Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-03-09
THE MARTYR,s WIDOW.
pY urzEKru BrrrrRwoRru.


" She placed her babe on the ground tied up
the corpses head, and Strengthened the limbs, and
covered him with her plaid, and sat down and
wept over him. -
So wrote an old chronicler of the heroic be-
hayior Of the wife Of John Brown of Ianark.
shire, Scotland, on the morning Of her hus-
bands execution. The history Of this martyr
is well known. He was currier by profes.
sion, and one Of those firm Scotchmeu who
loved the native simplicity Of the religion of
his fathers and who refused to comply with
the Act Of Conformity that followed the Res
toration.
His wife was slender woman, tender
hearted and susceptible but firm in principle,
and noble at the time of trial When the
pious currier offered this woman his hand in
marriage, he reminded her that the times
were evil, and that the day might come that
would cause her to regret the step if she
should accept the offer. But she possessed
true spirit, and loved him with no sentimental
love, and she was ready to say like Ruth to
Naomi whittier thou goest, | will 90; thy
people shall be my people, and thy God my
God"
Their last interview was simple and ex-
ceedingly touching As he left the house in
the morning for his customary vocation, he
suddenly found himself surrounded by troop
Of horse with Cayerhouse at their head
The merciless prosecutor asked him if he was
preacher He answered that he was not. -
If he had not preached said Clayerhouse,
mickle hath he prayed" lie then added
sayagely, Betake yourself to your prayers
for the last time, for your hour has come "
The doomed Covenanter prayed. He then
rose and took the hand of his wife, as he had
done on his marriage day, and said &" The
time Of which | spake, when | asked you to
become my companion for life, has arrived" z"
" In this cause am willing to give you up"
was the firm answer. Then | have nothing
to do but to die" he said with great serenity,
" and have been in frame to meet death
for many years"
Their hands unclasped, and he was shot
dead, while standing at the end of his house.
"What do you think Of your husband
now ?" asked Claverhouse, when the deed
was done, and the body of the martyr, pre-
senting a dreadful spectacle, lay before them
on the ground. Il ever thought much Of
him." she answered, and now more than
ever" 1t would be but justice" said Ola-
yerhouse, to lay thee beside him." 81
doubt not, that, were you permitted, your
cruelty would carry you to that extreme.
But how" she added o. will you account for
this mornings work ~ " To man." said Cla-
yerhouse, can be answerable, and heaven
l will take in my own hand He then rode
away.
She laid her babe on the ground" says
the old chronicer. All, gentle mother what
lesson of fortitude is here. a." She laid her
babe on the ground, tied up the corpses s head,
and Strengthened the limbs, and covered him
with her plaid, and sat down and wept over
him."
." How will you account for this morning S
work % We wonder if the gentle reproach
haunted the conscience of Claverhouse in his
solitary hours. We wonder if they came
back to him on that calm summer eve when
at the very moment that victory seemed with
in his reach, he himself fell mortally wounded
at Killicrankie
Trying days were these, forever faded aud
gone. The MONDAY light of the gospel spreads
its calm over the lands, and like dreams aud
fctions seem the stormy scenes that lie in the
long twilight Of the past, when the conscience
Of mankind was struggling to be free. 1t is
only when We turn away from the purer light
to shadowed hours like these, that we can see
how brightly the love of God shines over US,
or comprehend how time is answering that
prayer of the ages, Thy kingdom come"