The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1856-03-27
Aestsss, the ovsrstraiusd energy Of her
spirit for q moment relaxed, and she


Aestsss, the ovsrstraiusd energy Of her
spirit for q moment relaxed, and she
wept like feeble child. The fair wife
Of William Penn understood her feelings,
soothed her with sympathy, and encour.
aged her to open hor heart freely
Never had Mary seen goodness so grace.
iul and attractive as in tho biz II minded
and gentle being before her. Her very
soul blessed her as she spoke she could
not doubt but that all would be we'll -
and with her heart eomforted, assured,
and filed with gratitude, it seemed as if
. new life bad been given to her.
Tho next day William Penn obtained
an audience Of the king, and so wrought
upon him BY tho story Of tho heroic
young creature under his roof, and the
euffciings of her friends, that he desired
she might b, blou.ht before him, and
receive from his own hands the order
for their enlargement.
Mary was accordingly arrayed in the
best garments her scanty wardrobe per.
miltsd, by the elegant and gentle hands
OF Guliel,na Penn, who surveyed her
beautiful face and figure with admira-
tion, and then kissed her and blessed
her, Is an affcctonato mother might
bless o beloved daughter.
Leaning upon the arm Of her protec-
tor, she was conducted through great
chamber OF lords and ladies', assembled
for the occasion, into the presence of
bis majesty. Mary's heart beat Violent
ly, and hor mpaDion, drawing her srin
from his, presented her to'his sovereign
who graciously bads herspcak her wishes
without fear. Reassured by the kind
ness Of the kings manner, almost for.
getting the presence in which she stood,
Tor what seemed to her the greater i'm
portance OF her errand, she made her
petition gracefully ard we'll. Sho rela.
ted all she had told William Penn Of
the great Kindness Of the Pixleys to her,
and her otherwise desolate condition -
she told Of their domestic virtues, Of
their piety, aud their firm loyalty and,
lastly, Of their wretch. ed condition in the
Jail, with that of many others and oI
tho cruelty of the justice and the jailer
and then, almost unconsciously falling
on her knees, she prayed SO eloquenily
that tboy might be released, that the
king turned aside to wipe away tear
before he put forth his hand to raise
her.
The petition was granted. The king
himself put into her hands the order
for their release, and then praying God
might bless her, and taking leave OF
William Penn very kindly, passed out
Of the presence. chamber. Many Of the
lords accompanied the king, but the
rest closing around the almost terrified
maiden, overwhelmed her with compli-
ments. William Penn, who saw her
confusion, apologiscd for her with all
the grace Of courtier, 'and extricating
her from the admiring company, con-
veyed her, like being walking in o
dream, to his swn house.
Not moment was lost in sending
down by express the order for the
Friends enlargement, and together with
that, q dismissal from his Office for the
jailer. Rest was now absolutely neces-
sary for Mary after these extraordinary
cxcrtions; William Penn detained her,
therefore, few days under his roof,
ard then conveyed her himself in his
own comfortable carriage to the house
Of her friends. 1t is impossible ts des-
cribc the joy which her return afforded,
and which was not little increased by
the presence Of her illustrious compan.
ion.
Tho troubles and prosecutions Of the
Fixleys here came to an end, for they
went over to Pennsylvania with its dis
,inguished founder, on his return, and
became noted among the most worthy
and influential Of the settlers there
Mary, however, returned to England,
being afiluen,ly married {; and l myself,
several years ago, was possessed Of =
piece Of needlswork said to have been
Of her doing.