The true Democrat., 1857-04-07
NO. 26.


 their steeds
 Through the windows of the clouds some gleams of sunlight fall-they light the golden tassel on the cap-they glitter on the upraised sword-they illumine the dark horse and his rider with their wafmth-they reveal the bat tery-you see 1t, above the further bank of the ravlne, drowning death from every muzzle.
 Near and nearer, up and on! Never heed the death before you, though it is certain.- Never mlnd the leap, though it is terrbe.- butup the bank and over the cannon-hurrah! At this dread moment just as his horse rises for the charge, May turns and sees the sword of the brave lnge on his right, turns again and reads his own soul written in the fire of Sack cts eye.
 To his men once more he turns, his hair floating back behind him, he points to the can- non, to the steep bank and tie certain death, and as though inviting them, one and al to his bridal feast, he says
 "Come'
 They did come. It would have made your blood dance to see it. As one man they whirl- ed up the bank, following Mays sword as they would banner, and striking madly home as they heard, through the roar of battle they heard 1t, that word of frenzy, "Come!'
 As one mass of barred chests, leaping horses and dazzling scimetars, they charged upon the bank; the cannon's fire rushed into their faces; lnge, even as his shout rang on the air, was lad manged thing beneath his steed, his throat torn open by a cannon shot, Sacket was buried beneath his horse, and seven dragoons fell at the battery's muzzles, their blood and brains whirling into their comrades eyes.
 Still May is wonder, above the cloud, his horse rioting over heaps of dead, as with his sabre, circling round his flowing hair, he cuts his way through the living wall, and says to his comrades" Come!''
 All around him, friend and foe, their swords locked together--yonder the blaze of musketry showering the iron hail upon his band--be- heath his horses feet the deadly cannon and ghasty corpse, still that young soldier riots on for Taylor has said Silence that battery,' and he will do it.
 The Mexicans are driven from their guns; their cannon are silenced, and Mays heroic band scattering among the mazes of the cha paral, are entangled in wall of bayonets.- Once more the combat deepens, and dyes the sod in blood. Hedged in by that wall of steel, May gathers eight of his men, and hews his way toward the captured battery. As his charger rears, his sword circles above his head, and sinks blow after blow into his foemens throats. To the left shout is heard; the Americans, led on by Graham and Pleasan- ton and Winship, have senced the battery there, while the whole fury of the Mexican army seems concentrated to crush May and his band.
 As he went through their locked ranks so he comes back Everywhere his men know him by his hair, waving in dark masses; his golden tinselled cap; his sword--they know it too, and wherever it falls, hear the gurglng groan of mortal agony
 Back to the captured cannon he cuts his way, and on the brink of the ravine beholds sight that fires his blood.
 A solitary Mexican stands there, reaching forth his arm in all the frenzy of brave mans despair; he entreats his countrymen to turn to man the battery once more, and hurl its fury on the foe. They shrink back, appalled,, be- fore that dark horse and its rider, May! The Mexican, gallant young man, whose hand- some features can scarce be distinguished on account of the blood which covers them, while his rent uniform bears testimony to his deeds In that days carnage, clenches his hands as he filings his curse in the face of his flying countrymen, and then, lighted match in hand, springs to the common. A moment and it's fire will scatter ten American soldiers in the dust.
 Even as the brave Mexican bends near the cannon, the dark charger, with one tremen- dous leap is there and the sword of May is crcling over his s'head.
 4ield." shouted the voice which only few moments ago, when rushing to the death, Said-"Comen'
 The Mexican beheld the gallant form before him, and handed Captain May his sword.
 "General La Vega is a prisoner" he said and stood with folded arms amid the corses of his mangled soldiers
 You see May deliver his prisoner into the charge of the brave Lieutenant Stephens, who when lnge fell-daShed bravely on.
 Then would you look for May once more gaze through that wall of bayonets beneath that gloomy cloud, and behold him crashing into the whirlpool of the fight; his long hair, his sweeping beard, and sword that never for an instant stays its lightning career, making hlm look like the embodied demon of this bat tie day.
 Where May dashed like thunderbot by his side, Gen. Taylor, in his familiar brown coat, still remains. Near him, gazing on the battle with interest keen as his own, the stout form, the stern visage of his brother soldier, Iwlggs They have followed with flashing eyes the course of May; they have seen him charge, and seen his men and horses hurled back in their blood, while still he thundered on. At this moment the brave La Vega is led into the presence of Taylor, his arms folded over his breast, his eyes fixed upon the ground As the noble hearted General expresses his sorrow that the capuVe'S lot mas fallen on one so brave as in obedience to the command of Twiggs, the soldiers, arranged in battle order, salute the prisoner with presented arms, there comes rushing to the scene the form of May, mounted on his well known charger.
 General, you told me to silence that bat tery. I have done t!'
 He placed in the hands of Zachary Taylor the sword of the brave La Vega.
 
 THE MADNESS OF FANATIcIsM. M.-The saint ly philanthropists' of Massachusetts met in Modern Athens recently and resolved to go deeper into the next election with an issue of more vitat character than any yet proposed.- Listen to Wendell Phillips:
 "l want to consolidate into Massachusetts a downright opposition to slavery. l want to accustom Massachusetts to the idea that every man has a right to seize his liberty on the spot Ii negro kills his master to-ng ght--wrte his name by the side of Joe Warren-say that he is William Tell in disguise, or John Han- cock in eclipse"
 0F A lawyer the other day went into bar ber's shop to procure wig. In taking the dimensions of the lawyers head, the boy ex- claimed, Why, how long your head is, sir"