The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1852-08-19
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The Heir Of Rath
THE COVENANTER'S CURSE

| IL was Ouc VI tuOSc udyo WHcu VIZ
bloody prosecutor, Charles the Second
was striving to root out all religion from
Britain, and when the booted and spur
ed apostles of prelacy went about like
roaring lion seeking whom they might de
your, that John Craig, singularly god
/ ly youth, did take to wife Isabel Ross,
maiden fair as to worldly externals, but
what was far better, of an enlightened ant
sober piety, not in any way tainted will
the defections or errors which then 81
rifely prevailed. They loved and Were
beloved more than usually falls to tn,
lot of us poor shred and not withou
reason, they promised themselves many
many days of happiness and JOY. But ;
continuance of prosperity is not to b,
looked for IN this vale of tears every
month the persecution grew more anC
more bitter, and honest men burst NJ
more worship God after the manner o
their fathers, but were compelled t.
pray among glens and the rocks anC
caves of the earth, as if they were evi
doers, breaking and setting at naught
the laws of the land.
Ye see that tomb there-it is the bu-
rial place ofthe Erskines of Rath. Here
| started it was the tomb of my father
the old man pointed to, but l said no.
thing 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 fold
said he looked to some post under the
king, which made him more active in
hunting out the rebels, as they were
called I; and he even exceeding the rude
hirelings of soldiers themselves, in his op-
preston and violence; 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 rought to him early one morning,
that there was a coventicle, or field
preaching, in glen up among the hills:
see, yonder it is, where a clump of black
fr-trees are growing. This was an op-
portunty of serving the king, not to be
lost so he got his servants to arm, call
Ing out the military who was quartered
in the village, and set out at full speed
to the place. But God had other things
in reserve for those at the 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 prosecutors.
Being but young man, and never be-
fore convicted of correspondence with
the hill folks, ,many thought he would get
free, or short punishment, or a small
fine but Sir John was enraged at the
i'll success of his expedition, and deter
mined to wreak his vengeance on the
poor lad, as fearful example to the
rest OF the country SO he commanded
him to be tied to a troopers horse, and
led him down the hill till they came to
bis own little cottage, where his wife
Isabel, was waiting his arrival to break
fast.
1t was fine, calm, clear, winter
morning; the ground was covered with
snow, hardened by keen frost, and the
sun shone brightly and cheerily, as if on
a scene of Joy and festivity His wife
bearing the noise, ran out to welcome
her John, and beheld him a fettered
prisoner, and in the hands of those whose
tender mercies she well knew were hor.
rid cruelties.
But the God whom she served did not
forsake her in this moment of bitterness
aud despair she felt nerved with a
strength which no human power could
ever invest her with; and she went to
her husband firmly and fearlessly, as if
she knew not that he was soon to be a
bleeding co Sc, and she friendless and
houseless widow She whispered word
of courage and consolation in his ear
she chafed his stiff, half-frozen hands
she parted his long brown hair over his
brow-for his arms were tied-and, with
the corner of her apron, she wiped the
sweat from his cheek, and the foam of
pain and agony from those lips, from
which she had often drained deep
draughts of love and delight.
The murderous ruf6an now rendered
the test, as the only means Of escape