St. Mary's beacon., 1859-04-07

Noble Deeds OF women.
From work recently published we make
the following extracts. showing moSt eonciu-
slvely that women are not less true Of heart
than meD ~
The COUNTESS or ORKNEY.
Mary, Countess of Orkney, was both dea!
and dumb; she was married in the year 1853,
by signs. Shortly after The birth OF her first
child. the nnrse, with considerable astonish-
meEt. saw che mother cautiously approach
the cradle IN which the infant was sleeping.
evidently fall OF some deep design. The cout.
Tess having perfectly assured herself that the
child really slept. raisc.l aa immense stone,
which she had concealed under her shawl
and. 10 the horror OF the nurse, iwho was an
lriShwornan, and like all persons Of the lower
orders IN her country. and indeed in most
countries, was fully impressed with m idea
OF the pecuar running and mali:ntv Of
'dnmbicS, fitted il with an apparent inten,
10 fin: It down vehernen,ly. Before the nurse
could interpose, the countess lad flung the
stone-not, however, as tie servant had ap-
pretended. at the child, but on tine fn1r.
whore, oi course, il made great noise. The
child Immediately awoke. anil cried. The
countess, who hal looEed with maternal
eagcrneSs TO the result Of her experiment, fell
on her knees in transport of Joy She had
discovered that her child possessed the sense
which was deficient in herself.
DAUGHTERS COURAGE.
The crest of Dudley. OF Northamptonshire
was "0ut Of ducal coronet Of gold, woman s
bust; her hair dishcveied. bosom bare, a helmet
on her head, with the stay or th.Jat-latch
down" From the MS in the possession Of
this family, written by monk about the close
"a the fourteenth century. it appeared that the
father Of Agnes Hotot, twho, in the year S95.
married an ancestor of the Dudlcys,D having a
quarrel with one RnG,.lale, concerning the
proprietorship OF some land they agreed to
meet on the Gehateable ground. and decide
their right by combat Unfortunately for
HO'ot, on the day appointed he was serious
ly i'll; "EIt ! Is daughter Agnes unwilling ,ha,
he should lose his claim, or suffer in his honor.
armed herself cdp-d-Iae, from lie al to foot,)
and mounting her fathers steed, repaired TO
the place of decision, where. after a stubborn
encounter, she di>mounted Ringsdale, and
when he was on the ground, she looscncd the
stay Of her helmet, let down her hair about
her shoulders, and. disclosing her bosom. dis
covered 80 him that lie had been conquered
by woman"
J. wIFEs DEVOTION
Robert, Duke of Normandy, eldest son of
William the Cnnqucror, prince of generous
and noble spirit having been wounded by a
poisoned arrow, the physicians declared moth
ing could save him but the venoms being
sucked ff'dn Isis wound by some one whose
life must fall a sacrifice. Robert disdained TO
save his own life by hazarding that Of another;
but the noble SibelIa did this in his slcep.
and died TO save her husband. 4 similar act
Of heruism bit happily not so disastrous in
its results. is recorded Of Queen Eleanor, wife
Of Edward L..
MADAME DE NoCcHY.
The Mareschal de Mnuchy, having been
conducted prisoner to the Luxcmburch, had
scarcely arrived there when his wife entered
the prison. The ganIer observed TO her that
the order for the marc-chaIs arrest made no
mention Of her She answered with mingled
ga'ety and sweetness--'Since my husband is
prisoner, am one also"
When he was carried before the Revolution
AIRY Tribunal, he was still attended by his lady
The public accuser having informed Madame
de Mouchy that she was not called upon 70
appear, she eplic,l-"When my husband Is
called for, arm alSD called
In word when the iatat sentence nt
'!eAth was pronounced upon the mareschal, his
faithful wife ascendcd the cart with him; and
when the exccu,ioner objected because she was
not condemned to die, she answered-''Since
sentence is passed upon my husband, il is
passed upon THE also"
the GENEROSITY OF FORGIVENESS.
The nagnanimity Of Mare AntoineIfe dis
played itsClf soon after her elevation 10 the
throne. on the death Of Luis XIV. An officer
of the body guard. who had given her offence
on some former occasion. when she was only
the 0auphineas. expressed his intention Of
resisning his commission; but :he quecn for
gave him. Remain" said she; forget the
past Far be 1t from the Queen Of France
To revenge the injuries Of the DAuphineSs !"
In similar manner, Queen Elizabeth said to
one who had insuIted her wher princess and
a prisoner: do you NO, know that we are
descended Of the lion, whose nature is not "
harm or prey upon the mouse. or any other
such small vermin 2"