Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-05-01

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prize fell in my grasp stole the .jewe
Of honor. Shame and desolation follow,
ed!
| | was monster in sin! There had
been greater Nero fddlcd while the
city burned! Where struck the hoof o.
AttIla's steed, no spear of grass ever grew
Both desolated the earth. was but an
humble imitator of them, and went out or
the world to pollute and destroy
| The race is not always to the swift, MOI
the battle to the strong. Twas suddenly
checked in my mad career of desoa,ion
The throne of the sun still blazed afar off
yet | was not the conqueror and ruler Of
that proud realm which wild ambition
spread out to my enraptured vision
Anon there came an indistinct murmur
on the breeze. Itsoon increased to an au-
dible sound. Treason was repeated on
every hand. My name was coupled with
that ominous word. Men knew not my
purpose-but they suspected my motives.
They thought | wished to play the usurp-
er! They knew my spirit was daring
and reaching. They believed me capable
| VI HcN
pursued. | was taken-bound in chains,
and dragged to the vile dungeon, to be
tried as IA traitor! My name became IA
by-word of scorni in the land. My crimes,
great as they were, exaggerated to greater
enormity, / was the abhorrcd ofmy race!
There was none to say, "Be Of good
cheerl' / was alone in that darhsome
dungeon The bonds of friendship were
broken-thc ties of consanguinity Were
neglected! No! There was one that did
not forsake the stricken wretch in that
hour of fear and doubt. That fair being
upon whom | had lavished my treasure
and love many long years before, did not
forget her poor hcart-brokcn father. She
came on the wings of abiding affection to
pour in the balm of consolation upon the
wounded spirit. She supplied the sweet
cordial of hope that refreshed my soul.
Oh, she was indeed an angel Of peace, and
| found joy and comfort in her pure truth
ful devotion. She was my only child
Her sweet voice and bright countenance
brought back the memory of that sainteI
woman-her mother-my wife
The hour of trial arrived. | was ar
raigned at the bar ofmy country to answer
for charge ofcrime which would result
IN liteor death, as found innocent or guilty.
The proofs were produced. They were
plausible, but unsubstantially grounded.
The lion was enveloped in net as hmsy
as spiders web! | directed my coun-
sci how to proceed. His burning elo-
quence won the admiration Of my enemies,
and his sober reasoning brought conviction
OF innocence to the minds of sage and
intelligent jury. | was acquitted, and
went forth unfcttered-frcc The stain
oftreason was wiped from my brow--yet
many acou1d not yield their prejudiced O.
pinions of my guilt /!
was without the confidence of my
countrymcn, and subjected to scorn and
contempt because of the foul associations
connected with my name. Thought to
retrieve myself from shome in land
Of strangers. | went abroad over the
oceans waste. ] fancied that an exile
might be happy far away from the scenes
of his birthplace. was mistaken Con
science may be quieted! Memory will
bring up from the vault Of time the fright
ful ghosts ofthe past The spectres that
haunted me in my wanderings had pollu-
ton on their virgin skirts--the stain of
blood was upon their brows! / could
not shake them off! They fitted before
me-pursued, ever pursued me! Iroam-
ed through many land. sought friends
and happiness and peace, in vain. l was
regarded as madman, or at best, as the
visionary enthusiast. Men listened as !
told my Utopian dream. but shook their
heads when | asked for aid to consummate
the scheme Of aggrandizement | had 50
long cherished as my life's soul. AT last,
l was spurned and scoffed at and shame
fully treated. | became wanderer and
beggar from city to city-was content to
lie down in the straw and partake Of the
food which the dogs rejected | was
even denied my birthright-ior when |
wished to return to my native land, my
countrymen, in authority as my nations
representative abroad, refused to acknowl-
edge my claims as an American, and
grant the passport which would restore
INC to my once fond home in the western
world.
But my cup Of bitterness, though al
ready full, was yet to overflow. thought
Of my daughter, and wished to see her
once more in life. My prayer was heard
All, ycs-I venturcd to prayl Relief
came, and again | landed at the great city,
where long years before walked in pride,
in honor and renown. But | was sadly
altered now. A new generation inhabited
the dwellings,, crowded the reets,and oc-
cupied the places of trust and emolument.
was unknown A few brief years had
made me stranger in my own land, and
there was none to welcome back the exile
and outcast. My child still lived. | sent
for her to meet her stricken and humbled
father. Her home was in the sunny south
Soon intelligence came that she fastened
to be pressed to his old withered bosom, to
give it warmth and life She embarked
for the north. Days passed-wecks-
months-and years She came not to
meet her poor old father! Oh, horrible
suspense! Why did she not come? The
ocean keeps the secret!
l realized acutely my utter loneliness in
the world. The proud tree was riven Of
its branches by the lightning fury. The
trunk, blasted and blackened, stood mo-
ment Of wonder and dread 1t is worm
eaten to its inmost heartl How long must
it stand Not long-not long The storm
is breaking over it even now!
A. B.
Such was the abrupt termination of the
manuscripts. The writings were doubt
less traced during the last few hours Of ex-
istence-even, perhaps, at the moment
when the messenger Of death came to call
the moral to etermty-causing a void in
his history which no pen may ever supply
And this is human glory