Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-07-01
HOW TWO HERoINEs DIED.

10 the year 2Ol ut Carthage suffered two fe-
males, VIyia Perpetua and Fecitas.
Perpeiua was widow Of two aud twenty, OF
respectable rank, great accomplishments, aud, ut
the time of her trial. the mother of an infant
child. With the other members Of her family,
except her father she had embraced the Chris
tan faith, aud was about to be baptized, when
information was lodged against her as being
disciple OF the forbidden religion. She and her
companions were kept under guard for some days
before they were cast into prison during this
time perpctua was visited hy her father, who
loved her with great Affection lie kuew the
danger she was in, and grieyed to lose such
loving daughter he earnestly besOught her to re.
cant and he restored tO her afflicted family.
Pointing to vase which stood GU the floor, she
sald Can you give any other name Than vase
to that vessel p" Aud her father answering Ia
the negative, Neither added she .can | call
myself by any other name than that OF Chris.
tiun.
Although she loved her father much, she knew
her llty, "to obey God rather than man" Her
father lcit her, and for several days she did not
see him, During this period she was baptized,
when she again gave herselftO God, and besought
him to giya her patience in the time Of trial.
She aud her companions were at last cast into
lark, dismal prison to await their trial. Vivia
being well educated, wrots an account Of WIN,
they suffered She says, al was terrified at il
for ! had never been in such darkness q fear.
Iu day WAS torn with anxiety about my in
fant hut by the aid of the deacons of the Church
my dear child WAS brought to me, and We were
removed 10 a more open part Of the prison, where
| fncklel the babe, who was dying with hunger
! then had to part with him again but 1 was
satisfied was as happy az ii had been in
palace"
The miserable father, forgetting his anger in
his grief learned that an examination of the
prisoners was to take place, visited his daughter.
and implOred her 10 recant. "Thnk" snid he
of ''your mother your aunt, think of your little
son who cannOtli live without you IIe then threw
himself at her feet weeping AS if his heart we're
broken. She answered to her loving fathers en-
treaties, "that while nothing on earth would
have delighted her more than to please md obev
him, she could not do 80 to displease and dsobey
God"
The next day she was summoned, while dining
with her fellow prisoners, to the tribunal, TO he
examined in the presence Of vast conoourse ol
people who had assembled to witness the trial
Nlvia'a turn ut last came, and she was about Il
confess that she was Christian when n noisf
was heard in the court 1t was her father. fo r
cling himself through the crowd, with her littl,
infant son in his arms, TO make in that most n {
iecung manner, his last appeal to her mind. Tn,
Juu6u hhh muNeu " Aebla hN tue blBnt, and enil
"Spare the old age of your father and the helm
lessness Of your infant" then added, "Are Vol
u ChristanF'
She replied, al am; have lived, and am re-
solved to die, Christian"
Her father was now ordered to withdraw u,
lingering, as all fond parents would do in snc
trying circumstances, he received a blow fror
the staff ofone of the officers.
Viva eays: "l felt that blow, piysn In m
father, as If it had fallen on my own head.n
The prisoners were then sent to their celia Il
await the execution Of their sentence, which wn
to be thrown TO the wild beasts. Perpetua ser
} to ask her father to allow her to have the CON
, pany Of her child during the few hours she ha
J TO live. lie, however, refused to comply wit
her request, as he thought he might, even vel
induce her to sacrifice to the gods. But he sougl
an interview. She was grieved to have it; sti
ahe would not deny her fathers request He wa
admitted Frantic with grief, be tore his hail
fell on the huor, used every entreaty; I'm
to no purpose; her heart was ia heaven sb
trusted in Christ to the last and final hour
Felicitas, her companion, had nlso a littie I,
4 FAINT daughter only few days old. After ~ n.
I vent prayer in her behalf, she, with the ntmo
4 eomposure, gave her over to her sister. and !
3 appeared free from nil earthly care.
J. Ihe hour at last came when they we're led ,
o the amphithealre, TO witness n good conCeesi0
T. before many witnesses. Perpetua and her con
IS panlons went on with composed countennnc
0 and an easy pace. holding down their eyea Ia
u the spectators might draw wrong coneInsio,
6 from their being cheerful in the face Of dent