The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1844-08-12
Miscellaneous,
The Christian Maiden,
NY MARY v. SPENCER.


ler be cast TO the IONS
was high day in Carthage. The sun shone
-,L no,louded splendor on the white palaces that
.,,,,d along the beautiful bay of the Numidian city.
ri, streets were ,hrongcd with the populaco in gala
,..,., far was festival in honor Of the GODS
r.,,,5. the great hall Of justice crowd poured
.,.,oo,Iy, though the avenues leading to it were
t,,GsJ up; but the rumcr had gone abroad that
y,,,,eoe maiden was that day to be tried, and the
,,hrc curiosity was alive to behold her demeanor or
hear her fate
Within the hall there was scarcely room TO stir
],oc, mass of spectators filled it to sulocaton and
wa. with difficulty that the officers could keep the
,,,ovl from encroachng on the space reserved for
che Judges The most intense excitement pervaded
The oUarlment The audience as If impatient of con-
,o. heuyed to & fro s. more than an Intellectual
,uempt was made rush the prisoner, while ever
and anon the shout would rise from the crowd,
oAway with her-she blasphemes the gods-let
her be cast to the lions"
The object Of this angry cry was a ghl scarcely
iONq eighteenth summer, and beautiful. She stood
a@etr with claspcd hands and uplilted eyes, her
aps moving as if in prayer, apparently regardless a.
like Orthe bowls Of the mob and the angry looks Of
The judges,
"rit thou sacrifice Again ask thee, wilt thou
s,etfce'" said the praetor sterny: "remember-to
refuse is deu,h-,he emperor is memorable"
The maiden convulsivey wrung her hands, and Il
lrge ,car-drOp started in her eye. A brea,hless ST.
snce ensued. Notwithstanding the cries for blood,
IL. -.
notions Some were secretly favorable TO the new
religion and others pitied the accused on account OF
her youth and beauty but ut least hale of the audi
encC bigoed Pagans and thrsted for her DEATH
These being the most brutal, had the ascendancy, as
bNey popular tumut. But all kept silence now,
sxSN the feelings Of suspense which ever attends
n Tee uhs Of another's fate or our own.
BAe maiden those few moments Of silence were
aowded with recollections. 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,
,aA linke Gifts sheep bells on the distant hill. Then
other associations rose up before her. She saw her
SELF attacked by an angry wild beast, and saved only
N6e iyeIn of chance traveller, young Numid
ian hunter
Thegntudc, deepening into love, which ensued;
hn0un pledge of fidelity til death; separation in
consequence of his entering into the army, and being
ordered to the German frontier with his cohort moved
before her like scenes in magic phantusmogora.
Then came her conversion to christianity, her secret
baptism in an upper chamber where the prosecuted
sect met, her arrest and Imprisonment, and now this
Clac Al, Al. II 4 ~.
OF relative to advise; an orphan, poor, and Of a de-
'psed religion. Oh! If her brave soldier had been
Wefe' she knew she would have one bosom to lean
on IN This terrible crisis. But no plying eye looked
on0er from the crowd. and seas rolled betwxt her
u"a bold lover. Yet though thus deserted, her
tain did not descr; her. To earnest PRAYER she
sought strength from heaven, and he who stood by
'OyCarp among the lions heard her cry. The momen-
N! weakness brought on by her recollecions of how
"i"y dear lies yet bound her to earth disappeared,
'"u '"e looked firmly at the judge her form erect,
-u ner eye like that of Stephen when he confronted
his murderers
WIN thou sacrifice? ask for the third and last
'"'e' demanded the ptaetor. sCast incense on
'"' quar- oil Jupiter and thou shalt be saved. Refuse
w ''ou uiest ere high noon!"
'"' spectators bent eagerly forward and held their
"'"V'S 10 catch the maiden's answer.
am believer in Christ, ''she said calmly; 'Him
W. "O 70 called the Nazarene. cannot sacrifice to
s0u'' DO with me as you will"
''' was something so meek, yet digniied and
= '''seOus in these words that the mob's fury was
~ ""Oment choked in admiration. But their hea-
p'eJadces and thirst for blood soon attained the
,.n 1"'y OF better feeling. A low suen murmer
e., ugh The crowd like the half stifled growl of
.I' '''u wild beast which gradually deepened into
'U'' and then came excavations and cries for VEN
geance.
t.., way with her-she blasphemes the gods-let
I'm a'. !" The llons" roared the angry multitude.
Ou mast chosen thy fate, "sad the judge rising
~" with her to the lions.''
,w.,l "'a'aen turned deadly pale, but, though only
weak woman, she eviuced no other sign Of horror
,s ~. When the soldiers approached to seize her.
Tor an instaut,as if she already felt the
tim we lioni but Immediately this trace Of emo
YaL1 ''"eu' and she signed for them to lead on
Som was still left one mortal feeling in her bo-
Gs.;- as sne stepped from the bar she shrouded her
crowd "'' veil to conceal it from the gaze of the
a, o,.. euons with her! Let her be cast to them
s,Ows no! for the amphithea.re!'' shouted tho
uail., d. rushing impetuously after the condemned
a., Juggling and fighting with each other 10 get