Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-05-05

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sessed a palace in Warsaw-far, far NOR
magnificent than the shouse she was thel
helping to build. Its portals were sur
mounted by princes coronet; and man,
are the joyful hours have spent beneatl
its hospitabIe roof. When, at the sount
of the monday bell, she seated herself a
her wretched meal, accosted her. For a
long time she would not recognize me; ther
she turned away her head and wept. The
other woman only laughed at her. Of
fered her money, she thanked me and took
very little. She, the mistress Of millions
besought me ito send the remainder to her
little daughter, whom she had left depend
ent on a rich family in a distant town.
promised to seek out her daughter. When
/ had last seen her she was al lovely child,
six years Of age. Eight years had elapsed,
bringing her to the verge Of womanhood. !.
reached the house. in answer to my in.
quiries, girl appeared = not that fair and
delicate being whose sweet countenance
still dwelt in my memory, but rude crea-
ture, with hard and coarse features and
wild eyes. She did not recognize me, often
though she had seen me. Ispoks to her in
Polish; she understood not word. I
asked after her mother. She stared vacant
ly in my face Truly the fate of Poland
is a terrible example Of what a nation may
expect from its neighbors, when it engages
in struggle with one more powerful than
itself-and woe to the Magyar if he does
not profit by the warning"
eAh, it is no Magyar that can talk
thusp 1 3 Sd ~l aar. ...--s-'s -
@Ann, thy first husband fell in the battle
on the morrow of thy wedding day.
Would'st thou lose thy second bridegroom
on its very eve?" aI =Ts
II? With contrition avow my culpa-
bic weakness-I love you more than my
country, more than liberty. Until to-day,
no man ever heard these words from Pol
ish woman. l wish you to sacrifice your
self? Did you seek to do SO, should sure
ly hold you back-whicha no Polish wife
ever did yet to her husband. All crave
Of you is to leave that man his life, whose
patriotism was stronger than your own.-
On our bridal eve ask for mans life as
wedding gift.' ..
sand a soldiers honory' :a
ePunish him otherwise -"z sd
@There is but one alternative. The man
has instigated mutiny and desertion-the
law has doomed him to death. Imust exc
cute the sentence or fly with him to Hunga-
ry. And thence know should never re-
iurn. In case like this, the Judge punish
es, or is an accomplice of the criminal. In
one hand have the sword Of justice, in the
other the banner Of insurrection. Choose,
which shall rise2" - -
The sky was scarcely red
dened by the dawn when he was led out to
execution. Silently, without other noise
than that of their horses hoofs, marched th-
square of hussars. In the centre of the
cart was the chaplain, a crucifx in his hand
and beside him, in white shirt, bare
headed, and with fettered hands, the culprit
of St. Thomas. s-a-z ss
The sun rose as they reached the APP
pointed place The plumes of the hussars
and the gray locks of the condemned man
futtered in the morning breeze. They took
him frem the cart--six hussars dismounted
and unslang their carbines-the remainder
formed up. The adjutant unfolded and
read, in a, stern: and merciless voice, the
sentence Of death passed upon George Of
St. Thomas. According to customary
form, a soldier stepped up to the adjutant,
presented him with wand, and thrice inn
plored mercy for the condemned man. The
third time the officer broke the wand in
two, threw it at the criminals feet, and said
in solemn tones, "God is merciful!"
At these words the doomed man raised
bis head-his attitude grew more erect
his features glowed. He gazed around
him into the faces Of the assembled soldiers,
then upwards at the purple clouds, and
spoke, in enthusiastic tones + "f1
"Thank thee, o God! and thanks also to
you, my comrades, for my death. Life has
long been burthen to me- death is well
come. I have lost all-wife and child
house and home; my country alone re-
mained to ME. and her / could not free. II
rejoice to die. You, comrades, bless God
that yonder, beyond the mountains, you
have a mother, a beloved bride, faithful
wife, an infant child, awaiting your return.
Yonder, beyond the mountains, you have
your homes, your cottages, your families.
Pray to God that, at your last hour you
may welcome death as joyfully as I, who
have nothing left upon earth"
He paused, and sank upon his knees, as
if power had departed from bis limbs.
The soldiers stood motionless as statutes
The adjutant waved the paper in bis hand.
Gloomily the six hussars then raised their
Once more the adjutant raised the folded
paper, when behold young non,commis-
stoned officer dashed out Of the ranks,
snatched the fatal document from bis hand
tore il, and threw the fragments at the feet
Of the firing party.
Two hundred sabres flashed from their
and, amidst cloud Of dust, two
hundred changers secured across the plain
The wedding guests were waiting, The
bridegroom was there, in full uniform, gilt
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