Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1858-07-16
DEATH OF JOAN D'ARC.

We make the following extract from Apple
tons work, ssThe World-Noted Women 1t
is from the pen of Mary Cowden Clarke
.There is something indefinitely touching in
the saints and hero's relapse into simple hui
manlty and Womanhood on the dark, unnatural
May morning. when the heavy news was told
hef tbat abe msst die before sunset. She wept
bitFerly hike Ieptha's danghter, sbs Inoura-
cd that he. pare and beauteous body should be
thus early sacrificed. She shrank, aud Shrek
ed, and writhei at the thought of the flames,
plying herself for the pain. But the saint tri-
umphs soon-eyen through the fiery vista be-
fore her size sees a better kingdom than France
Ia better home than Domremy. Even in this
death she recognizes sthe deiiverance' promised
her by sthe voices
.ssShe appealed to God from the injustice and
cruelty of earth; she partook Of the holy sac
rament with many tears; she uttered her touch
ing and tremendous words to the Bishop of
BeauVais, summons to answer for her death
before God. What child-like naturaluess,
plsrntiVe naiYete marked the words she address
! scd to one of the preachers standing BY: 'Ah,
Maitre Pirere, where will be this EVENING"
awe can fancy the fearful, wistful look, the
terrified tremble of the hands, aud alI the
voice broken in sobs with which sue said this.
Then, as the priest replied: tHave you not
good hope in the Saviour?' the light Of rcassu-
rance, the smile, the clasped hands, the heav-
onward gaze, the voice clear and ferYid, as she
said: ooh, yes, God aiding, shall be in Par
adise'
sBound aud borne In cart, like a common
malcfactor, surrounded By guard of eight
hundred English soldiers, Joan dare passed
! through the streets of Rouen to tho market
place; but in the eyes OK the angels that awful
hour must have thrown into shade all foregone
hours of triumph grander TO them than tie
proudest ccnqueror in his triumphal car, fol-
lowed BY princely capives and the spoils of
Kingdoms.
''At the stake the maid again bravely pro-
| claimed her faith in sthe voices and nobly de-
Tended her King. Her sublime, yet meek COM
posure, her marvellous womanlY sweetness, fiji
led many OF her prosecutors with wonder, pity,
and vain remorse. The people looked on as in
horrible dream. weeping, groaning, praying,
but powerless to help. One last word OF re-
PEoach ssivered the ~ +Le Ies4l
op of D6aavaIs, cleft its way TO deep unsus-
pected vein of human feeling, and let it out in
tears.
"The scaffold lowered high above the crowd,
huge pile Of fagots lit it at the base, 81
gantic altar of sacrifice, fiery Calvary.
"Wheu the flames uncoiled themselves from
below, ana darted upward, in angry flashing
| lengths, kissing and writhing, when they struck
their fangs into bar flesh, the flesh cried out IN
shrieks that must ha7e echoed forever through
the guilty and craven souls who beard.
! "Well had the young martyr learned the
seIf-forgetful spirit. In her agony, through the
/ flame and smoke of her torment, she saw the
danger of the fail hful priest who held the cru
/ cifx above, and ertreated him to leave her,
! He went; be bore from her sight the image OF
/ her crucifed 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 CRY of fear or supplicatiou, but of JOY
aud recognition, as she sprang through the flo
ry path of martyrdom into the welcoming arms
Of his compassion--iuto the bosom of his inf
mite, iueffable love1'