The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1849-09-19
emy out. If, by that time, no succour


'what banner floats upon our walls,
since death, death will be at all our
hearths.'
'Men!' exclaimed Simon Holzof, SHALL
we endure this? Shall we drop into
our graves whilst the pampcred govern
Or-'
Down with the tyrantn shouted the
mob, and Simon, animated by the cry,
proceeded in his grafton.
whilst the pampercd governor feasts
upon the best? What cares he for our
shrieking babes, our weeping wives?-
he, gorgcd with the fat of the earth,
drunk with the wine Of
'Pcacc, fool! cried Caspar, and, at
his indignant voice, the eloquent tailor
stood suddenly silent with open mouth;
'pcace-this is no hour to babblc false
hood, foolish at any time, most base and
wicked at time like this. We have
all sultcrcd-all must suffer; not one
throughout the city but has felt the
tierccncss of the war. In every place
has hunger had its victims
'Thc nuns Of St. Ursula have eaten
their grey parrot exclaimed Hans
Potts, an idle wag, known to many of
the mob; and, while some laughed at
the sally, some condemned it, and call
cd out for Caspar to proceed.
Not ono among us cried the young
man, hath Jared moro hardly than the
governor. You-you, Simon Holzkopf,
who know every dish upon the govern
or's table, every flask of wine in the
governors cellar, tell me the dainty
that he fed on yesterday. You cannot
guess--no; it is too rich, too costly, for
your simple apprchcnsion-you cannot
dream of such rarity! Fellow towns
mcn' and young Caspar turned for a
moment from the abashcd Simon to
the still increasing crowd, syou rcmcm.
Der the holiday at Easter last? The
governor rode through our city, and
feastcd with the merchants at their hall.
The horse he sat, a king might have
backcd-a beautiful, a glorious thing
creature that scarcely touched the
earth--an animal Of perfect frame and
blood You all remember how your
eyes were fixed upon it, and the brute,
as conscious of its beauty, pranccd to
your shouts. Yesterday the governor
dincd off that horse; with the mcancst
Of his men he drew lots for choice
morscl Of that noble stecd.'
"a burgomaster's wife, cried Hans
Potts, 'has made roast of her monkey.
Hard times, my masters, when the
siege sends our best friends to the spit
Silence, hound' exc.aimcd All old
man; is this an hour to fling about your
sorry jcsts, when those we love arc
dropping dead around us? Peace,
mu,nmcr! Speak You truly, Caspar,
Is the garrison so straitcncd?'
Go you to the walls, ask not Of me-
replied the youth; go and behold the
sight Eve Quilted; il that convince We
not, hang up the governor, and call in
the foe
What sight? what sight?' roarcd the
mob
Famine feeding on thousand men,
burly soldiers shrunk almost to skcle.
tons; their flashing, hopeful eyes deep
set, and Aickering with a horrid glare;
their manly cheeks pinchcd in with
want; their hearty, jocund voices sunk
to hoarsc whisper; their gallant bear
ing changed to slow dccrepitude; their
looks Of victory to the blank stare Of
coming death.
'lIorible! horrible! down with the
governor cclaimcd the crowd.
'Thcy suffer this, but suffer nobly,'
cred Caspar; mot murmur, not look
of treason to the stern will of him who
rules them. Martys to the glory of
their arms, the stand resolved come
what will, they have sworn with tho
governor to hold the citadel another
week
'Glory'a tysword, i'faith. Shall
we dry our wives eyes with it.? will it
fill our childrcn's bcllics:? cried one of
the crowd.
4 trow thc'vc something morc tooth.
soiiic lilal Siofy lor supper, Salu sec
ond; 'or docs the governors lady and
his delicate daughter feed off the insi-
pld dishes? If SO, twill spoil their
pretty looks A derisive shout follow.
ed this remark, and again the crowd
called for vengeance on the governor.
Lets to the citadel!' cried fifty
voices, and TO the citadcln halloocd the
mob. With the words, the crowd rush
ed onwards, but soon halted in their
course.
Many paused, as they avowcd to re-
consider their determination; the grea-
tcrpart skunk home; and when, atlcngth,
the discontcntcd townsmen halted at the