The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-03-09


snow wreaths but as these are pretty stanch
a. d confirmed oyaists, do not care though
we ;ntlust you with FIVE minutes of Devotion
al exercise, provided you steer clear of king,
council and Richard Cameron. So proceed,
good John, but be short and pi,hy. My
lambs are not accustomed TO long prayers,
nor will they soften under the pathetic ~hln-
ing of your devo;ions.'
But in this last surmlse Claverhouse was
for once mistaken. for the prayer OF this poor
and uncducated man assembled that morning
in expressions at once SO earnest, so devou:,
and so overpoweringly pathetic, that deep 81
lence succeeded at last to oaths and ribaldry;
and as the following concluding sentences
were pronounced, there were evident marks
of better and relenting feelings. "And now,
guild Lord" continued this death-doomed and
truly Christian sufferer, "since thou hast nae
MAR ust fer thy servant in this world, and
siuce it is thy guild pleasure that serve thee
better and love thee more esew mere, leave
this puir widow woman, with the helpless
and f,therless children upon thy hands. We
have been happy in each other here, and now
that we are to part for awhile, we maun cen
look forward to more perfect and enduring
happiness hereafter. And as for the puir
blindtulded and infatuated creatures, the
present ministers Of thy will, Lord, reclaim
them from the error and evil Of their cour-
SEES, ere it be too late; and may they, who
have sa, in judgment and in oppression In
this lonely place and on this blessed morn
ius, ard upon puir, weak. defenseless tel-
low-creature, find that mercy at last from
thee which they have this day refused to thy
UNIV orthy but faithful servant. Now, Isabel,
the time is come at last, of which told you
on that day, when first | proposed to unite
hand and heart with yours and are YOU WI
ling. for the love of God and his rightful au-
,hor;ty, so part with Ire thus? >" To which
the poor woman replied, with perfect compo-
sure,
The Lord gave, and lie taketh away
SO SAYING, she approached her still kneeins
and bIindIoaed husband cla,ped him around
the neck, kissed and embraced him closely,
and then lifting up her person into an at.I-
luJe Of endurance, and eyeing from head to
foot every soldier who stood with his carbine
leyelel she retired slowly and firmly TO the
SPOT where she had formerly occupied.
tome, come, lets have no more of this
whining work" interrupted Claverhouse. sud
denly. "Soldiers do your duty" Bat the
words fell Upon circle Of statues; and
though they ali stood with their musktts pre-
scented, there was not a finger which had
power to draw the fatal trigger. There en-
sued 4 long pause, through which Cos!
Almighty bless Your tender hearts" was
heard coming from the lips of the no,c asita-
ta,ed and almost distracted wife. But Cla-
velhou>e was rot in the habit of giving his
! orders twice. or Of expostula,inS with disc.
oslieace. so extracting pistol fro M the hoi
st,r of his saddle. he primed and cooked it
AID then walked firmly and slow yup through
the circle, close to TIE ear of lis victim.
There was momcntary murmur Of ,!iscon'
tent ard Of Gisapprobation among the men
as tie! locked upon The change which sin
sir awful instant mad effected; and eve,
Fed Il b had he har!iboou to mu,ter wi l.
al oath load enough to be heard. This is tce
bad :" The widow Of john Brown gave ore
all, bat one shrek &c horror. as the fata
discharge was given and then she began t
unfold napkin from her neck. "Wha
think We, good woman, OF your bonny mar
now?' Moderated Cla>erhouse' returning a
the same time the pistol with plunge int
| the holster.
Il had always good reasons" replied tn
( woman firmly and deliberately. ITO think wee
Of him, and think MAR O him now than ey
er. But how will Graham Of Clayerhous
: account to God and man for this morning
, woIn ~ continued she firmly
: To man, answered the rutiian, 81 can b
I answerable; and as to God, will take hir
1 Ill ny own hands ~
e lie then rode of, and left her with tn
corpse. She spread the napkin leisurely W
D on the STOW, gathered up the scattered tras
: mcnts OF her husbands head, covered hi
: body with plaid, and sitting .iown with he
J. infant, wept bitterly.
1he'cottase of John Brown has long di
a appeared from tie muir; but the little spt
q wn.re the blouse in the Muir" stood is sti
+ green, amidst surrounding heath and in til
o very centre Of that spo: there lies slal
Row almost covered with grass, upon whic
:, with a little clearing of the grass from III
is faded characters, the following rude but t,
Il pressiye lines may still be read:
= "Ciavers nigh, murder cody John Brown,
But could not rob him OF his crown"
, & II q \