Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-05-09

Mine Is tale Of woef
In the Spring of 1926 had occasion to |
visit the little village of NJ, in the State |
of New York, and while there met with an |
incident which, from its strange beauty, |
made a lasting impression on my mind, and |
might well serve for the foundation of |
beautiful poem. We have often heard of bro |
ken hearts, but seldom of heart living
through long years of misery, and breaking |
only when grey old age has erept upon it
Of suchis my story.
On a beautiful morning wandered into |
the village churchyard to spend an hour IN
uninterrupted meditation. The solemn ST.
lence of the place seemed almost banished by
the gayety Of nature without, and the songs
of birds might have made the place seem an
enchanted garden, had not the grave-stones
spoken in audible, yet not to be mistaken
voices, of the reign of death. The grass was
just growing green, and the violets awaking
from their long winters sleep, sent the morn
ing air perfumed on its way. The old church,
with its tall spire, stood like silent watch
er of the dead, to tell the advent Of each soul
to that silent land where sleep the good and
the beautiful. A few tall monuments rear
ed themselves coldly above the more hum
Bile stones, and by their long shadows rem
dered the place gloomier from their presence.
! l noticed an old man, whose grey hairs
told Of the frosts Of many winters, sitting up
on tomb-stoue, almost as motionless as the
marble itself he was leaning upon and
over low mound which appeared to be un-
marked by either stone or flower, and might
be distinguished only by its slight elevation
and beautiful green covering approached
and saluted him with gay "good morning,
FRIEND" and as he raised his eyes I saw that
/ 4oo- ox1< IL Il
ply to my greeting was sad, and his manner
was as if my presence disturbed his medita-
tons. Doubtless said I, zone Of your
age has felt the chills of many sorrowsr'-
The old man only sighed in reply, yet so
deeply that from my very soul Ipitied him
spoke again. From that scar on your
forehead should Judge that you were sol
dier once, and that the mound before you is
the grave of some companion-in-a arms, to
whose memory you are now dropping tear
youth is always curious said the old
man, ''but my story, though bitter, may in
terest you, and by repeating it Imay pour
out one more drop ofmy souls's misery"
l sat down on the grass beside him, and
the old man began:
The soul loves to pour forth its misery,
and sympathy is asweet balm for those woes
which are healed only by DEATH Youjudge
4 Il
and pray that such scar, with its memo
ries, may never be yours. I was young
once but now / am, old, and were each Of nv
silver hairs tongue, it would tell tale Of
misery at which these stones might well
weep. Yesl Twas young once, and, as young
men will do, Iloyed. In this village / was
born and educated Ny father, being veal
thy, sent me to one of the best schools our
infant colony could afford ;.and, when the
war with England broke out, full Of youth
!; ful ardor, L left my school'to Join in the con.
test for freedom, and do battle for my coun.
try's rights. But l loved ). and the bitter
, tears Of that true heart whose youth and
mine alone prevented our union, had well
, nigh induced me to remain.
Mary Vane was two years younger than
myself As children we had played together
and loved like brother and sister, but as Low.
ers we loved as few can love No wonder
then that to part was a severe task, and
that tears fell from eyes unused to weep
when the golden chords of union were being
severed. But duty called and L obeyed.
81 remember the morning well, and BY
that road which you see on the left, wander.
ing by the river, started on bright morn
ing in May, consoling my sad heart with
, brlgh dreams of future fame and happiness.
A blue ribbon bound by Mary around my
! fathers old sword, and the parting injunction
OF each, served to nerve me to fight nobiy.
"a year passed; and I returned to my
home to find my father and mother both dead,
and none left me but my Mary to love But
my tears were soon dried, for a sweet voice
whispered soothing words of consolation and
promised to fill the void in my heart.
"But few days had elapsed before ru
mors were abroad that scouting party ol
the English army were in the neighborhood
rayaging the fields and driving off the cattle
{ from the farms As our little village afforded
no great inducements, either through wealth
or warlike advantages, We supposed that the
) detachmen-s would pass by, on the Other
side of the river, and We escape any molesta-
ton. To guard against surprise, however
all the men who remained, armed and held
themselves ready to fight if necessary
] 'About three o'clock in the afternoon 4
watchman stationed in the spire of the church
announced the approach of the maraundine
band, and in less than half hour fierce
: conflict was raging on the outskirts of oul
little village. 1t lasted about twenty min
utes, when, overpowered by the skill ant
: 4 number of the enemy, our men fed, each II
protect his friends or family. Such scens
: Of horror and confusion had never been wit
messed in our quiet village, for about dozeI
Hdu DCcu hlllcQ VI HOutlQcur anu Tue DrlslSL
soldiers seemed bent on conquest, either O
:, wealth or helpless females, to minister Il
u their passions l hastened to the hous,
!, where Mary resided with widowed aunt
Z and found it surrounded by band of ter
or twelve. Their designs easily perceived
ls They were instructsd7by Captain n. to seiz
e and bear to his camp her in whom all ny
hopes of happiness rested.
e "While on visit to friend, residing il
e large town at some distance, she had beer
q violently beset with offers of marriage b
g the above named Tory officer, and on her re
d fusal to listen to his proposals, he swore tha
some day, not far distant, she would beg OF
le her knees to be called his wife.
10 Rushing madly past the two soldier
who guarded the back door, entered ii
time to cut down one of the two who weI
n endeavoring to cut off their prize who ha
e. calamity shot two before being overpowered
= Thirty guineas for the g.rll' shouted th
~ leader of the band. Thirty guineas for til
h girl Cut him down. And with these word
y he dealt me blow which felled me to th
IL floor, where I lay insensible forimore than a
hour.
:" IL was aroused by the noise made b
y some neighbors, who had gathered aroun
)" after the departure Of the troop, and wer
et now looking upon me as dead. But wa
Is aroused from my lethargy only to wake in