The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1856-12-18

Rome on given day, AMI invited all his neigh
bors to come and see the games, and bring theii
wives and daughters with them. On the day fixed
they came in scores-fair Latins, bright. eyed
Sicuians, and more numerous than either, beaui
fu' bne maidens-all dressed in their best, and
seeming, you may he sure, very lovely indeed to
TO the bachelor Romans.
The games began, and the ladies were in high
good humor, laughing, and clapping their hands,
when, all at once, the Romans made rush, each
seized the prettiest girl he could lay hands on
and made off with her. They never stopped to
look back till they were inside the walls of Rome
and had safely locked up their blushing and
weeping captives. Then they looked over the
wall. and asked the fathers and brothers whether
any thing could be done for them.
These worthy people took the matter very quiet
ly, and went home each to his own country. At
last, after much thinking, they made war on the
Romans But they managed it SO badly-each
fighting alone, instead of all joining together
that Romulus easily overcame them.
All but the Sabines. They were the strongest
and most warlike of the Romans neghbors but
they, of all the nations whose daughters had been
carried off, were the slvwest to think of avenging
the insult. At last, when Romulus had defeated
all the others, the Sabines made ready to fight and
their King, Tatius, marched down against Rome
with great army.
Brave Romulus was not dsmayed He shut
himself up in his city, barred the gates, and set
men to watch on the walls. On came the Sabnes;
round and round the place marched they, but could
not get in.
Then said the King Tatius to the Roman maiden
Tarpeia:
"Open, pray you, the gate over which your
father is captain, and you shall have for reward
whatever you will"
Give me-" said the covetous Tapeia, looking
at the golden ornaments he wore " all the brace
lets of gold, and the collars of gold which the
Sabine soldiers wear, and will open the gate"
"1hey shall be ihine, fair maiden" replied the
King, And he bade his men march forward to the
gate. Each soldier, as he passed. threw to Tar
peia, his bracelet of gold and his collar of gold
so many were there, and weighty were they
that the luckless maiden was crushed to death
with the load, the very spot where she stood
In then rushed the Sabiues, eager for the fight
Up stood bold Romulus, wbQ,.SsaGu nbw deadly
weepHd SeepHd t6e the fray.
Tbeu it was that a crowd of women, with wild
sestures and loose flowing hair, ran between the
Iwo armies They were the Sabine women VINO
had been carried off by the Romans, and who now
loved their husbands with ali the warmth of their
warm hearts. They clung to the knees oil their
f,,bers and brothers and besought them to
snare the men they loved. Some flung themselves
cn the uecks of their husbands, and prayed them
rot to spiN the blood of their knsmen.
This settled the dispute, ofcourse. The Saoines
said there was no use fighting, as the women
seemed so happy, and all parties agreed to be
ciards They even went so far as to become one
nation with two kings-Romulus and Taitus un-
ii, the latter died, when Romulus ruled alone
Long afterwards, the rock on which stood th'
rate which Tarpeia opened to the Saoines wa
i,oyvp as the Tarpeian Rock. There stood Ire
,or,b T. not there now: time has swept it away
hut 5een ouarries have been dug into the rock au'
s+r,nge stories are told of the sights that areen
in their hollows. In some gloomy recess IN 'heS
ouarries, a nook far removed from the dayligh1-
saw the Roman grls-still sits Tarpeia' glitterih
with gold and Jewels, She can not sur manu-
foot. spell that cannot be broken binds Fer
tho snot. but she is covered with rich golde
bracelets and golden collars, and wherever hi
Glance falls it rests upon gold. Thus, saJ IL
girls of the forum, she has her reward
In the fullness of time Romulus died. vi
story SAYS he was taken up to the mountain oil
Gods in flaming chariot of fire by his father u
IL god lars. Another Pretends he took dinere
road and sank out of sight in swamp, amit
n :, thunder and lightning.
u ANY way, he did not live forever and so
, story comes to an end.