The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-02-09
DEATH OF JOAN D'ARC.

DEATH OF JOAN D'ARC.
We make the following extract from
Appeton's new work, The World Noted
Woman" just published. 1t is from the
pen of Mary C"wden Clarke:
THERE'S something indefinitely touching
in the saints and hcrn's relapse into simple
humanity and womanhood. on that dark,
unnatural May morning, when the heavy
news was told her that she must die before
sunset. She wept bitterly. Like Jeptha's
daughter, she meurned that her pure and
beautious budy should be thus early sacri-
feed. She shrank, and shricked. and
writhed, at the Thought of the flames, pity
ing herself for the pain. But the saint
triumphs soon-eveH through the fiery
vista before her. she sees better Kingdom
than France, better home than Domremy.
Even ia this death she recognizes the de
lvernnce' promised her by the voices
She appealed t God from the injustice
and cruelty of earth; she partook of the
holy sacrament with many tears, she utter
ed her touching and tremendous words to
the Bishop of Beauvais, Il summons to an
swer for lIcr death before God. What a
child like natura!ncss, a Plaintive nairete
marked the words she addressed to one of
the preachers standing by: "Ah, Maitre
Pierse, where will be this eveningr
We can fancy the fearful. wi>tful look,
the terrified tremblo of the hands, and all
the voice broker up in sobs, with which
she said this. Then, as the Priest repli, d:
Have you not good hope in the Saviour -
the light of reinsurance, the smile. the
clasped hands, the heavcnward gaze, the
voice clear and frrvid. as she said: "Oh,
yes, God aiding. shall be in Paradise
Bound and Lsrne in cart, like common
mHlrfactors, surrounded by guard of
eight hundred English soldiers, Joan dare
passed through the streets of Rouen to the
market place but in the eyes of the angels,
that awful hour must have thrown into
shade all fOregon" hours of triumph-grand
err to him than the prnudest conqueror in
his triumphial car, followed by princely
caPtives and the spoils of kingdoms.
AT the stake the maid again bravely
proclaimed her faith in tho voices and
n"bly defended her King. Her sublime,
yet meek comroSurr, her marvellous wo-
manly sweetness, filled many of her persc-
cutors with wonder pity and vain rcmorse.
The people looked on as in a horrible
dream. weeping, grooming. praying, but
powerless to help. One last word of re-
eh;yorol h. e
bishop Bauvais. cleft its way to deep I'M
suspected vein Of human feeling, and let it
out in tears.
The scaffold lowered high above the
crowd, huge pile of faggots, lit it at the
base, gigantic altar of the sacrifice,
fiery Cavalry.
when the flames uncoiled themselves
from below, and darted upward, in angry
flashing lengths. kissing and writing
when they struck their fangs into her flesh,
the flesh cried out in shrieks that must
have echoed for ever through tie guilty
and craven souls wh~ heard.
'Well had the young martyr learned
the self forg tful spirit other agony through
the fame aud smoke of her torment, she
saw the danger of tie faithful priest who
held the crucifix above. and entreated him
to leave her. He went he bore from her
sight the image of her crucifird Lord, but
he left beside her. in the midst of the flames,
the Lord himself. May not her last cry of
Jesus have been, not a cry of fear, or sup
plication, but of joy and recognition, as
she sprang through the fiery gate of mar
tyrdom into the welcoming arms of his COM
passion, into the bosom of his infinite, in
efable love. :"
Too COOP TO WAsrE.-The medical
attendant Of the St. Louis Hospital accos,ed
an Irish servant at the door of the same
the other day, with: -"Did you give the
medicine as I told youl" Faith, an did
sir" And the brandy!" "Shure, an
thought it pity to waste so much good
liquor on the men that were bound to die
anyhow, so drinked it meself."
DEAD BODIES FOR SHIPMExr-Tbe last
steamer from California brings intelligence
that the bodies of three hundred dead
Cinnamon were lying on one of the wharves
at San Francisco, nicely packed and directed,
ready for shipment to their long home in
China. The freight money on this lot is
$500. Thus, dead or alive, John is of use. |
ExPELLED.-The Nebraska House of |
Delegates have expelled Mr.. Robertson, of
the Omaha "Nebraskian," from the sittings
of that badv for caIliup ona of tba rnon,bor, |