Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-06-07

OF his faithful old servant might avail but
he is beyond the Danube ;-to-morrow
general execution Oh! Berenice my child,
my child must I live to see your blood
flow forth by the hand of common execu-
tioner p
| come not, as | came yesterday he
continued after long pause, with tears
and entreaties to move you; yesterday, [
knelt to implore you to save your fathers
heart from breaking; and all in vain. To-
day L come with harsher purpose. You
asked me but now to take you in my arms
and bless you, as did when you were a
little child. Berenice, if you do not aban-
don your ipfatuation, if you persist in brings
ing eternal dishonor on your line,-Beren-
ice, listen! may the curse Of your father
The girl pressed his arm heavily; she
tried to speak, but her parted lips were
white as marble, and refused to utter a
sound.
The old man looked on her; and the
curse on his lips was stayed He looked
on her, and kissed her, ere he went, for he
had tenderly loved her mother.
My sister! she family murmured, as
he moved away, but Flavius answered,
You will never see her again you
would infect her with your superstition; I
cannot be left childless in my old age. =
And the old man went, and as the last sound
of his departing steps died away, Berenice
thought her worst trial was over, and she
Withdrew her thoughts from the world, and
sought to prepare her soul for death.
Late the following day, the people of
Rome assembled in the amphitheatre to wit
ness the martyrdom of the Christians
Horrible deaths they died Some were
torn to pieces by the wild beasts; others
were burned at slow fire; some few were
cruci6ed, and they counted such deaths an
unmerited honor. Berenice was reserved
for the last; because she was of Roman and
patrician blood, she. was to suffer the mild
er punishment of decoIlation The sign
was given, and when it was proclaimed by
the herald, that the Christian maiden was
coming forth, there was so deep silence
among that vast multitude, that even the
advancing steps of the girl and her conduc-
tors were heard. But what was the sur
prise of all present, when they beheld, not
one, but two young maidens, both dressed
alike, in white raiment, both coming forth,
with the same quiet step and placid de-
meanor; and ore, it might be the most
tranquil, advanced step towards the seat
where he who governed the city during the
absence of Marcus Antonius sat. and Thus.
1T is I, most noble Prefect, who am
Berenice, the Christian this girl, my sis
ter, for love of me, would fain take my
name and punishment on herself, but credit
her not; it is who am the condemned
Then arose a touching dispute between
the sisters,-sisterly love lending one the
eloduence which the other derived from
truth. Many Of their friends, and even of
their relatives in the amphitheatre, were
called on to come down and decide between
them; but some spoke for one and some
for the other. Veronica, in her agonizing
fears, had lost the joyous expression of heI
countenance and Berenice's meek and
holy hopes had chased the deep melancholy
from her face and mien.
One or two brutal voices arose and said
sThey both call themselves Christians, le
them both die the death but one of the
maidens answered. Think not, most no
BILE Prefect, if you thus decree, that you
will be guiltless of my sisters blood sh'
is not Christian at heart would to CO.
she we're then would no longer oppos
her sharing my early death. Veronica
acknowledge the truth, and let me suffe
alone But Veronica, if she it was, per
sisted in her first declaration, and non
could tell how this dispute would terminate
when new incident attracted the atten
ton of the multitude, and silenced ever
doubt.
A speck was seen in the air. It cam
lower, nearer; it was a milk-white dove
The bird huttered round one, then DIRE
near the other; no caresSing hand was hel
out to receive him, but his instinct was NJ
to be deceived; he settled on the shouldt
of her who had answered the harsh voic
from the crowd, and sought to nestle as
was wont in her long hair. Many wel
present who knew the pet belonged to Be
enice, so the people were satisfied with th
decision, and the weeping Veronica, sti
protesting against her own identity, W
torn from the arms of her sister. The
the Prefect, who had been much moved
this singular scene, turned to Berenice,
she stood alone in the arena, and said:-
1t is not yet too late, young maiden,
preserve thy life; have pity on thy you
5 and loveliness, and the grey hairs of Il
) aged father What harm is it to swear
the fortune of Caesar, and to sacrifice a
! be safe?' But she answered, more firm
: than ever =
t Il am a Christian, and cannot sacrif
s to your false gods. You condemn me
e death, but l fear not to die in defence
o the truth She advanced, unbidden,
a the fatal block, and kuelt by it; yet e
S she Joined her hands in prayer, she b.
IS once more fonily over her little messeng
= bird, as if to bid farewell to the last obj
o that told of earthly ties. There wa
e small scroll Of parchment under its wi
k Berenice felt it, and thinking it might, I
l. haps, tell her the only tidings she ca
1t now to hear, she rose again, and holding
:! forth, she prayed permission to read it
>; The Project did not refuse, and Berer
n read, first in silence, and then aloud: 9
to Emperor Marcus is dead, and Commo
n, is already proclaimed Caesar. Aloud sh
p rent the air. Itwas we'll known that G
modus, in heart, favored the despised ST
or and in spite of their prejudices, the bea
ell and heroism of Berenice had moved
n; hearts of her countrymen IN her favor.
IS general outcry for her release was he
'ur but this the Prefect dared not grant.
- enice vas reminded to prison, until