The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-07-25
M | S G L L L A N Y
From the Ladies' National Magazine,
The Christian Maiden.
BY MARY v. SPENCER.

'Away with her-she blasphemes the gods
let her be cast to the lions"
1t was high day in Carthage. The
sun shone with uncIouded splendor on the
white palaces that glittered along the beau
tiful DAY of the Numidian city. The
streets were lhronged with the populace
in gala dresses, for it was a festival in
honor of the gods. Towards the great
hall of Justice crowd poured continually,
though the avenues leading to it were
blocked up; but the rumor had gone
abroad that a Nazarene maiden was that
day to be tried, and the public curiosity
was alive 10 behold her demeanor or hear
her fate.
Within the hall there was scarcely
room to STIR A dense mass of spectators
filled it 10 suffocation, and it was with diff
ticulty that the officers could keep the
crowd from cncroaching on the space re-
served for the judges. The most intense
excitement pervaded the apartment. The
audience as if impatient Of control heaved
TO and fro, and more than once an effectu-
al attempt was made to rush on the pyis-
oner, while ever and anon the shout would
rise from the crowd,
Away with her-she basphemes the
gods-let her be cast 10 the lions
The object of this angry cry was girl,
scarcely yet in her eighteenth summer,
and surprisingly lovely. She stood at the
bar with her clasped hands and upifed
eyes, her lips moving as if in prayer, APP
parenlly regardless alike of the howIs Of
the mob and the angry looks OF the
Judges.
wilt thou sacrifice? Again ask thee,
wilt thou sacrifice g SAID the praetor
sternly, 'remember--to refuse is death
the emperor is ineXorabIe.'
The maiden convuIsivey wrung her
hands, and large tear.drop started 10 her
eye. A breathess silence ensued. Not
withstandiug the cries for blood the spec
tators were agitated BY many and various
emotions. Some were secretly favorable
to the new religion, and others pitied the
accused on accoun. of her youth and beau
ly, but at least half OF the audience were
bigoted Pagans and thirsted for her death.
These being the most brutal, had the as
tendency, as in every popular tumult.-
But all kept silence now, awed by the
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 recolections.
The events of her whole life rushed past
her. She saw once more the pleasant
valley where she had spent her childhood.
She heard its cool waters, the rustic Of its
palm trees the linkle of its sheep bells on
the distant hill. Then other associations
rose up before her. She saw herself at
tackled by an angry wild beast, and saved
only by the javeln of a chance traveller
a young Numidian hunter. The graft
tude, deepening into love, which ensued
the mutual pledge of fidelity till death -
their separation in consequence Of his en-
terng into the army, apd being ordered
10 the German frontier with his cohort
moved before her like scenes in magic
phantasmagori Then came her con.
version to Christianity, her secret baptism
in an upper chamber where the persecut
ed sect met, her arrest and imprisonment
and now this scene! She felt that she
stood alone, with no friend or relative to
advise; an orphan, poor, and Of despised
religion. Obi if her brave soldier had
been there, she knew she would have one
Bosom 10 lean on in this terrible crisis
But no plying eye looked on her from
the crowd, and seas rolled betwixt her
and her lover. Yet though thus desert
ed, her faith did not desert her. In earn
est prayer she sought strength from heav-
on, and he who stood by Poycarp among