The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-10-11
"Curlew Mus, Not Ring Tonight"


death was fixed cat the ringing of the
curfew." Naturally, such doom would
be. fearful and bitter to one in the
years OF bis hope and pride. but to
this unhappy youth death was doubly
terrible, since he was soon to have
been married to beautiful young lady
whom he had long loved. Tho lady,
who loved him ardently In return, had
used her utmost efforts to avert his
fate, pleading with the judges, and
even with Cromwell himself, but all in
vain. In her despair she tried to bribe
the old sexton not to ring the bell, but
she found that impossible. The hour
drew near for the execution. The
preparations were completed. The
officers Of the law brought forth the
prisoner, and waited while the sun
was setting, for the signal from the
distant bell.sower. To the wonder of
everybody, it did not ringl Only one
human being at that moment knew
the reason. The poor girl, hslf wild
with the thought OF her lovers peril,
had rushed, unseen, up the winding
stairs, and climbed the ladder into the
belfry-loft and seized the tongue of
the bell. The old sexton was in his
place. prompt to the fatal moment.
BE threw his weight upon the rope. and
the bell, obedient to his practiced hand,
reeled and swung to and fro in the
tower. But the brave girl kept her
hold, and no sound issued from it's
metallic lips. Again and again the
sexton drew the rope. but with despe-
rate strength the young heroine held
on. Every movement made her posi.
ton more fearful; every sway of the
bells huge weight threatened to fling
her through the high tower window;
but she would not let go. At last the
sexton went away. Old and deaf, he
had not noticed that the ourfew gave
no peal. The brave girl descended
from the belfry, wounded and trem-
bling. She hurried from the church
to the place of execution. Cromwell
himself was there, aud was just send.
ing to demand why tho bell was silent.
Slowly England's sun was setting, Ger
the hill-tops far away,
Filling all the land with beauty, at the
close of one sad day,
And the last rays kissed the forehead
OF man and maiden fair
he with footsteps slow and weary, she
with sunny floating hair;
He with bowed head, sad and thought
ful, she with lips all cold and white,
Struggled to keep back the murmur-
"Cnrfew must not ring tonight"
'Sexton," Bessie's white lips faltered,
pointing to the prison old,
With ite turrets tall and gloomy, with
its walls dark, damp and cold,
'1've lover in that prison. doomed
this very night to die.
at the ringing of the ourfew, aad no
earthly help is nigh;
Cromwell will not come till snn-set."
and her lips grew strangely white
AS she breathed tue husky whisper
"Curfew must not ring tonight.
Bessie" calmly spoke tho sexton,
every word pierced hor young heart,
Like tho piercing of All arrow, like
deadly poisoned dart,
Long, longyoars I've rung the curfew
from that gloomy, shadowed tower;
Every evening, just at euuset. it has
told The twilight hour;
I have done ny duty ever, tried to do
it just and right,
Now I'm old still must do it,
Curfew it mu't ring tonight"
Wild her eyes and pale her features,
stern and white her thoughtful brow,
And within her secret bosom Bessie
made solemn vow.
She had listened while the judges read
without tear or Sigh,
''At the ringing Of the curfew, Busil
Underwood must die"
And her breath camo fast and faster,
and her Dyes grew large aud bright
10 an undertono she murmured-
"Curfew must not ring tonight"
She with qnick steps bounded for
ward, sprung within tho old church
door,
Left the old nun threading slowly
paths 80 oft ho'd trod before;
Not ono moment paused the maiden,
but with eye aud cheek aglow,
Mounted up the gloomy tower, where
the bell swung to and fro;
And she climbed the dusty ladder, on
which fell no ray Of light,
Up and up-her white lips saying,
"Curfew shall not ring tonight"
She had reached the topmost ladder,
DER her hangs the great dark bell;
Awful is the gloom beneath her, like o
pathway down to hell.
Lol the ponderous tongue is swinging,
It's the hour OF curfow now,