The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-10-06
Lillian ut the Stake.

The American Tract Society. 2S Corn
hill, have recently reprinted from the Lon
don Religious Tract Society. very inter-
eSting story of a little girl who lived in
England three hundred years ago. in a
time Of terrible persecution This Is one
chapter.
.NormJer 18th, 155S.-It was evening ::
but in the little town was much confusion
and excitement. In the market-place
were many hundreds people. gazing. in
the fading light of that autumn day, at
a pile OF iaggotS placed around a strong
wooden stake or post. which was firmly
imbclcd in the ground; and thong gh some
profanc and godlesS men cast Scurrile jc>tS
regarding these preparations. those who
looked on We're, for the most part. gloomy.
thoughtful. sad, and silent: or. ii they
spoke TO each other. it was in subdued
tones or whispers.
The truth Is, that the better sort of peo-
pie in England began to weary of these
scenes oi martyr,lom. which. during the
last four wears of Mary's reign. had been
the disgrace OF the land. and the infamv of
AL who had joined in such prosecutions
1 Nearly three hundred victims. of all aces.
from tender youth to extreme old age. and
OF almost every rank in life, had been
burned to death because of their religion :;
and Engli>hmen might well ask one anoth-
er when and where all this was To end
! have already SAID that the sympathie>
OF some in high positions had been excited
toward Lillian Butler because of her youth
and molcsty. | NAV add. that admiration
was also generally felt toward her by those
who had witnessed the con>tancy with
which she had refused TO deny the senti-
mcnt which had brought her into trouble.
and. al the same time, that patience with
which she had borne the cruel tauntS OF
her prosecutors and Judges.
But neither sympathy nor admiration
had avaiied 10 save her life. Lillian But
Ter was doomed to die, rs multituleS OF
tellow-martyrs in that age and other ages
had also died, for the word of God and
the testimony of Jesus Christ
As the hour for the burning drew near,
the tumult and excitement increased
Presently, torches Were lighted. and by
their murky glare. the prison-loors Were
thrown open: and. guarded by numer-
Gus body OF con>tahleS and other officers
Lillian Butler stepped forth into the street
and walked firmly toward the place of ex-
ecution
She was not greatly altered. Long week:
of bodily confinement and mental torturt
inflicted by her enemies had paled hel
cheek and weakened her strength: but hel
innocent and marked beauty was unim
paired; and as she moved onward. hel
countenance lighted up with JOY and peac,
unspeakable. and a loving smile on hel
lips. it seemed to those who looked on a.
though some celestial visitant. too HOLY
and pure for our wretched earth. wer,
about TO take her painless flight to hel
native skies.
She WAS clothed in white: she had de-
sired this, and her wish had been granted
II had been Mistress Fietcher's last labo,
of love TO make for her poor child tina
white linen robe of martyrdum. But be
cause of its whitcneSs, was shown nor,
plainly TO all that Lillian carried in her
hand a dark-looking volume, which she
pressed very closely to her bosom. 1t was
the old Bible which had been her lifelong
companion and comforter Think not,
however. that she had been permitted ac-
cess to this Book in her long and drearr
imprisonment. Tim it had been carefully
kept from her: but no,c-now that she
was to die-her book of peStilent heres;e-
I her English Protestant Bible in the vul-
car tongue->hould be burned with her
There would he one the less in the land.
There was refinement of cruelty in this
10 keep from the young martyr the Word
of Life. when it would have comforted
her in her tribulations, and to restore il
when ii was no longer needed But Lillian
felt not the cruelty. Her thonghts and