherein they stood en-
shii"vd uulu ,lse ,u.le Laad Sc H. r..
ritahs in the days Of the Scottish relor- |
nation hurled them down, and ground, |
IN the wild zeal Of their new faith, the |
very stones of which they scattered to |
the four winds Of heaven. In the in
terror, likewise, two or three vacant
inches still remained, with large foui
Of stone, made to hold holy water,now
consecraled to baptismal uses besides
this, a few oaken benches Of The most
rude and antique form, and a huge
reading desk of the same material, com.
posed the furniture Of this most primi-
i've place Of worship. Around the
wall lay a small battle-ground, with
many a green haIesunken maidstone
1eering up from out the rank growth
1i dark course heritage, nellles and |
hislles, and yet yiler weeds, which be-
rayed, by their rank luxuriance, the
atness of the soil, enriched from the
lecay Of mortal bodies. A few oil
hem bad been, as was still evident,the
asst homes Of personages NOT void oil
llgHity and rank-there was one in
vast uncouthly sculptured
lock ofireestone, where might be dis
the form Of human figure,
Vilh a small hood upon his head,
ieaIer-shaped shield suspended from
lis Heck. bis folded hands reslingupon +.
he hilt Of huge cross-handled sword
nd his legs crossed in that peculiar
manner, which indicates that be who
leeps beneath, was a Knight Tenn
lar. Upon the shield were some I
lint relics Of armorial bearings, but it c
'ould now have puzzled The keenest I
nllquary that ever pored over moul- ;
ering ruins, 10 detect the obliterated 2
lazoury which would have told the
anne OF him who slumbered there, as !
oil as though be never had pealed
rough bis furious lips the war cry. o
Ia ! Beauseant,or batlled for the cross u
{ Christ, knee deep in Paynim gore. >
mother heavy stone displayed the mi y
e and the pastoral crook Of some ?
roud abbot, and some two or three
lore Of the number bore marks of !;
ccoraliOu which, though now much I
eeayed and broken, showed that they =
ad been in old-time dedicated 10 The b
'ng since forgotten memories Of The 81
ure, the beautiful, the noble or the q
Use. The resi- we're low grass-c0yer- e
d mounds, without a stone 10 bear The &
anne, or record The deslinies Of their
and the most Of them, from !,
leir sunken ridges, end half oblilera- 2
d outlines, we're evidently OF no re- a
ant origin. Nothing could possibly o
E wilder or more gloomily romantic >
ian lhe spot chosen FOR the sile Of this 2
lace Of rural sspulturs. Il was a small I
eep hollow, scoOped, as it were, out !
the bosom Of the huge moorland K
ills that raised their bare, round-hea- Il