Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1863-03-18

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As if somo presciont A.ssbl, breathing grace,
Had touched it intofs@e!
x
PART rssEeoND.
(Place: The same -Pss.on. Persons The Con
Jederate Prisoner-tcsesasr Nth Mcneil and III
Jaiior.) s
The Hours sink slow q .sunset Suddenly
Rose Deep gathering hum!
And Ger the measured Ssride of soldery,
Rolled out the mufieHdrum!
#
The Prisoner started !csushed sitting sigh,
Then rose erect and psoud!-
scOrn's lightning quiveriiss in his stormy eye,
Meath the byOws thusder-clOul!
III
And girding round hishIabs and stalwart breast
Each iron chain and Eslg,
He stood sublime, impctsi, self-possessed-
And naughty as King
II.
Tho dead-march" waasswithout the Prison gate,
Up the calm cvening.s1y;
And rufian jestings, both of ruffnn hate,
Make loud, unmeet reply
II
The dead-marrh" wals without the Prison wall,
Up the calm eveningtkyi
And timed to tie dreadsairge's rise and fall,
Move the fierce Murds1srs by!
VI.
The hired Bravocs, whoEs pitiless features pale
In front of armed men
But whose magnanimout courage will not quail
Where-none can strike again!
VII
They passed and wondering at his doom deferred
The captive's lofty fSe
Sunk in his breast by :teruring memories stirred
OF Husband, and of,sire!
YIIL
But bark . the clash of bolt and opening door!
The tramp OF hostlle neei -
When 10 upon the daIEehing prison floor,
Glared the false hound-McNeill
Tx.
And next him, like han!dog seeming blood,
Rp,,sed from his dr,,sken ease
The grimy, low browsd Jailer glowering stood,
clanking his iron keys!
"Quickl sirrah ge.sIle yon Rebels fettera of,
And--lst ne old fool SEQ
What ransom, with low and bitter scoG y
What ransom sets him frae!
XI.
"A glorious businssa! by the Fieud, think
Bold Butler's put to shame -!
mark his luril houors pale and sink
Before my crimson fame %
MI
As the night Traveller in land Of foea,
The warning instinct feels.
That through the treacherous dinners and repose,
A shrouded Horror steals!
XIII.
So, at these yelled words, the Captive's soul
Shook with so!em dread
And ghosty voices prophesying dole,
Moaned family over head!
NV.
His limbs are freed his swarthy, scowling guide
Leads thro the silent town,
Wboro frnu, dim cssaments--hlQck with wrath
and pride
Stern eyes CLEAN dalldy down!
Ky.
They halted where dense wood showered around
Dank leaflets on the sod
And the live air seemed vocal with the sound
OF wild appeals to God!
XVI.
IIeaped as if common carrion in the gloom,
Nine mangled corpes lay
Reserved for Judgement Day
XVII.
And near them, but apart, one youthful form
Proceed fair upland slope,
Der whose white brow sunbeam hickering warm
Played, like heavenly hope!
XVII.
There, with the same grand look which ycsternight
That face at parting wore,
The self-made martyr in the sur. et-light
Slept Oh his couch Of gore!
XIX.
The sunset waned the wakening forest waved,
Struck by the NUrth-wiad's monn,
While lie whose Life this matchless death had
saved
Knelt by the corse--Hlone!
Poor PERclvALl His only grief was the
early blight Of first and only love. His
was broken heart and all the forms and
shows of things" in the world had no attrac'
ton in his eyes. 1t was in spirit such as
this, that he wrote these exquisites lines;
III saw, on the top of n mountain high,
A gem that shone like fire by night;
1t seemed star that had left the sky,
And fallen asleep on that lonely height.