The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1858-01-27

At last, overcome with fatigue, sue 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 plowing.' She fell at length
into a profound slumber, motionless, and apparently
b~reathiess, her head resting i'll my Jap myself could
no longer resist the inclination to sleep, in spite OF the
continual roar of the cannon. Suddenly | was aroused
by wild, u..earthly scream close to my ear my com.
paanion stood upright beside me, her arms raised, and
her head bent forward in the attitude Of listening. A
look of intense delight broke over her countenance, she
cla~ped my hand, drew me toward her, and exclaimed,
8 Dinna We hear it ? dinna ye hear it! Ay, I'm no
dreamin'. it's the slogan of the Highlanders! We're
saved we're saved! then Ainging herself on her knees
she thanked God with passionate fervor. felt utterly
bewildered; my English ears heard only the roar OF ar
tillery, and l thought my poor Jessie was still ravlng;
but she darted to the batteries, and | heard her cry in.
cessantly to the men, Courage! courage bark to the
slogan-to the Macgregor, the ~grandest OF them "a
Here's help at last?
To describe the effect of these words upon the soldiers
would be impossible. For a moment they ceased firing,
ard every soul listened in intense anxiety. Gradually,
however, there arose a murmur of bitter disappoint-
ment, and the wailing Of the women who had focked to
the spot burst out anew as the Colonel shook his head.
Our dull Lowland ears heard nothing but the rattle of
the musketry. A few moments more of this death-hke
suspense, of this agonizing hope, and Jessie, who had
again sunk on the ground, sprang to her feet, and cried
in a voice so clear and piercing that it was heard along
Tue WnOle uHe-' Will ye HO ptAcVe ~ " Inc
slagan has ceased indeed, but the Campbels are comm!
Dye hear dye hear? At that moment we seemed
indeed to hear the voice of God in the distance, when
the pibroch of the Highlanders brought US tidings Of
deliverance, for now there was no lsnger any doubt Of
the fact. Il
That shrin, penetrating -ssaseiess sound which rose
above al other sonlas 1Sn1& 0ame nsithesaa omahessd-
~sssS Sss6s enddy; nor from the work of the Sappers.
M, it was indeed the blast Of the Scottish ~bagpipes,
now sffi1f and harsh, as threatening vengeance on the
foe, then in softer tones, seeming to promise succor to
their friends in need. Never surely was there such a
scene as that which followed. Not a heart in the resi-
dency of Lucknow but bowed itself before God. All,
by one simultaneous impulse, fell upon their knees, and
nothing was heard but bursting sobs and the murmured
voice Of prayer. Then all arose, and there reng out
from a thousand lips a great shout of joy which resound-
ed far and wide, and lent new vigor to that blessed p-
brocb. To our cheer Of God save the Queen they
replied by the we'll known strain that moves every Scot
to tears, Should auld acquaintance be forgot &c.
After that, nothing else made any impression on me. |
scarcity remember what followed. Jessie was presented
to the General on his entrance into the fort, and at the
officers banquet her health was drunk by all present,
while the pipers marched round the table playing once
more the familiar air of " Aud lang syne."