Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-08-17
From Douglas JcrrOlds [Iondonl Magazine
" The Murderers Sacrament,

"TKEns to be hanged till you are dead l"
The man had heard Il, had been led
Again to prison, and had heard
The preacher preach Gods holy word
Too late, for, by his fear abused.
The phrase of all seemed all confused;
And this seemed all that all men Said
=" There to be hanged till you are dead
Thcy bade him kneel before the board
Which bare the Supper Of our Lord;
The preacher took the bread and wine.
And preached Of that rcpast Divine.
Tho efficient Body and Blood .a
The abody and blood /" A sudden food
OF scarlet light lit up his cheek,
And though. just then. no tongue did speak,
A clear. loud voice close by him said
"There to be hanged till you arc deadl"
Knoeling passively by the board
Which bare tho Supper of our Lord
Our Lord of whom no had never heard,
Until tho judges final word
Had shut the gateways of his SOUL
He ate the Tread, received the cup,
And, for the first time lookingup,
A glance at each and all he stole
And cried, from customs old control
"HERE'sr TO YOUR HEAIrHs, GOOD oESTIEMEN!"'
Nodding around-A1 startled then;
For the iron tongue of tho death-bell swung,
Mixed with the doomed mans words, and said,
"Thcrc to be hanged till you are deadi"
All night fell hammers-shock on shock;
With echos Ncwgatc's granite changed;
The scafFold built, at eight o'clock
A man was brought out to be hanged.
Then came from all the people there
A single cry that shook the air,
A single cry, that turned to storm
Of yells and noises multiform,
Where each, with mad gesticulations,
Rivalled the rest in cxecrations
Mothers held up their babes to 500,
Who spread their hands and screamed for glce
Here girl from her clothing tore
A rag to wave with, and Joined the roar
In shricks, and singing and savage jests,
Tossing about her naked breasts
There man, with yelling tired,
Paused, and the culprit's crime enquircd;
A sot, below the doomed man dumb,
nawled his health in the world to come;
These blasphcmed, and fought for placcs;
Those half-crushed, cast frantic faces
To windows, where, in freedom sweet,
Others enjoyed the wicked treat.
At last tho shows great crisis pended,
.ls.a( (o~ 6offo .-of. IL
The rabble's lips no longer curst,
But stood agapc in horrid thirst;
Thousands of breasts beat horrid hope;
Thousands of eye-balls, lit with hell,
Burnt one way all, to see the rope,
Unslacken as the platform fell.
Tho rope few tight and then the roar
Burst forth afresh; less loud, but more
Confused and affrighting than before.
A fcw harsh tongues for ever led
The common din-the chaos of noises,
But car could not catch what they said.
AS when the realm of the damned rcjoices
On winning soul to its will,
| That clatter and clangor Of hateful voices
Sickened and stunned the air, until
Tho dangling man was dead and still.
The show complete, the pleasure past,
The solid masses loosened fast;
Each went his way, or Jagged behind,
AS fitted best his need or mind =
A thief skunk off with ample spoil,
To ply elsewhere his daily toll;
Two foes, who had disputed places,
Went forth to fight, with murderous faces;
A baby strung its doll to stick;
A mother praised the pretty trick
Some children caught and hanged cat;
Some friends walked on in pleasant chat:
Some, hcavy-paced and heavy hearted,
Whose dinners were to earn, departed,
Much envying those who'd means to stay
AT gin-shops by, and "make it day."
Others cursed loud their fortune i'll,
Whose callings forced them from their fll
OF that days feast" 'Twere worth crown
To stop, and see them cut him down."
sThis is a fact 1t occurred in England few
years ago, prior to the execution of man nam
ed Ward for child .u1nrflor