New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-03-03
DAILY CRESCENT
From the English Edition for the Family Friend.l
THE HEIR OF RATH;
OR, THE covESASTER's CURSE

OR, THE COyENANTER' CURSE.
1t was in those days when the bloody persecu-
tor Charles the Second, was striving to root out
all religion from Britain, and when the booted
and spurred apostles of prelacy went about like
roaring lions seeking whom they might devour,
that John Craig, singular godly youth, did
| take to wife Isabel Ross, maiden fair as to
worldly externals, but, what was far better, Of
an enlightened and sober piety, not in any way
| tainted with the defections errors which then
so rifely prevailed They loved and were be-
loved more than usually falls to the lot of us
poor shreds: and, not without reason, they pro-
| missed themselves many many days Of happiness
and joy. But a continuance OF prosperity is
| not to be looked for in this vale of sorrow and
| tears; every month the persecution grew more
and more bitter, and honest men burst no more
| worship God after the manner of their fathers,
| but were compelled to pray among glens and the
| rocks and caves of the earth, as If they were
| evil-doers, breaking and setting at naught the
laws Of the land.
| You see that tomb there-it is the burial-place
] of the Erskines of Rath Here started-it was
the tomb of my fathers the old man pointed to,
but said nothing. Sir John Erskine, who sleeps
there, grandfather to the present laird, was one
of the most violent prosecutors in this part of
the country. The folk said he had a looking to
some post under the King, which made him the
|
were called; and he exceeded even the rude
hirelings Of soldiers themselves, in his oppres-
sions and violences; some of them, indeed, clean
| shrunk from participating in many of his deeds,
which, however, was milk and honey to that
blood thirsty apostate, James Sharp, whose
appetite for carnage nothing could quench or
| slacken.
Well, sir, to keep to our tale word was brought
him early one morning, that there was a con-
venticle, or approaching, in glen up among
the hills: see, yonder it is, where clump OF
black fr-trees are growing. This was an oppor-
tunity of serving the King. not to be lost; SO he
got his servants to arm, called out the military
who were quartered in the village, and set out
at full speed to the place. But God had other
things in reserve for those at that meeting for,
getting timely notice from herd boy, who had
seen the host advancing, they all escaped, save
and excepting John Craig, who fell suddenly
before he was aware, into the hands of the per-
tsecutors.
Being but young man and never before con-
victed of correspondence with the hill-tolks,
many thought that he would get free, or a short
Imprisonment, or small fine; but Sir John was
enraged at the ill success of his expedition, and
determined to wreak his vengeance on the poor
lad, as fearful example to the rest of the coun-
try. So he commanded him to be tied on a
troopers horse, and led him down the hill till
4 they came to his own little cottage, where his
wife. Isabel, was waiting his arrival to break
fast
1 1t was fne calm, clear, winter morning
the ground was covered with snow, hardened by
a keen frost, and the sun shone brightly and
Icheerily, as if on a scene of Joy and testivity
His,wife, hearing the noise, ran out to welcome
her John, and beheld him fettered prisoner
and in the hands Of those whose tender merces
she we'll knew were horrid cruelties
But the God whom she served did not forsakt
her in this her moment of bitterness and despair
she felt nerved with strength which no human
power could ever invest her with and she went
to her husband firmly and tearlessly, as if .sh,
knew not that he was soon to be a bleedln.
corse, and she friendless, houseless widow
She whispered q word of courage and consola
ltion in his ear, she chafed his stiff, half-frozc
t, hands, she parted his long brown hair over hi
brow, for his arms were tied, and, with tn
IS orner of her apron, she wiped the sweat froi
us bis cheek. and the foam of pain and agony frol
: tlose lips from which she had often lraiatd dee
g d'aughts of love and delight
n The murderous ruffian now rendered the tes
q the only means of escape from death an
Wat test compromise of conscience.
z tnmpling the tenderest feelings of devotio
All principle. The agonized husband cast al
ey of bitter meaning on his wife, and she a
i, one understood the appeal, and noby she an
swred it. ''John Craig she said, with
hofe SllSully DfOkeH, IOT tle woman anu Tn
y wifi were holding fearful strife in her breast
ii g 'cre not for me ! am triendless, l am poor
J" | haze none on earth to care for me but you
but iod will care for me, John ; He is the fathe
10 OF tie fatherlcss, and the husband of tn
: wldo'; He who has cared for me up to thi
q time, will give me strength to witness this las
:, trial, drain to the dregs this cup of unmixe,
= bitterness and grief. We have often prayed to
- gether, dear John, when we were safe in GU
- DW II VVt,t rI,n, 4
+ and sutred no evil; and shall we not pra,
:, now, WIN the shades ofdeath compass us around
I'd and henus in on every side: Come, John, lie
.S tis us prayto Him who is the hearer of prayer
ly, and whotath not told any of the seed of Jacol
: to seek lis face in vain And he looked OF
70 her and Nas comforted, and shook away th
L first and oily tear he had she'd and there they
Or knelt on te frozen ground, the husband ant
ks the wife, an prayed Il prayer which made evel
: the rude all thoughtless troopers turn asid
:. and weep.
w. But Sir JOINS heart was hardened; he rudel,
nee broke in on heir devotions, cursed their cant
: ing whine ad commanded the helpless an,
ap manacled ma to kneel down on little stone
= and the troops to prepare their carbines. H
RS obeyed wlthou murmur; but when he rose t
y take his plae as commanded, all men won
n dered at the chnge which that short season Q
Of prayer had wrlght on his countenance Hi
" eye was no lober clouded and downcast, bu
- CLEANED with b exultation and light whicl
on seemed to refee something beyond the grave
SO brighter and mse glorious than the sun in hi
:, unclouded pride he kissed the pale and blood
less cheek of hi Isabel, and walked with
ks stately and nhAching step to the appointe,
% place; but beforehe kneeled down, he looked
nj. steadily at ErskiH castle the windows of whic
3 were gltterlng inhe morning sun, and man,
ar. thought that shae of sorrow passed over hi
ION. manly brow. lie TODD as if entranced for
IS moment or two, af then spoke in tones NOR
at sorrowful than anSF ssWe are commando
lad to pray for our enaies, and from nv soul
% beseech that my bltl may not be laid to tn
es, charge of this man, It may not conceal wha
il God commands me tdpeak | shall indeed ia
=, by your hands, put will not fall unavengcd
nd you will not see it, he here present will Sc
View 1T; but as surely rs leak it will come to pass
W Yet three generationsand the proud house
lor Rath will cease to be, VI fearful will the ours
ly fall: would | could vert it! but God h,
s decreed 1t, and whathortal shall stay II
v NV w hand, or say unto III, What doest thou
.s Farewell, time! Farrell. all created con
raj forts! Welcome, ETERNITY Welcome, HEAVIER
welcome, eternal ii1e! sther, into thy hant
St | commend my spirit! Aen! and amen !''*
- Here he bent his headAnd ceased to spea]
s, The troopers unslung THY muskets and toe
W aim, and the miserable VI knrlt down ols
e. e. covering her eyes firmly WI both hands. 81
lyle. saw nothing; she heard noing; and when 81
los came to her recollection, d band had retire