The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1868-03-20
MistellaneOns Selections
A ADAUGHTER,s DEVOTION.

As " 40 IN fOOt pO III
France. An immense crowd had as
sembled to witness the execution of two
persons, who the revolutionary tribu-
nal had just condemned, among a crowd
of others. In the middle of the square
rose the guillotine; in front of this strut
ted, with horrible glee, the minister of
this festival, the executioner.
This man was hideous to behold.
Even his fearful trade inspired still less
disgust than his british, cruel exterior
and fiendish joy. He smiled as he re-
garded the preparations for the punish
ment. By his manner he seemed to
say to the spectators: 81 am happy
to see you, and to display my dex-
terity."
Never had there been scene more
revolving and more ignoble than this,
even amongst the many that had sui
lied that period.
No one knew this mans origin; the
most sinister reports were current about
him. Those functions, which hitherto
no one had exercised but by constraint,
he had solicited as favor. There had
even been some hesitation about grant
ing his request, SO strong was the dis
gust and aversion inspired by his vicious
and atrocious countenance. You may
judge by this what sort of man he
vast was considered doing him an
honor to appoint him public execu-
toner.
However, he is on the scaffold, toy
ing with his instruments of death.
Meanwhile, the victims were ap-
preaching.
Their route was lined by double
line of citizen soldiers, and behind them
were the people-the sovereign people.
Floating above the crowd, a roaring
ing sound rose on the air. There was
imprecations, cries of rage, shouts, and
mingled with all, the horrid revolu-
tionary song, "Caira" yelled in cho-
rus by thousand of harsh voices.
The fierce din rolled through the air
like a whirlwind, freezing some hearts
with fear, and redoubling in others the
ardor Of political fury.
But singular to relate! by degrees, as
the two victims approached, the uproar
grew less and still less as they appeared
in sight, and when they reached the ia
tai spot it ceased entirely.
They had no sooner, indeed, arrived
at the place of execution than the crowd,
who were just before swayed and agi-
tated by passions turbulent and violent,
seemed panic-stricken, so profound was
the silence that reigned in the streets,
the squares, and at the open windows.
More ominous than the tumult that had
preceded it, this silence struck chill
to the heart.
1t arose from the circumstance that
the two new victims were strangely in
teresting and beautiful.
They were Emma and mother. The
mother was still in the zenith of her
beauty, beauty that borrowed fresh
charm from her grief, for, occupied sole
ly with her daughter, bewailing the fate
of Emma, and thinking nothing of hel
own, she seemed unconscious that these
terrible preparations could be also for
herself
This mother, so interesting to the
ewes of humanity, might. perhaps, be
guilty in political eyes. Even while
commiserating her, it was possible tc
comprehend her condemnation. But
Emma, before what tribunal could she
be pronounced criminal What fault
could she have committed against hel
country, at an age at which we can on
ly offend our God or our parents, and
when to both God and her parents she
had as yet been only an object of bless
ing and love?-a girl of sixteen, en-
dowed with exquisite beauty and an
gelic sweetness of character.
1t was easy to discern in one of the
two victims the maternal character, dig.
nifed and adorned with all that is most
noble in human nature, but mingled al
the same time, with something naughty
and scornful. The mother had moi
effaced the feudal dame, the friend o.
emigration, the proud and contemptu-
GUS enemy which the Republic had
dreaded and had prescribed.
In the other, the fiial sentiment alone
was visible; it shone pure and unmixed
aud at this fatal moment it looked SC
lovely and attractive, that the most
abandoned of their own sex, at sight Of
that interesting girl, stared with admir-
alton and pity combined.
Emma, usually so timid, found ener-
gy enough at this crisis to control her
mother. 1t was easy to be seen that
she trembled lest her mother should in
wardly accuse herselfof having involved
her in her fate; and to relieve her from
this dread she seemed to glory in the
death she was about to suffer.
The mother, in spite of herself, be-
trsyed her weakness, but it was for her
daughter; the daughter betrayed her
oo,,rooo b,,t n ,pos for hor pnothar