The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-01-06
AGNES OF III ERLEM:
A TALE OF THE DUTCH WAR OF INDE-
PENDENCE.+
Ny the Author OF Letters OF Monomaniac.'
CHAPTER |

CHAPTER l.
During the desolating war attending
tie struggle of the Low Countries with
the iron dominion of Spain, the town of
Harlem sustained siege that ranks it
high in the annals Of the times, amongst
the numerous examples of heroic forti-
tude and suffering in the cause of
Freedom. The terrible Alva, whilst he
occupied himself in Brabant, had dis
patched his sou, distinguished soldier,
known by the title of Frederick of To-
ledo, to range the province of Holland.
His desolating career suffered the first
serious check before the walls Of Har
lem, and, irritated by what he consid-
cred the presumption of the citizens in
attempting the defence of place ap
parently so feeble, as well as stimulated
by the commands of his memorable
father, the young Captain, after the
repulse of his first hasty assault, invest
ed the town in forth, and pushed the
siege with all eagernesS and impetuosty
Of his character.
The condition of the beleagured was
in short time deplorable: their walls,
originally of but little strength, were
now preached in several places; their
dwellings, half demolished by the shot
of the enemy aud by frequent conhagra
tions, scarcely suffced to protect them
from the inclemencies of the season
whilst their scanty magazines, nearly
exhausted, afforded them supply of
provisions barely sufficient to support
feeble existence; and totally inadequate
TO give their fainting bodies that degree
of strength required to enable them to
sustain the hardships and exertions of
war Yet amidst this scene of suffering
were heard DO murmurings, no repin-
Jugs: all cheerfully submitted to the
exigency, and all seemed prepared to
endure the last extremity, aud even
death itself, rather than to compromise
the cause Of Freedom by yielding their
ruiaed homes to the tyrant whilst an
arm remained to strike a single blow in
their defence. Nor were they without
hope. William Of Nassau, Prince of
Orange, the hero to whom the cause of
Freedom is so much indebted, and who
at last, by the hand of an assassin be-
came its martyr, was then with a body
Of twelve thousand men boldly facing a
superior number of the enemy in the
open field; and by his excellent soldier
ship, not only kept them in check, but
he had good hopes of GLIDING their Wig
lance and relieving Harlem. He had
already succeeded in conveying to the
beleaguered an intimaton of his design;
and their reliance on his fortune and
genius was sufficiently strong to inspire
them with lively hope of his success.
In the mean time, they husbanded their
remaining resources with the strictest
economy, nor allowed their hopes to
abate, in the slightest degree, their vigi.
lance.
Ernest Van Anderlin, the Provost of
the Council of Harlem, was man well
fitted to sustain the trying position in
which he was placed. Prompt in action,
prudent in council,
with dauutless bravery that nothing
could intimidate, and a devotion to
Freedom that nothing could impair, he
possessed physical strength, and a
power of endurance, that rendered him
a valuable example to his suffering
w. whilst his genius for com.
"a the absolute control of
Van Anderlin was
Ruth of nine.
r with