Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-10-15
p &c G 10 l. A.
THE PRISONER or PENRSTRILLA,
Or. Captivity Captive.
CHAPTER XVII.

given rise. They sometimes spoke of Te-
resa; but at the very mention Of her name,
a vivid blush overspread the face Of Char
ney, aud the old man himself grew grave
aud sad. Any allusion TO the absent angel
was sure to be followed by an interval Of
mournful silence.
Their discourse usually turned upon the
discussion Of some point OF morality or
comments upon the eccentriciiies of human
nature. Girardi's philosophy, mild and be.
neyolent, invested the happiness of man in
the love Of his lellow-creatures nor could
Charney, though half converted to his opin.
ions, understand by what means this spirit
of tenderness and indulgence could survive
the Injuries which the philosopher had en-.
dured from mankind.
/ Surely" said he, "you must have be-
slowed your maledic,ion on those who, after
basely eliminating you, tore you from the
bosom OF domestic happiness, from the
arms of--your daughter p
THE offence OF few" replied Girardi,
twas not to subyert my principles Of action
towards the whole. Even those few, blind.
ed by political fanaticism, fancied they were
fulfilling a duty. Trust me, my young
friend, 1t is indispensable TO survey even the
injuries we receive through medium OF
pardon and pity. Which Of US has not re-.
quired forgiveness for faults! Which Of us
has not, in his turn. mistaken error for the
truth! St John bequea,hed to US the
blessed axiom, that Cop is LOVE True
and beautiful proposition l-since by love
alone, the soul re-eleva,es itself to its celes-
tial source, and finds courage for the endr-
rance of misfortune Had I entered into
captivity with particle Of hatred in my
soul against my fellow-creatures, | should
have expired in my imbiitered loneliness
But Heaven be praised, have never been
the prey Of single painful reflection The
recollection of my good and faithful friends.
whose hearts knew were suffering with
every suffering of my own, served to slim
ulate my affection towards mankind and
the only unlucky moment of my captivity
was that in which was debarred the sight
Of fellow.creaiure."
"How" cried Chsrney, "were you ever
subjected to such deprivationl'
"At my first arrest" resumed Girardi, 81
was transported to dungeon in the citadel
Of Turin; so framed as 10 render commu-
nication impossible even with my gaoler.-
My food was conveyed to me by a turning
box inserted in the wall and during a
whole month not the slightest sound inter-
rupted The stiffness ofmy solitude. II needs
10 have undergone all then experienced,
fully 10 comprehend the falacy Of that saw.
age philosophy which denied society to be
the natural condition Of the human species
The wretched condemned to isolation from
his kind is wretch indeed To hear no
human voice,--to meet no human eye,--to
| be denied the pressure of a human hand
TO find only cold aud inanimate objects on
which TO rest ones brow, -one breast
ones hearts, privation TO which the
strongest might fall victim The month
| thus endured weighed like years upon my
nature and when, every second day, dis
cerned the footsteps of my gaoler in the
corridor, coming TO renew my provisions,
the mere sound caused my heart to leap
within me. While the box was turning
round, used TO strain my eyes in hopes to
catch, at the crevice, the slightest glimpse
Of his face. his hand, his very dress and
my disappointment drove me 10 despair
Could have discerned human face, even
bearing the characters Of cruelty or wicked
ness, should have thought il full OF beau
~; aud had the man extended his arms to-
wards me in kindness, have blessed him fer
the concession But the sight of a human
face was denied me ill the day Of my trans
lation to Feneslrella; and my only resource
consisted in feeding the reptiles which shar-
ed my captivity and in meditaiing upon my
absent child T.
Charney started at the allnsion but his
venerable companion was himself too much
distressed TO notice the emotion of his young
friend.
"At length" said he, after a long pause
which served 10 restore him TO his usual
serenity, ga favourable change befell me
even in my dungeon. discovered, by
means Of struggling ray Of light, a ere
vice produced by the insertion of an iron
cross by way Of support into the walls OF my
dungeon: which, though il enabled me 10
obtain only an oblique glimpse Of the oppo-
site wall, became source Of exquisite en-
joyment. My cell happened to be situated
under the keep Of the citadel aud one
blessed day, noticed for the first time the
shadow of man distinctly reflected upon
the wall A sentinel had doubtless been
posted on the platform over my head fol
the shadow went and came, aud ! could
distinguish the form Of the mans uniform
the epaulet, the knapsack, the point of hi.
bayonet, the very vacillaiion Of his feather
It'll evening extinguished my resource
l remained at my post and how shall
describe the thrill Of joy with which ac
knowledged so unexpected a consolation
was no longer alone ~ had once more
living companion Next day and the day,
succeeding, the shadow Of another soldier
appeared The seniinels were ever changing
but my enjoyment was the same. II wal
always a man,-always fellow-creature,-
whose movements / can watch, and whos'
} dispositions conjecture. When the momen
! came for relieving guard. welcomed ,h'
newcomer, and babe goodbye 10 his prede
eessor. l knew The corporal by sight,
could recognise the different prohles of ih'
man; nay, (dare avou such weakness
some among them were objects Of my pre-
/ dilection. The attitude Of their persons. o.