Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1844-06-14
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at the expiration of the year.
From The Ladies' National Magazine.
THE Oh RI ST. n NJ A ID T. y .
BY MARY V. SPENCER.

to the lions"
II was n high day in Carthage. The sun
shone with unclouded splondor on the white pal
noes that glittered along tho beautiful bay of the
Numidian city. The streets were thronged with
the popuIace in gala dresses, for it festival
IN honor of the gods. Towards tho great hall Of
;us,ice a crowd poured continually, though tho
epues leading to it blocked up; bat tho r,-
NOR had gone abroad that NaZarone maiden
was that day to be tried. and tho public curiosity
was alive to behold her demeanor or hear her fate.
Within tho hall there scarcely room to
stir. A dense mass Of spectators filled il to suf-
focation and it with difficulty that tho Off
GERS could keep tho crowd from cncroachng on
the space reserved for the Judges. Tho most in
tense excitement pervaded the apartment. The
audience if impatient Of control, heavcd to
and fro, and moro than onco Intellectual at
tempt was made to rush on the prisoner. while
or and anon the shout would rise from tho crowd,
"Away with hcr-sho blasphemcs the gods
let her be cast to the hons.
The object of this angry cry was GIRL scarce
" vet in her eighteenth summer. and surprising
ly lovely. She stood at the bar with claspod
hands and uplift3d eyes, hor lips moving if in
PRAYER apparently regardless alike of tho bowls
of the mob and tho angry looks Of the Judges.
..Wt thou sacrifice Again ask thee, wilt
thou sacrifice r. said tho pr;rtor STORMY
membcr-.o refuse is dcath---thc emperor is in
exorablc.''
Tho maiden oonvulsivcy wrung hor hands,
and large tear drop started III her eye. \
brcathlcss silence cnsucd. Notwithstanding tho
cries for blood. the spectators were agitatcd BY
many and various emotions. Some were secret
Is fu yorablo TO the rcglon and others pitied
the accused on account Of her youth and beauty.
but at lcast lnlf of the audience wore bgotasi Pa
gans and thlrstcd for hor death. Those being tho
most brutal had the ascendancv, as in every pop
btr
the feelings Of suspense which ever attends tho
crisis of anothcr's fate
To tho maiden those few moments of silence
wcro crowded with rccocctions. The events Of
her whole life rushed past her. She saw once
the pleasant valley whore she had spent hor
childhood. She heard its cool waters, tho rustic
of the palm trees. tho tnklo of its sheep bells
the distant hill. Then other associations rose up
before her. She saw herself attacked by
CRY wild beast, and saved only by the |avon OF
chance traveller, young Numldan hunter. The
gratitude, deepening into love, which cnsned;
the mutual pledge of fidelity till dcnth their sep
araton in consequence of his entering into the
army and being ordered to the German frontier
with his cohort moved before her like scenes in
a ma gic plantnsma gorla. Then came her con-
version to Christianity. her secret baptism i'll an
upper chamber whore the prosecuted sect met her
arrest and imprsonment and now this scene =
She felt that shc stood alone with friend or
lative to advise; orphan, poor. and of a dos-
pissed religion. Oh if her bravo soldier had
been there she know she had ono bosom to lean
on in this terrible crisis. But no plying eye
looked on her from the crowd, and seas rolled be-
twixt her and her bold lover. \ Ct though thus
deserted her faith did not desert her. In earnest
PRAYER she sought strength from heaven. and he
who stool by Pollycarp among the lions heard
her cry. The momontary weakness brought on
by her recolIcctions of how many dear ties yet
bound her to earth Disappeared and si'o looked
firmly at tho Judge. her form erect. and her eye
like that of Stephen when he confronted his muir
derers.
wilt thou sacrifice ask for tho third and
last time'' demanded tho prrtor. "Cast inconso
on tho altar of Jupiter and thou shalt be saved.
Refuse and thou dicst ere high noon
Tho spectators bent cagarly forward and hold
their broaths. to catch the maiden's answer
81 am believer in Christi sho said calmly.
:. lin who We call tho Nazarone. cannot sac
ritico to false gods. Do with YOU will.
Thoro something mock. vet dlgnlti2d
md coura geous in these words that the mob's
fury was for n moment choicd in admration.-
But their heather proludlccs and thirst tor blood
soon attained the ascendancy OF better tceilng.-
A low sullcn murmur ran through tho crowd like
tho half stiled growl of furnished Wild beast.
which gradually dcopencd into shout: and then
came exccratlons and cries for vengeance.
Away with ncr-shc blasphemcs the gods
let her be cast to the lions I" roarod the angry
multitude.
Thou hast chosen thy fate said the Judge
rising. :" Away with her TO tho hons.
Inc maiden turned deadly pale but though on
~ a weak woman. she evinced no other sign of
horror or fcar. When the soldiers apnroachei
to soize her. she shuddered for an instant. rs if
sho already felt tho fangs of the lion: bit imno-
dIately this trace of emotion vanished. ami she
signed for them lead on. Yc, there was sill
left mortal feeling in her bosom. rs Sic
stepped from the bar she shrouded her face in her
veil to conceal it from the gaze Of the crowd.
ITO the lions with hor LIT her be cast to
them at Ho! for the ampltheatre!"
shouted the crowd. rushing tumutousIy after the
condemned maldon. struggling and fighting with
each othor to get near that they might spit on the
prisoner. and now and thcn lashing themselves in