Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-01-10
cLEARFIELD, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY TO- 1855. :

arms were long, lean, and bony, but trusty
and never did mortal arms encircle child
with more care and tenderness; and to have
| seen him, bent nearly double, and yet witt
head erect and eager eye, hurrying along with
! the child would have been curious enough.
/ Crowds were moving along the streets in
! the same direction, a few thoughtful and sui
/ len, but the masses as full of mirth and laugh
| ter, as if going to witness the sports of the
/ Campus Martius.
| When the servant arrived at the square, he
/ found the preparations rapidly advancing. A
large stake had been firmly planted in the
earth, and the Emperor's slaves were busily
engaged in piling around it various kinds of
dry combustibe material.
Pushing his way through the crowd, he sue
ceeded, with difficulty, in gaining a position
quite convenient, and in full view of the pile.
AT length, he observed the circular door of
the Tower directly opposite suddenly open,
and guard of soldiers issuing instantly from
it, surrounding female, yelled, and clad in a
coarse black dress.
Amid the shouts Of the immense concourse
of spectators, she was conducted towards the
stake. Though the servant could not see her
face, yet hd could observe that her step was
firm and unhesitating.
Arriving at the pile, she was rudely seized
by two of the soldiers, and lifted up on it,
while two others tied her to the stake, her
hand and arms alone being left free.
Instantly, she threw aside her long flowing
veil, and raised her eyes few moments TO
heaven, her lips moving in prayer. She then
cast them anxiously around her, over the
dense crowd. In moment they were on the
servant-fixed earnestly, intently little
Ware.
At the same instant almost the childs atten-
ton was directed towards its poor mother,
partly through the efforts of the servant, and
in part of its own accord.
AT first the child stared as if affrighted -
then smled,-then Immediately began spring
up and down in the servants arms, and stretch
ed out its little hands towards her. Strange
it had evidently recognized its mother.
The pile is now lighted, but her eyes are
still riveted upon the child, while it continues
holding out its little hands.
The smoke is curling up, and she seems in
a state of suffocation. Presently gust of
air drives it off in another direction, but there
are the round, dark eyes gazing as fixed
iy as ever, only more wild-looking.
Now the flames are bursting out here and
there over the pile. Now they have reached
the extrernities, but still the eyes are unmoved.
Now they are cracking and roaring, and the
entire pile is sending mp red-hot volume of
fame which is whirling and dashing around
its victim, as if anxious to put an ead to all
suffering as speedily as possible.
a feint, hollow shrek was heard, and all
was silent. In few minutes, the flames low
ering, exposed black, frying, burning mass.
The child, all this while, having ceased its
smiling, clung around the neck of the old SER
want, looking askance at the flaming pile; then,
suddenly turning its head away, began frettng
and crying, while the servant, overcome with
horror, hurried with it from the shocking
scene.
We shall here let the curtain fall over this
part of our story, except to say, that the faith
full old servant on his return was met at the
door by Valens. The poor creatures eyes
were fixed with wild stare in his head. and
the mark of his tears were fresh on his lean,
wrinkled cheeks.
go, mas'r.' said he, the moment valens
met him, s'Missis died awfuI,-clean burnt up
Didn't seem to mind it much,-jist kept look
in all the time at me and the child here.:-
think Misss never didn't do no harm,'' he adj
ded, thinkingly.
Valens, too full to speak, hastily took the
little orphan in his arms, and, putting piece
of coin in the poor old mans hand, closed the
door.
To be continued.