The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-02-06

cursed crew."
Mrs Cameron, though mild amiable wo-
man, was by no means deficient in spirit
but she knew it was useless to reply, aud
| therefore made no answer to Johnston's in
sulting speech.
"Hou will not answer will you?" exclaimed
the rutiian, with an awful oath-"wel, il
matters not. Every one knows you and the
glrl there, as tie wife and daughter of an arch
hypocrite and Tebel-and five cannot reach
him, through his own canting heart, we can
through yours. What say you Thornton"
"Shall order out the file?" said the indi-
vidual addressed, an old man with II very re-
pulsive countenance, who acted us second in
command.
"No, no, Pve a better plan than that"-said
his officer,w with an internal smile-"l}ut halo,
men; why are you not at the cupboards? |
warrant the villain has some good liquor a.
bout somewhere--these canting scoundrels
are ust the men for it"-and gladly receiving
the usual license to plumber, the men spread
themselves through the cottage.
"They'll be ready for any kind of work in
the course ofhafan hour" muttcred Johns
ton to HIMSELF as loud cutlery told that their
search had not proved unsuccessful.
We shall not attempt to portray the feelings
of the mother and her child at this juncture.
That horrid fate, probably DEATH awaited
them, they knew; but JOY at the escape of the
husband and father mingled with that deep
religious faith i'll the overlooking providence
of God in which they had been nurtured UNI
til it had become portion oftheir very life,
and they awaited with degree of camness
which we in this day can hardly conceive, the
pro ceedings of the soldiery.
The half hour passed over, and the SOL
diers were as their officer had said, fit for any
! H.. Il l,s...y IL.
sultation with Johnston, his lieutenant called
them together, and bidding the trembling wo-
men accompany them, they marched down to
the water side. Then, alas, their victims
knew what fate was in store for them. 1t was
not the first instance in which the strangling
wave had been made TO do the work of the
sword. There was an Internal earnestuess
III Ihorntons features, as he walked along
the beach and calculated by the marks left by
the water upon two or three huge rocks, the
state of the tide. 1t was rising, and within
about two hours of its full. 1t was n smooth,
sandy beach, the breeze was still aud gentle,
and the waves rolled leisurely one after au-
other upon the shore. Directly, two of the
soldiers, who had been left behind at the
house, appeared, each bearing a heavy, sharp
pointed stake, and a rope. God in Heaven!
and Thou lookedst on, and no voice of thun-
der broke from the clear, calm, quiet sky!
| The sun shone as usual and the birds ceased
not their song-the waves rolled still as gent
ly and smoothly up the beach-whie those
accused men with laughter and ieer, sup
pressed though in spite of themselves, for
they felt that they were doing u horrid work,
waded out into the sea, and drove those cruel
stakes deep and firm into the hard sand.
And not further than a quarter of a mile
from the spot, on high hil in full view OF
"a fh.fN ,rnIn
father and husband. So engrossed were the
soldiers with their awful work, that no one
had noticed him, until shepherd lad came
up to Johnston, who was standing apart aud
modify gazing at the progress of his men,
and pointing him out to him, said that Mr.
Cameron offered to deliver himself up at
once, ifthe women might go unframed.
Then Johnston laughed aloud-a demoni-
ac laugh it was, and such as could come from
no heart not eternally lost-and babe the boy
answer that he would not exchange the graf
ificatlon of that moment of revenge, for ten
such traitors as Robert Cameron. And the
wife and daughter, who had heard it all,
thanked God that he had hardened his heart,
that so the husband and father might be saw
ed.
AT length the fatal moment had come-and
Mrs. Cameron and Eflie, giving each other IL
last fond embrace, entered the water, and
quietly suffered themselves to he bound to
the stakes. They were neither of them very
tall, and the water every moment rising, now
just covered their shoulders. Effie was rath-
er taller than her mother, but this suited the
purpose of their eXecutioners all the better,
for they would not have both die at once.
Again came the shepherd lad to Johnston
lie said that Mr. Cameron prayed him on
his knees to take his life, and spare his wife
a., l., Al
miserable man kneelng upon the hill, with
his arms outstretched for mercy. And again
he laughed loudly, and still louder-as ifhc
wished his supplicator to hear his hooking
answer See! he does hear it-he clasps his
hands together, and falls upon his face on the
green sward.
''Tell that villain" said Johnston TO the boy,
"to remember his sermon four months ago.
but stay" continued he scoffingly, as the boy
was turning slowly away, task him why he
prays to me? am not touching the women
if he be one of the saints, let him pray to
that God who holds, as have heard him say.
the waters in the hollow of his hand, and per-
haps He will prevent the running up of the
tide-ifHe does not, why surely it's not my
fault"
And the soldiers laughed, and swore among
themselves it was very witty speech other
captains We shall see.
Johnston looked to see the effect of his
message--Cameron walked eagerly towards
the lad to hear his tidings. Suddenly he
stood still as if transfXed-then, wonder of
wonder of wonders to his enemy, he really
did kneel down, and stretch out his hands, no
longer downwards towards his fellow man,
butupwards to the calm, magnificent Heaven,
and Him who reigns therein.
What picture! The husband and father
on the hill top, Gods first altar, with his arms
rnlicntinn To the all hahnll-