Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1847-06-17

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eye of the woman is not dim. The boy OF
thirteen looks lntently i'm the face of the
Briton, his under lip quivers like leaf.
Fora single moment that proud lord raises
his head and surveys the group, and then
you hear his deep yet melodious voice:
"Madam, your brother swore allegiance
to His Majesty, and was after wards taken
in arms against his King. He is guilty OF
treason, and must endure the penalty, anG
that as you well know, is dea,h.'
sBut my lord" said the brave woman,
standing erect, her beauty shining more Sc
renely in that moment of herosm. "You
we'll know the circumstances under which
he sWore allegiance. He, citizen OF South
Carolina, an American, was dragged from
the bedside of dying wife, and hurried 10
Charleston, where this language was held
by your ohicers-"Take the oath of allegi-
ance, and return to the bedside of your dy-
ing wife: Refuse, and we will consi On you
to goal n-T'his, my lord, not when he was
free to act, alb, no! But when his wife lay
dying of that fearful disease the 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 his case, would YOU, my lord,
would any man refuse to do the same"
Still, the silent children stood there before
him, while the clear voice oflhe true woman
pierced his soul.
"Y our brother is condemned to death!'
he coIdly said: turning his head away. HE
dies at noon-can do nothing for YOU"
Silently the woman, holding a little girl
by each hand, sank on her knees but the
boy of thirteen stood erect. Do you see
that group? Those hands appraised, those
voices, the clear voice Of the woman the in
fanille tones of those sweet girls, mngling
in one cry for "mercy - while the Brlon
looks upon them with face of iron, and
the boy of thirteen stands erect, no tear in
his eye, but a convulsive tremor on his lip!
Then The tears of that woman come at last
then as the face of that stern man glooms
before her, she takes the little hands Of the
girls within her own, and lifts them to his
knee, and begs him to spare the fathers life.
Not word fran the EngisE, lord
The boy still firm, erect and silent, no tear
dims the eye,>whch glares steadily in the
face of the tyrant
''Ah, you relent!' shrieks that sister o.
the condemned man. 'Y on will not deprive
these children of father-you will not cut
him offin the prime of manhood, by this hid
eous death As YOU hope for mercy in your
las, hour, be mercful now-spare my broth
err. and not a heart in Charleston but vii!
bless you-spare him for the sake of these
children ~
"Madame," was the cool reply, "your bro
| Their has been condemned to die can do
nothing for you"
He turned his head away and held the
parchment before his eyes. At last the stern
heart OF the boy was melted. There was
s2asmoGic motion about his chest, his limbs
shook, he stood for moment like statue,
and then fell on his knees, sezng the right
hand of Lord Rawdon with his trembling
! fingers.
Lord Rawdon looked down upon that
young face, Swallowed with chestnut curls,
as the small hands clutched his wrist, and
an expression Of surprise came over his
face.
"My child" said he, 81 can do nothing
for voui -
The boy silently rose. lie took sister
by each hand There was wild look in
lis young eye-a scorn ofdefance on his lip.
Come, sisters, let us go.'
He said this, and led those fair girls tow
ard the door, followed by the sister of the
condemned. Not word was said-but
ere they passed from the room, that true wo-
man looked back into the face of Lord Raw
dom
He never forgot that look.
They were gone from the room, and he
stood alone 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 re-
bells taught submission! The death Of this
man will strike terror into their hearts,
They will learn at last, that treason IS no
trihing game; that the rope and the glbbet
will reward each rebel for his crime -
Poor Lord Rawdon
The streets were now utterly deserted.-
Not citizen, soldier, nor even negro was
seen. A silence like death rested upon the
;, city.
Suddenly the sound of the dead march was
heard, and yonder behold the only evidence
of life throughout this wide city.
On wonder common around the gibbet, is
gathered strangely contrasled crowd
There is the negro, 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 IN THIS
crowd with an uncovered brow. He stands
there an image of mature manhood, with
muscular form, clear, full eye, a bold