Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1862-02-27
IDA. OF .ATEEEN9 Sd =
THE CRESCENT AND THE CROSS.
ny FRANCIS A DURIvAGE.

During tie heroic struggle Of the modern
Gr?cks for independence when the heart Of
every liberal throughout the world was beating
with anxiety for the patriots, the defenders Of
Missolonghi found themselves be|eagured by II
powerful Turkish army Mo>lem cannon had
reached their walls; the ground about them mad
been mined by their antagonists; their ammuni-
tion was about exhausted; their wourded were
accumuIaiing on their hands and finally 10
complete the borrow of their situation, famine
stared them in the face. Yet there was nothing
left for them hut to struggle to he last for the
ioe was merciess, and capuuIalion would only
bring death 10 the men aud a scrvtude worse
than death TO the women.
In the ruins Of an old church council Of war,
hastily summoned, was assembled by torch
light. Mott Bozzars, the oldest living member
of an heroic IamiIy. distinguished in the annals
OF Greece, the aged patriarch Of Missolonghi.
presided at the council. Grouped around him
we're tie wild and haegard faces IF warriors
clad in the picturesque garb of their native
land. Some were gray haired and howed with
age-ohrrs in the flower of manhood. or the
vgor OF vonth but all bore traces of hardship
and suffering.
The patriarch, with n trembling voice, coun-
selled patience. Succor might arrive-he had
no positive advices, bat still hope and faith whs,
pered III his ear In the enfcehled state Of the
garrison igh'!ngwas no longer practicable.
Den'eIrlns pa|'ncaris. young SnIiotc, sprane
TO his feet when the patriarch had concluded.
Father said he. encrgctcay: Il grieve 10
d tier from you. But you are old The SHOWS
OF seventy winters rest on your head. Re>ig.
na,Cn, f0riiudP, mnrtyrdor, are the inspra-
t'on of your wears but we of hotter blood can.
not brook the course you counsel Wha, shall
We in the flower o. life. with arms in our hands.
st here AID sfa,vG 10 death like rats in dun
gcon? Forbid it, heaven! Forbid it, our an.
ceStral fame , "hc memory of Marathon, Of
/ PM'cn, OF lhermonyn speaks to US different
counsel. Our ammunition ii almost gone, hut
We have yet our good swords. Our ancestors
had no other weapons With these we may
cut our ranks through OsmaD, and open path
for our aged and our women to Liberty and life
Let us take the sacred standard OF the cross
and this very night attack the foe Yonr re a.
tive, the noble Marco, died in such an attack
but he died in the arms of victory. Rernember
that, father
! A young mau. in foreign uniform, followed
+ Dcmerius. Gerald FaIconer was an American
of wealth, who had abandoned tn. Inquiries and
endearmen;s of home, to devote his sword and
fortune 10 the Greek cause The friend of De-
metrius. he shared his opinions, and defended
them eloqnently. The sortic was decided on
and the council Of war broke up
| Within half an hour small but resolutc
band was coIeced in the dark shadow of tie
ruined church, that rose like vast buwark
against the glorious summer heaven. now hrgin-
ming to he lighted by the uncouded rays of the
full and rising moon. The bnlmy breeze breath
ed through groves of olive and myrtle and
came laden with the sweet perfume of flowers
1t was nigh, for lovers to wander arm in arm
- it was night for quie, CONVERSE for pence
: ful contcmp Ia,on-tyranuy had willcd to be
nigh, Of deadly strife.
! DemrriuS whispered to his young friend L
have sought my betrothcd, my beloved Ida hut
| found her not II Shnud fall in the skr-
mish o! to night and you should srrvive me,
seek her out. pray you, and tell h'r that my
last thoughts were "f her More than th>
You are rich and indcrendenr, Ida is n poor
orphan, her parents periShed in This srrnagle.-
When am gone. she will have no one to care
for her. Proml me that you will soohe her
broken heart that you will leave this scene Of
strife and hear her to your happy land There
she may ce'se to weep-huppy she can never
be while she survives me-
Gerald grrsped his friends hand, and gave
him his rrqnirei promise Demetrus thanked
him aud turned to his command
Forward brethren, he said. Every moment
is precious Tread sienty-and keep in my
l fnpt ub ba,, tho , =:
on the signal to strike home March"
Silently and swiftly the little band Of heroes,
led ny Demetrius and GeralG, issued from
crumhing breach, and keeping in the shadow of
trees and the hoIlows Of tie ground, approach
ed tn" Turkish camp. Their attempt was so
daring that no provision had been made against
surprise No sentinel was there to challenge
They burst upon their tnenis as UNEXPECTEDLY
as the lightning sometimes streams from single
cloud upon summers day.
AT once all was uproar and confusion in the
camp. llorsemen sprapg to the saddle but
half clad and arned infantry collec ed in con.
fused gruups-aril''eris,s rushed to their cum.
brons cannon, half awake and half hewilJered
-tambours, cymbals and horns suddenly broke
the Stiffness of the night and slnothered groaus
aticsted the fury Of the onslaught of the Greeks
In the midst of the battle rocket, fred by the
hand Of Gerald mounted to the zenith like u
shooting star and then exploding scattered its
crimson sparkles all over the face of heaven
it was token to Missolonghi of the success Of
the sortie, and warned the inhabitants to follow
tho path Of the victorious troops, and pass
through the Turkish Damp.