The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1852-04-03


it? shudder myself when think of the
awful process. And if in the torture. thou
waycreSt but hairs breadth. if thou regret
test the deed but one single instant. thy suf-
fcrn@S will have been all in vain. and thy
death an uncompensated calamity. Thou
knowest cnoueh-now decide -
The maiden looks chcrrfnllv upon him and
speaks: "Mv dear sir, thought of all you
told me. long before thev brought me here
Yet thank You. that YOU told me plainly |
what is coming What Won have said has I
made me almost despair, for vou seem. too, |
afraid to carry out the work. 1t NAV bcsccm !
a woman TO show such timi,litv. bnt pardon /!
me. Sit. would tain laugh, that tun. with all
your skill. have less courage and less strength
than weak girl whose limbs are racked and
life DESTROYED If Won can undertake to cnt. |
undertake to suffer. should not have
come to r0u. if were not sure of mvsclfthat
| ran bear what must without fear or trpin.
bling. Know. dear sir. there is no distress
which is not ended hv DEATH and no pain that
can be suffered within the span of a dav which
nv body cannot endure Should 7 not give
one dav, however severe it is. for eternal life?
On. then. master. Won see meet nv fate
gladly and if Won know that vou can restore
my lords health. and hasten nv admission to
the JOYS Of eternal life. then do it quickly.
and let us see that mon call Won master truly.
The harder the task is for vou the greater
will be vonr heavenly reward. Therefore,
do Your duty quickly"
Then haStencd awav the learned doctor. IN
silence. 70 tn" place where hr had left the sick
lord. "lnu NAV take fresh courage: the
maiden * attached 10 Won more than 70 her
HE Her affection Is indeed no vain ilu<on.
You viii he relieved, through her death, from
vour distress"
The roo~ Henry sat in anonizcd al,sirar-
ton. rs if he did not hear the doctors wor,l.
for he made noan~wrr
The doctor then returned 70 the maiden.
and carefully shut himself IN with her. les:
Henry nlight witness what he was about Ia
do H. then asked her 10 put of her rah,S
The faithful maiden did a> requested. and in
. few moments appeared before the rrav-hair-
: cd man as naked as at her birth Her inno-
crnre alone was her only raimcnt clothed
with which. she was neither afraid nor asham-
= cd.
When the master saw her thus. he said
within his heart that no t;iircr being had cv-
rr been seen upon this earth. He was again
him. Yet he ladc her lie down upon high
, tallr AMI iorHd her fast npon it-whereur-
on he seized with his hand a sharp knife. .lonr
an,l broad He tried the edge both sides
Though sharp. be- desired her suifrrincs TO be
rs slight as possible. and he therefore seized
-,onc. and whettcd the knife to vet keen
cr sharpness.
' sir Henry heard with horror the sound of
! the knife upon the stone and started up. y
Y wild ovcrpowrring compassion for the maid
=, seized hi> heart hr reflected that he was moi
Ia see her living again: he Is moved Anew tx
=. her rcncrou> devotion. and hi>trn> 10 the
door the doctors room 10 enter. Ii Is lock
:, ed Then from his eve. wellcd forth hot
, tears: h. feels his heart suddenly changed
= new life i unfolding in his breast. III,
thinks To him>rlt'->hall this pearl Of ny hear
h this sweet. pure peasant maid he dedicated
= unto death to save mv worthless life a: Shal
=. |. blind fool. presume TO contend with tht
:. Most High. and hope TO wrcSt health from In
=. hands: Can hope to live without him toI
# single lav; If God wills 10 hel me. wha
need that another die for me? God ran cur,
=. me if he will Therefore will endure pa
ticntlv and quietly. and not. hv new trans
4 rrcssionS cnkindlc his wrath. The paths ct
J. pcnitrnce alone lead to his mercy.
# Lord Henry was at once resolved. AM
:. striking the door with force, called out 10 tn
h doctor to let him enter. The doctor replied
q This cannot he done: have solemn dut,
=. TO perform. OF which Won NAV not he wit
ness" But Henry cried, Nay, nav, leav'
i off the awful deed, and hear me, :" For wha
>. reason" replied the dotor from within
i Let me in. coniure Won" replied the sicE
man, for the sake of my eternal peace, and
r will tell you."
Then came the doctor to the door. and nm
Is fastening it, let Lord Henry in. When h
E. saw the maiden living bound upon the table,
c sacrifice for him. he almost sank in death up
/ on the floor. Soon it WAS he spoke LEARN
lovely and so noble. that | cannot hear >h,
:. should die. Gods will bc done tome: vii
1t give YOU the reward which promi>cd,b but le
' the faithful maiden live
When now the maiden heard and saw tina
death was not to bc her lot, and when tn,
master looscd her bands. she was Sorclv a"
= grcved tore her hair, and cried pi'eou>l y
i 80. woe is me. poor maid :" She >hriskch--
:" is there then no mercy for me-: Have
then lost the blessing which had promise,
myself. the rich crown Of glory which | nar
u hoped 50 soon to wear? was to have dice
and been happy, ] am only ruined o. sham'
IL