The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1873-12-11
POE II g 2
CURFEW MUST NOT RING TONIGHT

Engiand's sun while setting slowly Ger the
hills so far away,
Filled the land with misty beauty at the
close of one sad day;
And the last rays kissed the forehead of a
man and maiden fair
He with step SO slow and weary, she with
sunny, floating hair;
He with bowed head sad and thoughtful, she
with lips so cold and white,
Struggled TO keep back the 1nurmer-'Cur-
few must not ring tonight u
''sexton," Bessie's white lips faltered, point
ing 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 is nigh,
CromwelPll not be here It'll sunset" and her
face grew strangely white,
AS she spoke in husky whispers-"CurteW
must ring tonight"
.'Bessie" calmly spoke the sexton every
wod pierced her young heart
Like a thousand cleaning arrows--like
deadly poisoned cart),
StLonx long years I've rupg the curtew, from
that gloomy, Swallowed tower,
Every evening just at sunset, 1t has told the
twilight hour;
have done my duty ever, tried to DO it just
and right
Now I'm old will not miss it-grl, the cur
few rings Tonight T.
Wild her eyes and pale her features, stern and
white her thoughtful brow,
And within her hearts deep center, Bessie
made a solemn VOW,
She had lstensG, while the judges read
without a tear or q sigh,
at the ringing of the curfew-Ba Under
wood mast die.
Andh breath came fast and faster, and hel
larr ND brio
One low muruer scarcely spOken-''Curtew
must not ring tonight J"
She with light step bounded forward, spran!
within the old church door,
Left the old man coming slowly, paths he''
trOd so oft before.
Not one moment paused the maiden, bu
with cheek and brow aglow,
She gazeG up the gloomy tower, where tn
bell swung to and FRO.
Then she climbed the Shiny ladder, dark
without one ray Of light,
Upward still, her pale lips saylng-"CurteV
shall not ring tonight ~
She has reached the tOpm ost ladder, DER he
hangs the greas dark bell,
And the awful gloom beneath her, like the
pathway down to hell,
See, the pondereus tong Is swinging, It's
the hour of curfew now,
And the sight has chilled her bosom, stop
ped her breath and psled her brow,
Shall she let it ring? No, never her eyes
AS she springs and grasps 1t firnly-"CurfeT
does not ring tonight -
Out she swung far out, the citye seemed q
tiny speck below,
There 'twxt heaven and earth suspended, a.
the bell swung to and fro,
And the half deaf sexton ringing (years III
had not heard the bsll)
And be thought that twilight curteW rang
young Basil's funeral knell,
5till the maiden clinging firmly, cheek AnC
brow so pale and white,
Stilled her frightened hearts wild beating
"CurfeW shall not ring tOxn ight !"
ct was o'er-the bell ceased swaying, and
the maiden stepped once more
zirmly on the damp old ladder, where fof
hundred years before
Human foot had not been planted, and what
she this night had dSne
Should be told long ages after, as tbs rays o.
setting sun
Light the sky with mellow beauty aged
sres, with heads OF white,
Tell the children why the curfcw did no
ring that one sad night
O'er the distant hills came CromweII-Dss
sic saw him, AID her brow,
Lately white with sickening horror, glow
with sudden beauty now,
At his feet she sold her story, showed he
hands II bruised and torn;
And er sweet young face so haggard, with
look SO sad and worn,
Touched mis- heart with sudden ity-lit hi
eyes with misty ligat.
eco, your lover lives" cried Cromwell, ecu
few shall not ring tonight y
-ea-a