Amador weekly ledger., 1858-03-06
[ NUMBER 20.
A Thrilling Moment at Lucknow.

scription of the scene at the moment of the
arrival of the relief, so long, SO painfully
awaited by the beleagued inmates of Luck
now, written by lady of the rescued party,
equals in dramatic intensity the best descrip-
tive passages of Sir Walter Scott:
Death stared rs in the face. We were
fully pursuaded that in twenty-four hours all
would be over. The engineers had said SO,
and all knew the worst We women strove
to encourage each other, and to perform the
light duties which had been assigned to US,
snch as conveying orders to the batteries. and
supplying the men with provisions, especially
cups OF coffee, which was prepared day and
night l had gone out to try to make NY
self useful, in company with Jessie Brown,
the wife OF corporal in my husbands regi-
ment. foor Jessie had been in state of ex-
cltement all through the seige, and had fallen
away vislbly within the last few days A
constant fever had consumed her. and her
mind wandered occasionally, especially on
that day, when the recoections Of home
seemed powerfully present to her.
Az last, overcome with fatigue, she lay
down on the ground, wrapped up in her plaid.
SAT beside her, promising to awaken her,
when, as she said, her father should return
from the ploughing.' She at length fell into
profound slumber, motionless and apparent
ly breathless, her head resting in nv lap
myself could no longer resist the onportu-
nifty to sleep, in spite of the continued roar of
cannon. Suddenly | was aroused by wild,
uneai tlliy scream close to my ear; my compan-
ion stood upright beside me, her arms raised
and her head ben. forward in the attitude of
listening. A look Of intense delight broke
over her countenance, she grasped my hand,
drew me towards her, and exclaimed, 'Dinna
ye hear il? dinna ye hear it? Ay. Pm no
dreamIn', it's the slogan O. the Highlandersl
We're savedl we're savedp Then flinging
herself on her knees, she thanked God with
passionate fervor.
" | feltutterly bewildered: my English ears
heard only the roar of artillery. and tho't
my poor Jessie was still raving, but she dart
ed to the, batteries, and heard hercry iuces-
sanity to the men, 'Courage! bark to the slo-
gan-to the Macgregor, the grandest of them
all. Here's help at last To describe the
effect OF these words upon the soldiers would
be impossible. For moment they ceased
hiring, and every soul listened in intense anx-
iety. Gradually, however, there arose a
murmur OF bitter disappointment, and the
wailing of the women, who had nocked out.
began anew as the Colonel shook his head
Our dull lowland ears heard nothing but the
rattle of the musketay
A lew moments more of the deathlke
suspense, of this agonizing hope, aud Jessie,
who had again sunk on the ground, sprang
to her feet and cried, in voice so clear and
piercing that it was heard along the whole
line-'Wil ye not believe it moo? The slo-
gan has ceased, indeed, but the Campbells
are comnw Dye here dye here ?' At
that moment we seemed to hear the voice of
God in the distance, when the bagpipes of
the Hihlanders brought US tidings of deliy-
erance; for now there was no longer auy
doubt OF the fact. That shrill, penetrating.
ceaseess sound, which rose above all other
sounds, could come neither from the advance
OF the enemy, nor from the works of the
sapperS. No, it was indeed the blast of the
Scottish bagpipes, now shrill and harsh, as
threatning vengence on the foe; then in sof-
ter tones, seeming to promise succor to their
friends in need Never, surely, was there
such a scene as that which followed. Not
heart in the Residency of Lucknow but
bowed itself before God All by one SIM
ultaneous impulse, fell upon their knees and
nothing was heard but bursting sobs and the
murmured voice Of prayer. Then all arose,
and there rang out from thousand lips a
great shout OF joy, which resumed far and
wide, and lent new yigor to that blessed bag
pipe. To our cheer of God save the Queen
they replied in the well known strain that
moves every Scot to tears" Should auld
acquaintance be forgot &c. After that,
nothing else made any impression on me-
| scarcely remember what followed. Jessie
was presented to the General on his entrance
into the fort, and at the officers banquet her
health was drank by all present, while the
pipers marched round the table, playing once
more the familiar air of "Auld lang syne.n y
Jones--the philosopher Jones-has discoy-
cred the respective natures of a Distinction
and Difference. He says that a little DIFF.
ference" frequently makes many enemies
while little Distinction" attracts hosts OF
friends.
Alcohol was first invented and used to stair
the cheeks of the ladies of Arabia-95O yrs
ago. 1t still reddens the human face.
A good person has a tender concern fol
the happiness Of Others.
A man whstling at night is safe com
panion to the lonely wayfarer
The most secret acts of goodness are seel
and approved by the Almighty.
In childhood be modest, in youth temper
ate. in manhood just, in old age prudent