The Yazoo City Whig and political register. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1843-09-15


thing that could be made available 10 salts
fy the cravings of nature had been devoured.
and now he had only to curse the enemies
of his country, and die.
By his bedside, watching his worn and
wlthered features, young girl was seated;
her age might have been sixteen. She was
one OF those beauties whose characteristics
re genileness and delicacy: her locks,
glossy and golden, streamed over her should.
ers like waterfall seen in the sunset, and
her eyes had that peculiarly soft and melt
ing light which bespeaks heart all love and
tenderness.
The exquisite beauty Of that girl seemed
TO be Ill suited 10 the squalor and the air Of
Wretchedness which perVaded the place
yet there she watched the debilitated and
stricken old man-for the blind painter of
Harlem was her father.
All! how fondly did Holbeck dote on the
only being who had not deserted him in the
dim and desOlate winter of his years. The
enthusiasm and love which once burned in
his heart for the creations of his fancy were
now transferred to that child. She was
more worshipped than saint or Virgin-the
bright bow spanning the cloud Of his de-
spair. He could not behold her loneliness,
now developing itself into womanhood, but
he could hear her voice; and that voice
mlrmured TO him sweet as if it came from
paradise, summCning up thoughts of all pure,
bright and beautiful things.
'Paulina, said the painter, family, SIS it
indeed true that the Governor has capituIa-
Iied-that the enemy has entered the city?'
Yes, father, can you not hear their shouts
The sick man raised his head in the atti-
tude of listening; his sightless orbs were
directed TO the spot where he knew his
, daughter was seated-the muscles Of his
face were convulsed, and the dew of terror
stood upon his forehead.
sThey GOMEZ he cried; i can hear flying
steps, the shouts of savage sOldiery, and the
shrioks Of women
Father, do not fear, our habiiatiOn has
too mean an appearance 70 tempt :he cupi'
dity Of soldiers.
sIknow not that; there are many ether
treasures far more valuable, at least TO me,
} than silver or gold. Haste thee, Pauline.
and secure the door!
The girl obeyed her parents command,
and passed bar of iron across the lower
Oaksn door, yet this very precautiOn, and
the appearance Of strength which the dingy
house exhibited, proved IFS worst safeguard.
and was the means of bringing ruin upon itl
inhabitants.
Thank thee, Paulina! and now / will
13l,Rg to God for thy safety. II matters little
wha Ahappens to me; the sands of my life
are nearly run, and if they kill me, shall
but go to my long home little earlier than
age and disease might have carried me;' and
the old man clasped his hands and seemed
!, in fervent prayer.
! The shouts of the Spanish soldiers sound
ed nearer Exasperated by the long defence
9 which the city had made, they were deter
mined upon taking signal vengeance uPoI
the inhabitants. Men and women were now
rushing up the obscure street in which HOl
i beck resided, with an intention, apparently
Sf sheltering in their houses. Even alarm
VAs visible now on the couRtenance of the
far girl, and she drew mechanically more
clo.ely 10 the bed of her sick parent.
God protect thee, Paulina, but the Spa
7 Ltdards are in our streets The words hat
! scarcely dropt from the painters lips, whel
y a heavy blow, as from hammer or bludgeon
L fell upon the door, and hoarse voices calle'
i Tor admittance. Holbeck started up in hi
t, bed, and the girl, with a shudder, tuTne'
u her eyes to the entrance, at the same tim
d covering, as if by instinct, toward her blln
l. and feeble protector.
q tOn comrades, 10 the next house! Lope
,. and myselfclaim this. Aha! there is some
n thing good here, or we should not have a
st these bolts and bars-a miser, ] warrant
rs with his money bags. Myneer! myneeI
L open your smoky hatch, or we shall knoc
e 10 your baTricadev
n The blows were repeated, but the tTen
bling inmates returned no answer. The
trusted that the iron-bOund door would r
b. sst the efforts Of the assailants, yet Ii
~ strength of the defence served only to il
= crease the ardor and earnestly of tho 50
g, diers; in fact, they imagined that no OF
be but wealthy person would take such pail
pc TO fortify his private dwelling; consequent
It, they hoped, despite external appearance
ut to find within hoard of gold.
th 'Thou sneaking mole! thou crafty old To-
W may ST. Peter lock Us forever in puFgator
TO If We do not uneaFth theen Acrash follol
nd ed the lower pannCls Of the door were buI
las open, and soldiers with iron pixies in The
Igs hands sprang into the house.
rc- The Spaniards were ferocious looking {,
re- lows, with inGamsd eyes and huge musl
II. chios. They gazed for minute steadfasl