The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-10-29

His bosom might bleed, but his cheek
would be dhry,
For undaunted he lived, and undaunt-
ed he'd die.
As soon as few were over and gone, E
The terrible day iv the thrial KEN on
There was sich crowd there was scarce
room TO stand,
AM sodgers on guard, an dragons
sword in hand;
An the court house 80 full that the peo.
pie were bothered,
An attorneys, an criers an the point
OF bein' smothered;
An C ,unsellors almost gave over for
dead,
An the jury sittin' up in their box
overhead;
An the judge settled out so determined
an big,
With his gown on his back and an illi-
CANT new wig;
An silence was called, an the mint
was said
The court was as still as the heart of
the dead,
An they heard but the opcnin' Of one
prison lock,
An Shamus o Brien came into the dock.
For one minute he turned his eye round
on the throng,
An he looked at the bars so firm and
so strong.
An he saw that he had not hope er n
friend,
A chance to escape nor word to de-
An he Sided his arms as he stood there
alone,
AS calm and as cold as statue of stone;
An they read big writin', yard long
at laste,
An Jim didn't understand it,nor mind
it taste,
An the Judge took pinch iv snuf,an'
he says,
care you guilty or not, Jim O'Brien
av you pase ?"
An all held their breath in the silence
Of dhread,
An Shamus O'Brien made answer and
said:
"My lord, you ask me, il in my life
time
l thought any treason,o ,or did any crime
That should call to my cheek Las stand
alone here,
The hot blush of shame, or the coldness
of fear,
Thnnnh I Sfnf1 at tI,a IN ranni,.o
my death blow,
Before God and the world l would an.
sWer you no;
But if you would ask me, as l think it
like,
If in the rebellion carried pike,
An fought for ould Ireland from the
first to the close,
An shed the hearts blood of her bit
terest foes,
/ answer you, yes, and tell you again,
glory then
In her cause l was willing my veins
should run dhry,
An now for her sake I am ready to die"
The silence was great and the jury
SHi!it't lSiil,
An hejudge wasn't sorry the job was
made light;
Though I stand here to perish, it's my
BY my sowl its himself was the grabbed
0uld chap,
In q twinklin' he pulled on his ugly
black cap,
Then Shsmus' mother in the crowd
standin' by,
Called out to the judge with pitiful cry:
90! Judge darlin,' don't, oh don't say
the word,
The crathur is young, have mercy, my
lord;
He was foolish, he didn't know what
he was doin;'
YOu don't know HMM lord, oh don't |
give him to ruin;
He's the kindliest crathur, the tender
est hearted;
Don't part Us forever, we that S SO long
parted.
Judge, ,mavourneen, forgive him forgive |
him, my lord.
An God will forgive you, oh don't say |
the word"
Thar was the first minute that O'Brien /
was shaken, |!
When he saw that he was not quite for. |
got or forsaken,
An down his pale cheek at tho word Of
his mother,
The big tears wor runnin' fast, one !
afther tn other;
An two or three times he endeavored !
to speak,
But the sthrong, manly voice used to
falthur and break -fI
But mt last by the strength OF his high |
mounting pride,
lie conquered and masthered his griers
swellin' tide,
An says he mother darlin,' don't
break your poor heart,
For sooner or later, tho dearest must
part;
An God knows it's better than wander
ing in fear,
On the bleak, trackless mountain among
the wild deer.
10 lie IN lhe grave, WheEe tne hehu, !
heart and breast
From thought, labor and sorrow forev-
er shall rest.
Then mother, my darlin' don't cry any
more,
Don't make me seem broken, in this,
my last hour,
For ! wish when my heads lynn under |
the raven,
No true man can say that ! died like |
cravCn!'
Then towards the judge Shamus bent
down his head,
An that minute the solemn death sem
tVnCe was said.
The mornin' was bright, an the mist
rose on high,
NJ tln l4rlr ubiStInl YnprpiI,, In, tbn