Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-07-05
\ SCENE OF THE FRENCH REV.
OLUTION.

OLUTiON.
The revolution in France, which occurred
upwards Of fifty years ago, was occasioucd
by the expressions Of the Government on an
ignorant people. popery was the establish
ed religion. The king, the mobiles and the
priests were united to support each other in
their despolism over the nation. When tho
people could bear it no longer, they rose ~
a body, and destroyed both Government and
Religion together. a sci Of wicked men oh
tanned the control of the Revolution and
they erected guillo,inc with which they cut
of the heads of the king and many others
who favored HIM. Most dreadful crueltirs
were perpe'rafcd on innocent persons mere
" because they were related to the kings
friends. The following interesting sketch
gives "A view Of one of the scenes which oc-
Cured at that time. Louis Capei, mentions
ed in the story, was the name Of the king.
Among those the most remarkable, was n
venerable old man, whose bent figure, thin
white hair, high wrinl,lcd forehead, and with
cred complexion, bespoke the extremity Of
ago, yet his manners were firm, and he new
cr forgot for a moment the calm propricty
Of his demeanor. By his side stood wo-
man now no longer Young, but retaining
much OF the beauty, and all the digniIicd ele-
gance OF former days. She stood erect, and
supported without effort the arm o, tho old
man, who leaned heavily upon hers. The
other rested upon the neck Of "A fair young
girl--a mere girl-not apparently more than
ten years old, whose tcar-swollcn eyes were
fixed on her mothers face, with the sad and
touching melancholy Of childish grief. They
spoke not much together once, as the wag-
on stopped where | stood, heard the old
man murmur words of patience and encour-
agement to his companion as he spoke she
turned her eyes towards the chld-she ga
zed on that fair young face, and ali moth
er's love beamcd in her eye-ihe trial was
almost too great--her lip Gnivered, her face
grew more deadly pale, but IN moment, by
strong effort, she banshed from her look
every appearance Of weakness. She raised
her eyes to hcaven-her lips moved-and
then as if her prayer had been answered, she
turned bright and smiling look on her lit
tie innocent, smoohcd back the curling hair
which clustered around that lovely forehead,
and the mother imprinted one long fond kiss
on the brow Of her child.
The wagon pissed on, and inquired the
name ofthe victim whose appearance had so
interested me. 1t was Maleslerbes-the
honest and able minister-the undaun,ed ad-
vocale-the kind and true friend of Louis
Capet-accompanied by his daughter, the
Marchioness Roclambo, and her child, about
TO die on the scailold But the child Sure
ly they would not murder the child Why
not! The old mans crime was his inno-
cence and purity of character how then
could the child escape! The wagon was
drawn before the gulotinc, and all was soon
ready for the first execution. Maleshcrbcs
stood nearest the steps, and was about to
descend, when a savage voice cried out,
" the child first !" The old man would
have demonstrated, but his child checked
him" It's but for a moment,"- raised
the child in her arms, and handed it to the
eyecniioner. The little creature, frightened
by the savage looks of the man, cried out,
" Don't leave me-come with me-.don't
leave me-" will not leave you, my child
i will be with you in a moment" The
child was pacifed, and the mother turned
towards her aged parent and buried her face
in his neck he bent forward until his white
hair flowed over her shoulders. Thus they
saw nothing-yet they were so near that
they must have heard the jerk of the string
that aosed the pondcrons nxe-and its clat-
ter as it fell. A strong shndder shook the
frame Of the mother, but len the execu-
toner called out now for the woman" she
raised her placid face from her fathers neck
kissed his check" for brief moment,
farewell, my father" She stepped with
light, firm tread from the wagon, mounted
the scahold, and in moment size was with
her child.
Maesherbcs came next; he had summon
ed all his energies for the last scene in his
life's drama, and played it noby. Never
in the proudest days Of his power had the
minister looked or moved with loilier Dig
nifty. With wave of his hand he repulsed
the rude advance of one of the guard who
would have assisted his descent from the
wagon. Seli-sustained in body as in mind,
he advanced slowly to the scaffold even the
fends allowed him to place himself unassist-
ed upon the platform. They would have
bound him, but he gave forbidden look
il was enough the exccutioner retired the
plank was pushed forward and for mo-
ment the old man must have seen, in the
basket below, the heads of his children. The
additional pangi if it was one, was short
the execuioner jerked the string, and all
was over.-Presbyterian.
DUTCH BUTTER