Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1846-08-15
AFRAG 4.
BK MANY ByEnTON.


! was one n a group that stood around
a newly made grave, open to receive whit
whathad been for Il brief season tho RECEIPT.
aclo Of abrjght spirit. u II now, only the
cold clay was entering rs final resting place,
and ''dust to dust" sealed the Union.
Conynlsiye scbs, falling tears, and tho
dropping frame, told Of tho torn and
blGs ling hearts, and bruised spirits Of hoe
10 whom a separation from the loved and
cherished was az a sharp steel piercing the
hearts core, and cutttfg I,ose the ibros Of
their own oxi tence. Hopg had no place
there, and the whispers oftllo still voice,
II will never leave or fOrsake you," was
NOT heard.
Within n darkoned cell of a prison house
lIumined by one small window. sat a man,
bound in chains. lie dragged Oh a misor.
able existence, and only awaited the period
which should liberatc him from his bondage.
From a book which lay beside him, he read
ever and anon and as he read, his eve
frightened and his countenanco. was radi.
ant with JOY, for it spoke Of the bright coJu.
try without the prison walls, and although
he learned not When he would be released
yet the time would come and that at no
very distant period. As he read, his eye
darkeBed and clouds came over the page,
there was much that he could not under.
stand, but Immediately a bright ray shone
from his window on the book, and what
was before obscure, was now made plain.
He was comforted too, fir ne learned much
Of those who were already released, who
had endured for a weary season suferines
similar to his own, but now were enjoying
the sweet fruits of their freedom, and Ok.
emption from priyation and pain.-Tbere
were many oh RS in the same apartmeft
with him, some like him anxious to be re-
leased, some indifsfeAt, whom the chains
prevented not from amusing themselves
each in his own q Some there were
who spent their tine principally in arraying
themselves with curious and fantastic dress,
but soon turing, would change it for another
kind, and so passed much Of their time;
others in searching through Old books to
obtain hidden secrets which their fellows
knew not of,-these were much absorbed
- bpO HSl0Ag OtlEfS Iu q LDfUET Vi
the apartment scanned aiding small grains
one to another, which looked like sand or
dust, but upon coming closer you discover.
ed they gIIttered, and were shining, and
that th y preserved them carefully, and
were apparently fond Of the amusement.
They all forgot that they would be liberated
or at least thought the time was alar off,,
and that it would be time enough, after they
had done amusing themselves with these
baubles, to think of il. They seemed forget.
ful, too, that these must remain within the
walls after they left it.
At last one day the keeper came and 10.
lock the door and to the man who had
reading said 'sThe time is come" an d
STOPPING, he touched his chains, and the Y
fell off, his book, too, he caused him to leay Q
behind. With the stern jaiIer he left ths
door, but on casting a glance adown the
darkened and gloomy passage, be shrunk
back, but his grim and silent guide pointed
on, and he saw a ~brightray which cheereI
him, and fearlessly and daunslessIy, with
a bold step and unshriuking nerve, he trod