East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1860-07-26
EAST SAGINAW, MICHIGAN, JULY &c, 1860.

itOTc iTlcuuS tlan nau occn Couutcu oh
in the Forum-rushed forward; smiths,
merchants, market men, burly butchers
all with fierce tones and threatening
gestures commanding Marcus to let go
of the little maiden.
"I will notl" the villain replied "she is
mine own, as much as my horses or my
dog! She is my slavel She was born in
my house, and stolen away ere she was
day old, and sold to the childless wife of
Virginius the Centurion. l claim but
my right; il We interfere with that, ye
rebel against the sacred laws Of the State,
and blaspheme against the Gods! Be
side, gentlemen will please remember l
/ have friend in Appius Claudius, and
that whosoever does me wrong must look
out for his vengeance
At this the people were frightened, and
shrunk away at the mere name Of the ty-
rant, leaving poor Virginia to shrek in
vain for help. Icilus, whose wife she
would have been in a few years, made an
eloquent and indignant speech to the peo-
pie, declaring the story told by Marcus
wicked and cowardly lie. OF course ev-
erybody knew that from the first, and was
convinced that Marcus was only acting
as the tool of the base Appius; yet none
dared attempt rescue. Virginius was
sent for, but only came to see his beloved
daughter dragged before the judgment
of the tyrant-and there, in spite of her
tears and prayers, and o. the solemn oath
Of her father, given over to Marcus Caud
ius as his slave.
Then, when all hope was gone-when
groans and Kisses and cries of "shame"
arose from the crowd-when Icilus be-
came almost frantic with grief, and Vir-
ginia shrieked aloud in her despair, Vir-
ginius became strangely calm-his white
lips were set, and his sad eyes cleaned
with sudden, heroic resolve. Calmly
he craved the privilege of a few last
words with his daughter. Appius sullenly
granted this request, and Virginius drew
the girl apart from the crowd a little way,
and pa,rsed with her beside butchers
stall. There, on block, lay a knife,
which he quickly caught up and hid in
the folds of his toga, or robe. Then he
talked with her, tenderly and solemnly;
and she, stilling her wild sobs, listened
quietly.
"My dear little GIRL" he said, "thou
hast been good and loving child to me
always-the light of my home, the JOY
and hope Of my heart. Now thy poor
father will have no one to meet with a
glad greeting at the threshold, when he
comes home, worn and weary from the
wars. His once happy house will hence
forth be silent and lonely. We must
part, beloved child. See! thy masters
are impatient-they think our farewell
tedious. Virginia, my own dear little
girl, | cannot see thee slave-compelled
to bear insults and blows, shame and out
rage such as thine innocent heart has
never even dreamed of. There is but
one way for thy father to save thee from
such fate. Thou dost see this knife?"
Virginia started but did not shrink away.
"Thou dost understand me, dear?" She
bowed her head and whispered, 81 am
ready, father" "Then give me one kiss,
my darling, and try to smile on me with
thy mothers smile, once more. There,
that was bravcly done. Now shut thine
eyes"
In another moment the dreadful deed
was done! With his own loving hand he
had struck the sharp knife deep into her
tender side! She sunk slowly to the
ground, cast yearning look upon her
father, and with one low, sobing cry was
dead!
Virginius caught the knife from the
wound, and rushing bafore the Judge
ment seat and holding the dripping blade
on high, cursed Appius Claudius with
fearful, solemn curse. Then he strode
away across the Forum to his house. So
horror-struck was the Deccmvir, that for
some moments he could not speak-and
when he found voice to order his soldiers
to arrest the wronged man, no one would
obey him. In fact, the whole Forum
was already in a state Of rebellion. The
crowd that gathered around the dead Vir
ginia, and followed the friends who bore
her to her home, shouted threats and
curses against the tyrant. Soon, headed
by Icilius and other brave leaders, they
attacke the judgment-seat and its guard
of soldiers with stones, bricks, and what
ever weapon they could find. Appius
Claudius ran through the streets, with
torn robe and bleeding and blackened
face, but found refuge in the house of q
friend, where he lay concealed for some
DAYS.
Meanwhile Virginius had ridden to his
camp, told his story, and showed the
bloody knife with which he had freed his
daughter from slavery and shame. The
whole army aroused and marched to
Rome, to avenge the great wrong. They
called the common people to put down
the Decemvirs and elect Tribunes Of their
own--and it was done. Appius Claudius
was ferretcd out and thrown into prison,
where he soon died by his own hand.
BY this revolution several important
liberties and privileges were secured to
the people; and Virginius, the childcss
soldier, as he sat alone in his tent at
night, or in his still house, had some lit.
tie consolation in knowing that the blood
of his darling daughter had not boen shed
in vain.
One gentleman said to another, at q