Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-08-02
THE CHRISTIAN MAIDEN.

pdidOcS tndt BilutISu diOng tHS Dcduiiui ody
Of the Numidian city. The streets were
thronged with the populace in gala dresses,
for it was festival in honor of the gods.-
Towards the great hall of justice a crowd
poured continually, though the avenues
leading TO it we're blocked up; but the rumor
had gone abroad that a Nazarene maiden
was that day to be tried, and the public Gu
riosity was alive to behold her demeanor and
hear her fate.
Within the hall there was scarcely room
to stir. A dense mass Of spectators filled IT
to suffocation, and it was with difficulty that
the officers could keep the crowd from en-
croaching on the space reserved for the
Judges. The most intense excitement per-
vaded the apartment. The audience as i'll
impatient of control, heaved to and fro, and
more than once an Intellectual attempt was
made 10 rush on the prisoner, while ever
and anon the shout would rise from the
crowd
"Away with her-she blasphemes the
gods-let her be cast to the lions"
The object of this angry cry was a girl,
scarcely yet in her eighteenth summer, and
surprisingly beautiful. She stood at the
bar with casped hands and uplited eyes,
her lips moving as if in prayer, apparently
regardless alike Of the bowls Of the mob aud
the angry looks of the judges.
/ "Wit thou sacrifice? Again, ask thee,
wilt thou sacrifice 2" said the pretor stern
lly: remember-to refuse is death-the en-
peror is memorable"
The maiden conyulsively wrung her
hands, and large tear drop started in her
eye A breathless silence ensued. Not
withstauding the cries for blood, the specta-
tors were agitated by many and various
emotions. Some were secretly favorable to
the new religion, and others piiied the ac-
cused on account of her youth and beauty,
but at least one half of the audience we're
bigoted Pagans and thirsted for her death.
I These being the most brutal, had the ascen-
dency, as in every popular tumult. But all
KEEP, silence now, awed by the feelings Of
suspense which ever attends the crisis of
anoiher's fate or our own.
To the maiden those few moments Of
silence were crowded with recollections.-
The events Of her whole life rushed past
her. She saw once more the pleasant val
lev where she had spent her childhood. She
heard its cool waters, the rustic OF its palm
trees, the tinkle Of its sheep bells on the
distant hill Then other associations rose
up before her. She saw herself attacked by
angry wild beasts, and saved only by the
juvenile or chance traveller, a young
Numidian hunter.
The gratitude, deepening into love, which
ensued the mutual pledge Of fidelity till
death; their separation in consequence of
his entering into the army, and being or
dered to the German frontier with his cohort,
moved before her like scenes in a magic
! phantasmagoria. Then came her CONVEX
sion to christianity, her secret baptism in
an upper chamber where the prosecuted
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.
: Oh if her brave soldier had been there,
she knew she would have one bosom to lean
on in this terrible crisis. But no plying
eye looked on her from the crowd, and seas
rolled betwixt her and her bold lover. Yet
t though thus deserted, her faith did not de.
$ sert her. In earnest prayer she sought
strength from heaven, and he who stood by
Poycarp among the lions heard her cry
!, The momentary weakness brought on by
d her recolections of how many dear ties YET
= bound her to earth disappeared, and she
looked firmly at the Judge, her form erect
; and her eye like that of Stephen when hi
5 confronted his murderers.
"Wilt thou sacrifice ?" / ask for the
| third and last time" demanded the pretor
Cast incense on the altar of Jupiter and
thou shalt be saved. Refuse and though
diest ere high MOON"
The spectators bent eagerly forward anC
: held their breaths, to catch the maidens an
: swer.
81 am believer in Christ" she sale
: calmly "Him who ye call the Nazarene
cannot sacrifice to false gods. Do with
me as you will"
n There was something so meek, yet digni
= fled and courageous in these words that the
e mobs fury was for moment choked in adj
v mration. But their heather prejudices ano
e thirst for blood soon attained the ascenden
. cy of better feeling. A low sullen murmu
: ran through the crowd like the half stihet
Il growl of famished wild beast, which grad
II ualy deepened into a shout; then came ex
!. ecration and cries for vengeance.
away with her-she basphemes thu
gods-let her be cast to the lions p roaret
: the angry multitude.
a Thou hast chosen thy fate" said tn,
i judge rising. Away with her to the lions
p The maiden turned deadly pale, bu
N though only a weak woman, she evinced NJ
!, other sign of horror or fear. When tn
lie soldiers approached TO seize her, she shud
5, dered for an instant, as if she already fel
y the fangs of the lion but Immediately thi
- trace of emotion vanished, and she signe'
IL for them to lead on. Yet there was still
J. left one mortal feeling in her bosom. A
l. she stepped from the bar she shrouded he