Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-04-15
ssCURFEW MUST NOT RING To-
NIGHT.o
By ROSA A. HARTwIok.

Enoland'ssu was setting DER the hills far away
Fied the land with misty beauty at the close of one
sad day;
And the last rays kissed the forehead OF A man ana
maiden fair;
He with steps slow and weary she with sunny float
ing hair
he with bowed head, sad and thoughtful; she With
lips cold and white,
Struggled to keep back the murmur, "Cnrew must not
ring tonight"
Sexton Bessies white lips faered pointing to the
prison old
With its walls SO tall and gloomy, walls so dark and
damp and cold
I've lover in that prison, doomed this very night to
die,
At the ringing Of the curfew and no earthly help
nigh.
Cromwell II not he here till sunset" and her face grew
strangely white,
As she spoke in husky whispers, 'Cmfew must not
ring tonight"
Bessie" calmly spoke the sexton every word pierced
her young heart
Like thousand cleaning arrows-like deadly poison
ed dart -
Long. long years I've rung the curfew, from that
gloomy shadowed tower
Every evening just at sunset it has told the twilight
have done my duty ever.-tried to do it just and
Now I'm old will not miss it,-girl, the curfew rings
tonight"
Wild her eyes, and each pale feature, stern and white
her thoughtful brow,
AS, within her hearts deep centre, Bessie made SOL
! emn VOW,
She had listened while judges read. without tear or
sigh
At the ringing of the culfew Basil Underwood must
dei
And her breath came fast and faster and her eyes grew
large and bright,
| One low murmnr scarcely spoken, "Curew must not
ring tonight
She with light step bounded forward, sprang within
the old church-door,
Left the old coming slowly. paths he'd trod oft
before.
Not one moment paused the maiden, but with cheek
and brow aglow,
She gazed upon the gloomy tower where the bell swung
10 and fro;
Then she climbed the Shiny ladder dark. without
ray of light,
Upward still, her pale lips saymg"Curfew shall not
ring tonight"
She has reached the topmost ladder; DER her hangs
the great dark bell,
And the awful gloom beneath her. like the pathway
down to hell.
See the ponderous tongue is swingng tits the hour of
curfew now -
And the sight has chilled her bosom, stopped her
BREATH and paled her brow.
Shall she let ringo No, never and her eyes flash
| with sudden light,
As she springs and grasps it firmly: "CGrfew shall
not ring tonight J"
Out she swung far out the city seemed tiny speck
below;
There twxt heaven and earth suspended as the bell
swung to and fro,
And the hafcleaf sexton ringing years he had not
And he thought that twilight cuew rang young Basis
funeral knell.
Still the maiden, cinging firmly cheek and brow SO
| pale and white,
Stilled her frightened hearts wild beating, "Curfew
| shall not ring tonight"
1t oer,-the bell ceased swaying, and the maiden
stepped once more
Firmly on the damp old ladder, where for hundred
| years before
Human foot had been planted, and what she this
night had done
Should he told long ages After the rays of setting
Light the sky with mellow beauty,-aged sires with
heads of white,
Tell the children why the curew did not ring that
| sad night.
Ger the distant hills Cromwell. Bessie him.
and her brow,
Lately white with sckening horror, glows with sudden
! beanty now;
At his feet she told her story. showed her hands all
bruised and torn,
And her sweet young face haggard. with look SO
| sad and worn,
Touched his heart with sudden pity Lit his eyes with
| misty light
go; your lover lives" cried Cromwell. "Curfew
shall not ring tonight"