Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-12-10
dQlurtester Daily Spg.
From the American Presbyterian.
JOHN BROWN, THE SCOTTISH MARTYR.

entious Judgment of the Gospel in its simplic-
ty and purity, lived another John Brown" a
pious Edinburg carrier, who thought it a duty
to succor the Prosecuted ministers of the Cos
pei. One of these men had recently been sue
cored under the roof of the poor carrier, and
when he departed, made him acquainted with
his hiding place. Just at that time, Claver-
house, afterwards the Earl of Dundee, was
securing the country, with troopers as cruel as
himself in search of the hiding places of the
preachers, and knowing the reputation of
Brown, went to his lonely dwelling, called the
Cottage on the Muir" Early in the morning
the cottage of John Brown was surrounded Dy
a troop of dragons, with Claverhouse at their
head John, who had probably PRESENT.
ment Of what might happen, urged his wife
and daughter to stay within doors, insisting
that as the soldiers were, i'll all likelihood, in
search of some other person, he should soon
be able to dismiss them. BY this time, the
tramping and neighing of horses, mingled
with the hoarse laugh and vociferations of dra-
goons, brought John, half dressed, to the door.
Claverhouse Immediately accosted him by
name and in manner intended for something
betwixt fun and irony, proceeded to make in
quiries respecting one Samuel Aitkin "a
godly man, and a minister of the Word and
outrageously addicted to prayer |" John ad-
Ulltleu 1T OilCc Iudt IIc pSlSOl ISlcIIcu W WAS
not unknown to him, asserting, however, that
of his present residence, or place of hiding, he
was not free to speak.
"No doubt, no doubt" rejoined Claverhouse,
"you know nothing! How should you, all in
nocence and ignorance as you sre? But here
is little chip of the old block, which may
probably recollect better and save US the trou-
BILE of blowing out her fathers brains, just by
way of making him remember more accurate
ly You, my little farthing rushlight," con-
tinued Red Rob, alighting from his horse and
seizing the girl rudely and with prodigious
force by the wrists-''you remember an old
man with long beard and bald head, who
was here few days, baptizing your sister,
and giving good advice to father and mother,
and who is now within few miles of this
house, to which you can readily and instantly
csnduct us, you know 90
The girl looked first at her mother, who had
now advanced into the doorway, teen at her
fether, and dropped her head, and continued to
preserve complete silence.
"And So" continued the questioner, "you
are dumb; your tongue is little obstinate or
so, and you must not tell family secrets. But
what think you of speaking with your fingers
of having proper and pertinent answer just
ready at your finger ends, as one may say
AS the Lord lives and as my soul lives, but
this will make a dainty nosegay," displaying
thumbkin or finger screw ''tor my sweet
little Covenanter and then" applying the
instrument of torture, MEANWHILE and adjust
ing it to the thumb ''you will have no man
ner of trouble in recollecting yourself; and
don't knit your brow So" flor the pain had
become insufferabel "then we shall have you
chatty and amusing, | warrant.
The mother who could stand this no longer,
rushed upon the brutal executioner, and with
expostulations, threats, and the most impas-
stoned entreaties endeavored to relax the
questoner's twist
"Can you, mistress, recolect anything of
this man we are in quest OF? 2" resumed Claver-
house. haughtily )" sit may save us both some
trouble, and your daughter continuance and
increase of her present suffering, if you will
just have the politeness tC make US acquaint
ed with what you happen to know upon the
subject"
"Womanp' exclaimed the husband, in
tone of indignant surprise, "hast thou so soon
forgotten thy God and shall the fear of any
thing which man can do, induce thee to betray
innocent blood"
He said no more, but he had said enough,
for from that instant the whole tone of his
wife's feelings was changed, and her soul was
wound up, as if by the hand of Omnipotence,
into resolution and daring.
'Bravop exclaimed the arch prosecutor,
"bravo old Canticles, thou word'st 1t well;
and so you three pretty lnnocents have lald
your holy heads together, and you have re
solved to die, should it please God and us,
with a secret in your breast, and lie III your
mouth, like the rest Of your psalm singing,
hypocritical, canting sect, rather than discover
guild Mr.. Atkin pious Mr.. Atkin worthy
Mr.. Akin! But we shall see what light this
81, 49, lnffn IN h.
ject," pointing to carabne or holster pistol
which hung from the saddle of his horse.
"This cold frosty morning requires that one,
continued Claverhouse, "should be employed,
were it for no other purpose than just to gaid
heart by the exercise"
"And so, old Pragmatical, in order that you
may not catch cold by SO early an exposure to
the keen air, we will take the liberty" here
upon the whole troop gather round and pre-
sented muskets, flor the benefit of society,
and for the honor and safety of the king
never to speak Of the glory OF God and the
good of souls-simply and unceremoniously,
and in the neatest and most expeditions man
ner imaginable, TO blow out your brains"
John Brown dropped down instantly. and as
it were instinctively, upon his knees, while his
wife stood by in seeming composure, and his
daughter had happily become insensible to all
external objects whatever.
"WhatP' exclaimed Claverhouse, "and so
you must pray, too, and we shall have last
speech and dying testimony lifted up In the
presence of peat stacks, and clay walls, and
snow wreaths; but as these are pretty staunch
and confirmed loyalists do not care though
we entrust you with five minutes of devotion
nj exercise, provided you steer clear of king,
council, and Richard Cameron. So proceed,
good john but be short and pithy. My lambs
are not accustomed to long prayers, nor will
they soften under the whining of your devo-
TONS"
But in this last surmise Claverhouse was for
once mistaken, for the prayer OF this poor UNI
educated man assembled that morning in ex-
pressions at once SO earnest so devout, and SO
overpoweringly pathetic, that deep silence sue
ceeded at last to oaths and ribaldry and as
the following concluding sentences were pro-
nounced there were evident marks OF better
and relenting feelings :-"And now, guld
Lord" continued this deathdoomed and truly
Christian sufferer, "since thou has nae mar
use for thy servant in this world, and since 1t
is Thy good pleasure that should serve Thee
better and love Thee more elsewhere, / leave
this puir widow woman, with the helpless
and fatherless children, upon Thy hands.
We have been happy in each other mere, ana
now that we are to part for whlle, we hauli
cen look forward to more perfect anu endur-
ing happiness hereafter. And as for the pulr
blindfolded and infatuated creatures, the pres
ministers of Thy will, Lord, reclaim them
from the error and evil OF their course, ere it
be too late; and may they who have sat in
judgment and in oppression in this lonely
place and on this blessed morning, and upon u
puir, weak, and dcfenceess fellow creature,
find that mercy at last from Thee which they
have refused to Thy unworthy but faithful SER
want Now, Isabel" continued this defence
less martyr, "the time is come at last, Of which
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