Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-05-27

presses all mat rs pure IN passion, or holy In hi
mainly, while your word--lady ---means nothin
but ribbons and millinery-the woman advance;
and enclrcled by these children, stands before tn
gloomy lord.
81 have come," she speaks ir5avoice that strike
you WIN It's music and tenderness, 81 have com
to plead for my brothers. life 20
She does not say, behold, mn brothers. children
but there they are, and the English lord behold
them Tears are coursing down the. checks o
those little girls, but the eye of the woman is DO
dlm The boy of thirteen looks 1ently in the face
OF the Briton, his under lip quivers like leaf.
For single moment that proud lord raises his
mead ana surveys tile group, and then you hear his
deep yet melodous voice: ~,
"Msdsm, your brother swore allegi&S 10 His
Majesty, and was afterwards taken in ariss against
his Kiny. He is guilty of Treason, and must en-
dure th1 penalty. and that, as you well know, is
DEATp
"hyAmv lord )" said the brave woman, stand
ing erect, her beauty shining more sereney in that
moment of heroism, ''you well know the circum-
stances unler which he swore allegiance. He, a
citizen of South Carolina, an American, was drag
ged from the bedside of dying wife, and hurried
to Charleston, where this language was held by
your officers Take the oath of allegiance and re-
turn to the bedside Of your dying wife: Refuse
and we will consign you to gaoln This, my lord,
not when he was free to act, all, no! But when his
wife lay dying of that fearful disease, small pox,
which had already destroyed two Of his children.
How could he act otherwise than he did how
could he refuse TO take your oath? In this case,
would yon. my lord, would any man refuse to do
the same"
Still the silent children stood there before him,
while the clear voice of the true woman pierced his
soul.
''Your brother is condemned 10 death ~ he cold
ly said, turning his head away. "He dies at noon,
can do nothing for you"
Silently the woman, holding little girl by each
hand sank on her knees; but the boy Of thirteen
stood erect. DO you see that group2 Those
hands uprased, those Voices the clear voice Of the
woman, the infantle tones OF those sweet girls,
mingng in cry for ''mercy!" while the Briton
looks upon them with face of iron, and the boy Of
thirteen stands erect, tear in his eve, but con-
vulsive tremor on his lip!
hen the tears OF that woman came at last
then as the face of that stern man gloons before
her, she takes the little hands of the girls within
her own, and lifts them TO his knee, aud begs him
to spare the fathers life.
Not word from the English Lord.
The boy still firm, erect, and silent, no tear dims
the eye which glares steadily in the face of the
tyrant.
"Ah, you relent!" shrieks that sister Of the con-
demned man. ''You will not deprive these child
rem of father--you will not cut him off in the
prime Of manhood, by this hideous death! AS you
hope for mercy in your last hour, be merciful now
spare my brother, and not heart in Charleston
but will bless you-sparc him for the sake of these
children 7"
MADAM was the cool reply, 'your brother has
been condemned to die. can do nothing Cor you"
He turned his head away and held the parch-
ment before his eyes. At last the stern heart of
the boy was melted. There was spasmodic mo-
ton about his chest, his limbs shook he stood for
moment like statue, and then fell on his knees
selzng the right hand Of Lord Rawdon with his
trembling fingers.
Lord Rawdon looked down upon that younr
face, shadowed with chesnut curls, as the small
hands clutched his wrist, and expression of sur
PRISE came over his face.
''My child" said he, 81 can do nothing for
you ~
The boy silently rose. He took sister by each
hand. There was wild look in his young eye-a
scorn of defiance on his lip.
''COme, sisters, let us go'
He said this, and led those fair girls toward the
door, followed by the sister of the condemned
Not word was said-but ere they passed from the
room, that true woman looked back into the face OF
Lord Rawdon.
He never forgot that look
They were gone from the room, and he stood a.
lone before that Window with the sunlight pouring
over his guilty brow
Yes, it is necessary to make an example, This
rebellion must be crushed these rebles taught sub
mssOn The death of this man will strike ter
ror into their hearts. They will learn at last that
treason is no trlfllng game; that the rope and the
gbbct will reward each rebel for his crime!'
Poor Lord Rawdon
The streets were now utterly deserted. Not
citizen, a soldier, nor even negro was seen.
silence like death rested upon the city. Suddenly
thc &C fho
der behold the only evidence of life throughout this
wide city.
On yOnder common, around the gibbet. is gather
ed a strangely contrasted crowd There is the ne
gro. the outcast Of society, the British officer in his
uniform, the citizen in his plain dress All are
grouped together in that crowd.
In the centre of the dense mass, beside that
horse and cart, one foot resting on that coffin of
pine, stands the only man i'll this crowd with an
uncovered brow. He stands there, an image of
mature manhood, with muscular fjrtn d clear.
full eye, bold forehead His cheek is not pale.
nor his eye dim. He is dressed neatly in sui: of
dark velvet, made after the fashion of his time 4;
one hand inserted in his vest, rests on his heart
Above his head bangles the rope Near his
back stands that figure with the cTaped face a
round are the British soldiers. separating the con-
demned from The crowd Among all that rude
band Of soldiers, not an eye but is wet with tears
The brave officer there, who has charge Of the
murder, pulls his chapeau his eyes, to shield
them from the sun, or--can it be2-to hide his
tears
All is ready. He has hidden the last farewell to
his sister, his children and yonder gao he has
said his last word to his noble boy. pressed his last
kiss upon the lips of those fair girls All is ready
for the murder.
AT this moment citizen advances, his face con
vulsed with emotion
"Hayne," he speaks IN a choking voice, ""show
them how an American can die {"
81 will eudeavor 10 do 81" was the reply of the
doomed man.