The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1852-08-19

from death and what test a compro
mise of conscience, a trampling on the
tenderest feeling of devotion and princi-
Iple. The agonizing husband cast an eye
of bitter meaning on his wife, and she
at once understood the appeal, and no.
bly, she answered it. "John Craig
she said, with voice slightly broken
for the woman and the wife were hold
ing a fearful struggle in her treast-
I" care not for me, am friendless, | am
poor; | have none on earth to care for
me but you, but God will care for me,
John He is the father of the fatherless
and the husband of the widow He who
careth for me up to this time, will give
me strength to witness this last trial
to drain to the dregs this cup of unmix-
ed bitterness and grief. We have often
prayed together, dear John, when we
were safe within our own sweet cottage,
when we feared no danger and suffered
no evil; and shall we not pray now,
when the shades of death compass us
around, and hem us in on every side 7
Come, John, let us pray to him who is
the hearer of prayer, and who hath not
told any Of the seed of Jacob to seek
His face in vain" And he looked on
her and was comforted, and shook away
the first and the only tear he had shed ;
and there they knelt on the frozen
ground, the husband and the wife, and
prayed prayer which made even the
thoughtless troopers turn aside and
weep.
But Sir Johns heart was hardened
he rudely broke in on their devotions,
cursed their canting whine, and COM
manded the helpless and manacled man
to kneel down on little stone, and the
troopers to prepare their carbines. He
obeyed without murmur; but when he
rose to take his place as commanded,
all men wondered at the change which
that short season Of prayer had wrought
on his countenance His eyes were no
longer clouded and downcast, but gleam-
ed with an exultation and light which
seemed to reflect something beyond the
grave-brighter and more glorious than
the sun in his clouded pride; he kissed
the pale and bloodless cheek of bis Isa-
bel, and walked with stately unAinch-
Ing step to the appointed place but be-
fore he kneeled down, he looked steadily
at Erskine castle, the windows of which
we're glittering in the morning sun, and
many thought that shade of sorrow
passed over his manly brow. He stood
as if entranced for moment or two, and
then spake in tones more sorrowful than
angry :-"We are commanded to pray
for our enemies, and from my soul l be-
seech that my blood may not be laid to
the charge of this man, but l may not
conceal what God commands me to
speak; l shall indeed fall by your hands
but l will not fall unavenged; you will
not see it-none here present will see it
but as surely as l speak, it will come
to pass. Yet three generations, and the
proud house of Rath will cease to be,
and fearfully will the curse fall: would
that l could avert it but God has de-
creed it, and what mortal shall stay his
hand, or say unto Him : What doest
lhou' Farewell, time Ferewell, all
created comforts Welcome, eternity
Welcome, heaven! Welcome eternal
life Father into thy hands l COM
NIT my spirit! Amen, and amen!"
Here he bent his head and ceased to
speak. The troopers unslung their
muskets and took aim, and the misera-
bic wife knelt down also, covering her
eyes firmly with both hands. She saw
heard nothing; and when
she came to her recollection, the band
had retired, and her young goodman
was living at her feet, with brains
sprinkled over his fair and manly face.
She stretched the body out on the snow
for she had now no home-the wretch
es had burned the cottage to the ground
and after closing those eyes which had
never spoken to her but in language of
peace ard love and joy, she prayed to
their common God, and found comfort
such as the world can not give nor take
away.
The rest of tie tale is short and will
not tire your patience. The murderers
spent the whole of that day in the Will
lee, and none dared to visit the widow
ID mourner, lest they should be suspect
I'd of reasonable communing such was
he nature of these fearful times. That
night storm ragged, such as no one re-
nembered ever having witnessed. The