Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1844-08-08
AfutfIIaMr6us.
From lhs Ladies' National .Nagasias.
THE CHRISTIAN MAIDEN.

pr MARY 4. iPENcEa.
Away with her-she blasphemes ihe rsas-
YET heF Be cast 10 The IIons''
/ hwas d high day in Carthage. The
E 9 mel shone with unclouded spleudor on. The
iiifultsy Of the NumidIsa city. TIE thar;
we're thonged with the popnlace in gala
dresses, for il was festival in hoEor oflha
gods. Towards the great hall Of Justice !
crowd poured cantinualIy though the ave.
nuesleading 70 il were blocked up; but
the rnmor had gone abroad that Naza-
rene maiden was that day 10 be tried. and
the public curiosity was alive 10 behold
her demeanor or hear Aef fate.
/ Wiibin the hall there were scarcely
room 10 sir. A dense mass Of spectators
filed it 10 suffocation, and il was with dil-
6culiy that the officers could keep the
crowd from encroaching on the space re-
served for the judges. The most intense
excitement pervsded The apartment The
audience. as ifimpaiient otcontrol. heaved
10 aud fro, and more than once an etfec
tusl attempt was made 10 rush on the pris-
oner, while ever aud anon the shout would
rise from the crowd,
Away with her-she blssphemes the
gods4-let her be cast 10 The lions"
TAs.ohjeet of this angry cry was . girl
sCtIIcfy 80 ST - ~ 0hfse rstn sn'h. -
and surprisingly lovely. She stood at the
bar with clssped hards aud uPliIied eyes,
erlIps3moving as ifin prayer. apparent
Nv regardless alike ofthe howls Of the mob
and the angry looks Of the judges.
"Will thou sacrifice: Again ask thee,
vii! thou sscrifcea1 said the pre,Or stern
ly :Lrremember--io refuse IL death-the
emperor is memorable
The maiden convulsively wrung her
hands, and large iear-drop started in her
eye.. A breathless silence ensued. Not
wnh,tandirg the cries for blood, the spec
tators we're agitaled BY many and various
emotions. Some were secretly favorable
10 the new religion, and others pltied the
accused on account Of her youth and beau
", but al least half Of the audience were
bigoted Psgans and thilsted for her death
These being the most brutal, bad The as
cendancy, as in every popular tumult.-
But all kept silence now, awed BY tne
feelings Of suspense which ever attends
The crisis Of another's fate or our own.
To The maiden those few moments Of
silence were crowded with Iecolleehons.
The events of her whole life rushed past
her She saw once more The pleasant
valley where che had spent her childhood
She heard its cool waters, the rustic Of ITS
main, trees, The iinkle Of IFS sheep bells on
ihe distant bill. Then other associations
rose up before her. She saw herself al.
iached by an angry wild beast, and saved
| only by The jayelin of chance traveller
wong Numidian hunter The gran
i tude. deepening into love, which ensued
The mutual pledge>of fidelity till death
their separation il consequences Of his en-
Iterine into The army and being ordered Z
1.-The German frontier with his cohort, NOV
ed before her like scenes in magic phan
ltssmsroria. Then came her conversion u
| Christianity. her secretbaPiisrn 10 an Up
lper chamber where the prosecuted sec
| met. her arrest and imprisonmenh AM
Enow this scene She felt that she sioo'
q alone. with no friend nor relative 10 ad
wise: an orphan, poor, aud Of despise'
religion. OH If her bravo SOLDIER ha'
been there, she knew she would have on
bosom 10 lean on in this terrible crisis =
But no plying eye looked on her iron
The crowd and seas rolled hetwixt her an
iherboldIover. YetthoHgh thus deserted
,,ther faith did not desert her. In earne'
Eprayer she sought strength from heaven
land he who stood by Pollycarp among ID
lions heard her cry. The momentar
weakness brought on BY her recollection
az how mapy dear lies yet bound her
earth disappeared. and she looked fFml
a Ire judge. her form erect. and herey
!. like that Of Stephen when be cOnitcn'e
Ibis inurderers. !,
.lWilt ihou sacrifice ask Tor 70
third and last time" demanded he pEs
tor rCast incense on the altar Of lup
Ter and thou shall. be saved. Refuse 81
-lihoa diest ere high noon
The spectators bent eagerly toward Al
held .heir brsasEiss TO catch the mA'een
: a am / believer in Christ. she So
Icslusiy. aHim who ye vet called ne Naz
lrens. cannot sacriice 70 iaise eoos''
: Do with me As you vii. - a.
Il There was something 50 meek yst q
lni6nd and courageous in these words = !,
,helmoh's fury was for 4 mome1t cheek
in. admiration. But their heather pre-
does and thirst Tor blood soon attained
aseSnd6ncy Of heller feeling. a low =!
lien murmur ran through lhe crowd 4
l.rs4a-1f -t-0.1 ..1-...T - 4. f~r9rshad u