The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1872-09-24

THE TORN CIfRTdIN.
FROM THE FRENCH OF EMILE souvEsrRE.

- u SbIlhlDS eNst1ple ol Tile bIuOu
that kind action is never thrown away.
The date was that of the civil war between
the Parliament and King Charles l. The two
parties had taken up arms, and were vigorous
ly carrying on the conflict. The kings army
had been defeated several times and those of
his adherents taken with arms in their hands
were led before judges appointed by Cromwell
in every town, to be condemned as rebels,
Sir Nicholas Newcastle was one of those
Judges He was man of austere manner,
but without fanaticism his devotion to the
new government was well known and Crom-
well had a special esteem for him. His weak
ly constitution did not allow him to serve in
arms for the cause which he thought the just
one, but he was looked upon as the most ac-
tive and able, as well as the most vigorously
just, magistrate in his county.
One evening Sir Nicholas was at supper with
his family and few of his friends, when
band of soldiers arrived with a royalist prison.
er, whom they had just succeeded in eaptur-
ing. 1t was an officer who after the rout of
Charles army, had been vainly trying to reach
the coast, and there find means of escaping to
France. Sir Nicholas ordered his hands to be
unbound, and another table to be placed near
the fireplace.
''It is my birthday" said he, and I wish
to finish merrily the supper which | have be-
gun. Give refreshment to this Cavalier and
his guards AT present | would only be his
host; in an hour will act as his judge
The soldiers thanked him, and sat down at
the table near their prisoner, who did not APP
pear to be much affected by his position and
fell to on the provisions set before him with as
good an appetite as any of them.
| Sir Nicholas returned to his place at the
head of the large table, and resumed the con-
versation that had been interrupted by the ar
rival of the soldiers
"Well, was telling you,' he continued,
"that at the age of fifteen | was still so weak
and puny, that every one scorned my feeble
ness and took advantage of it to ill-use me.
First had to endure the bad treatment of
step-mother, then that of my sehool-fellows.
Courage i'll boys is only the consciousness of
strength. My weakness made me a coward,
and far from hardening me, the roughness and
harshness to which I was exposed made me
only more shrinking and more sensitive to
pain. lived in a continual state of fear, but
above all feared the masters cane. Twice
| had suffered this cruel punishment and
I had preserved such an acute remembrance of
the pain, that the very thought of a third in
Fiction made me trembie all over.
81 was at Westminster School, as have
already told you. The forms were taught in
IA large room together, and were separated one
/ from another by curtain, which we were ex-
pressly forbidden to touch. One summer day
drowsiness had overcome me for a moment in
the middle of u Greek lesson; then slight
noise starting me out of my nap, | only saved
myself from falling off my seat by catching at
the curtain, which was close beside me. 1t
gave way at my grasp, and to my horror, |
saw that had made in it a tear big enough
to see the next class through. The two mas
ters turned round at the noise, and at once
perceived the damage that had been done.
The blame appeared to lie between me and
the boy next the curtain on the other side /;
but my confusion soon pointed me out as the
culprit, and my master angrily ordered me to
come and have a dozen blows of the cane /
got up staggering like a drunken man / tried
to speak to ask pardon, but fear had glued
my tongue to my mouth my knees trembled
under me ; cold perspiration broke out on
my face. The instrument of punishment was
already raised over me, when | heard some
one say:
"' Do not punish him. 1t was my fault
1T was the boy on the other side of the
curtain. He was at once called forward, and
received the dozen blows. My first impulse
was to prevent this unjust punishment by con-
Tossing the truth but | could not summon
up courage, and when the first blow had been
given was ashamed to speak.
''When the hOgging was over the boy pass
ed near me with bleeding hands, and whisper
ed to me with smile that | shall never forget
all my life;
90 Do not NEEDLE with the curtain again,
youngster. The cane hurts.
." sank down in fit of sobbing and they
had to send me out of the room.
'Since that day have been disguised with
my cowardice, and have done all | can to over
come it. hope have not been altogether
unsuccessful
"And do you know this generous fellow?''
asked one of his guests. Have you ever seen
him again?"
Never, unfortunately. He was not in MY
FORM and left the school room afterwards
All God knows that | have often wished to
meet with the gallant fellow who suffered so
much for me, and that | would give years of
my life to be able to shake hands with him at
my table"
At that moment a glass was held out to-
wards Sir Nicholas, who lifted his eyes with
establishment. 1t was the royalist prisoner,
who laughingly proposed toast:
''To the memory of the torn curtain at
Westminster! But upon my word, Sir Nicho-
las, +" he said, "your recollection is not SO
curate as mine. 1t was not twelve blows that
/ received, but twice twelve; for having ex-
posed another to punishment, and not at once
declaring myself to blame"
You are right; now / remember but in
what a situation in what a service ~ excam-
ed the judge.
In the service of my king, Sir Nicholas.