The mountain Democrat., 1865-07-15

OeileVS0 tbss her T10ther htd been Dn.
Justly tee0Sed. - When he Emperor's
daughter srEiIsd in sRVitain 3D. was called
Guimpa. To enable ArviTngus to rscsive
her, he repudiGted my aunt. Boadicea:
without any Just cause Ny father, then
King Of the Silures, and several depend,
ant Kingdoms, was indignant at the insult
% bis sister. tr 1t' - cr. - s9c Il
+ She WAS = woman Of great Abilities, en-
ergy, and influence, and she exerted- ell
her powers to redress her wrongs. Mes
sages were sent 10 the different British
kings to Influence them against the Ro.
mans. A powerful army Ras raised, and
my father was chosen to command it.
need not detail the long struggle and the
brave deeds that followed. The great bat.
tie Of Caer Catadoc resulted, las you know,
in the defeat Of the Britons. NV uncle,
my mother, and myself, were taken pris-
Oners. Ny father, after covering himself
with glory, by series Of the most heroic
achievements, became faint with loss OF
blood from his many wounds. After all
was lost, be directed some of his friends
to convey him to Cartismandua for pro-
'tsctiOn. She was his step. mother, as well
as his mother-in.law. He thought he had
. right to demand the hospitality from
one thus doubly bound to him. But she
proved false and cruel. and delivered him
up. in chains, to the Romans. We were
carried to Rome to grace the triumph Of
the conquerOrs; to be first degraded, and
then destroyed, according to the Roman
usage. AS soon as we arrived in this city
. Roman knight. named Pudens, advanced
towards me, and signified to the surround
ing crowd that be desired to speak with
me. They instantly gave way before him
With every mark of respect. He asked
me, in the British tongue, If my name
WAS Gladus RuGy,h. / answered that 1t
was. He then asked me il l remembered
receiving ring from a wounded Roman,
for my Kindness to him, in his illness, at
my fathers camp. had preserved the
ring, but bad not any strong hopes Of
deriving much benefit from il, N the ter
rible extremity to which we had been Te
duced by the fortunes of war. We had
been captured in open arms against Rome,
and had no reason to expect departure
from her custom. in the treatment of cap
tives Of war. But the moment. Pudens
saw the devices on the ring, he told me
that it was the ring Of Vespasian, who, at
the time he was under my care, was an
officer Of high distinction in the Roman
legions in Britain; that he had since been
recalled; that he was, at present. absent
from Rene, but Pudens, who had served
with him in Britain, was fully acquainted
with the debt Of gratitude VespasIan owed
to our family, and especially to me. He
told me TO be Of good cheer; that Vespas-
ian had friends and rctainers enough then
in the city, to prevent any injustice TO
one who had saved his life as had that
he would Immediately see the Emperor,
and il he did not comply with the wishes
Of Vespasian, the whole army -. He
did not finish the sentence, but took the
TiRg and departed. This was the first IN
timation we had that the stranger in our
camp was Vespasian. We all had heard
the fame Of his noble deeds. He was then
celebrated in the Western as much as he
is now in the Eastern world. In the even
ing Pudens returned with the ring and
told me that he had seen the Emperor
that our hospitality would not be forgot.
ten, and that my father would he heard
before he should be condemned He was,
accordingly, fully heard in vindication of
what they called bus rebellion against his
sovereign. He boldly denied that either
himself or his nation had ever acknowl.
edged the supremacy of Rome claimed
his rights as a British King; justified the
defence Of his sovereignty, his home, and
the homes Of his people. with the manly
tirmness Of his we'll known Character
Claudius was either pleased, or pretended
to be pleased, with my fathers bravery
and constancy, and ordered Us to be lib
Grated on our pledges not to return to
Britain, to make war on the Romans.
The Emperor, also, made provision for us
suitable to the condition we had held in
Britain, so far as this could be done. He
was most gracious to US in every respect.
We we're not insensible to bis kindness.
Much as l was attached to my British
name, I rjoiced that had the right TO
adopt the Roman appellation of Claudia,
in honor of Claudius This is the reason
why ! have been always known here us
Claudia Rufino, instead Of Gladus Ruffyth.
We hired house, and lived in quietness,
each pursuing such studies as inclination
! had duties to perform while
N Britain, which made it necessary to me
o understand the Greek and Latin Ian.
yuages there. The Hebrew learned since
came here, from one whose history will
1e read when our names are forgotten.
my studies and the numerous
formed here, | endeavored
o forget the misfortunes of our house,
'ut my poor father and mother were una
Die to bear up long. In few years they
departed; | trust, to a better world. -
oudens had been constant visitor at our
rouse. and brought many of his friends
here. They ell professed to take deep
ntvTest in conversation with me. The |
compliments of strangers, no
natter how learned ordistinguished, or gave
ne no pleasure. But single word of ap-
probation from the severe judgment Of
oudens always gave me great delight. l
discovered that my efforts were stimula-
ed by a desire to please him. and had
'NCh HSeh "dS SJS epS'Nbc WIKI pTIue uuu
pleasure at any occurrence which enabled
lie to appear to advantage among his
riends. | was never so happy as when
lis eye was upon me. II seemed to the
IS the sunlight that dispelled the clouds
rhich had epshrOuded ell else that | val.
led in life. 1t was not his personal beau
y, for he was not beautiful. 1t was not
,ratitude for the favor he had shown me.
or l owed him no gratitude He merely
'beyed the commands Of Vespasian. 1t
VaS not bis accurate Judgment aud un-
pOtted integrity, for these only CON-
handed respect and esteem. My feeling
vas stronger than these. There was a
nystery in my emotions. ! felt that there
vas . secret bond between ns, which
'either had ever spoken of to the othCr.
4. IoR