Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1874-11-20
SeIert poetrn.


Sslert poetrn.
'.Curfew Must not Ring Tonight -
I'm the time Of Cromwell, Young soldier, for
some offence, condemned to die, and the
time of his death WAS fixed cat the ringing of
= the curfew.@ Naturally such doom would be
fearful and bitter TO one in the years of his hope
and pride, but to this unhappy youth death was
doublv terrible since he was soon to have been
married to beautiful young lady whom he had
long loved. The lady, who loved him ardcntly
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
sic 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
tower. TO the wonder of everybody, it did not
ring Only one human being at that moment
knew the reason. The poor girl, half wild with
the thought of her lovers peril, had rushed, un
seen, MP the winding stairs, and climbed the
ladders into the belfry loft and seized the tongue
= ofsthe bell, The old sexton was in his place,
iprornpt To the fatal moment. He threw his
weight upon the rope, and the bell, obedient to
bis practlced hand, reeled and swung to and fro
in the tower. But the brave girl kept her hold,
and no sound issued from its metallic lips. Again
and again the sexton drew the rope, but with
Ior I,ll
Every movement made her position more fear
fu, every sway of the bells huge weight threat
ened to fling Eer through the high tower window;
but hshe would not let go. At last the sexton
weni away. Old and deaf he had not noticed
that the curfew gave no peal. The brave girl
descended from the belfry, wounded and tremb-
ling. She hurried from the church to the place
of execution. Cromwell himself was there, and
was just sending to demand why the bell was
silent.
( Slowly England's sun was setting o'rr the hill
| tops far away,
Filling all the land with Beauty at the close of
one sad day,
Andthe last rays kissed the forehead of L man
and maiden fair
ny floating hair;
, He with bowed head, sad and thoughtful, she
with lips all cold and white,
Struggled to keep back the murmer,-
''Curfcw must not ring tonight"
''Sexton," 3essfe's white lips G,ltered, pointing
to the prison old,
With its turrets tall and gloomy, with its walls
dark, damp, aud cold,
'T'yc a lover in that prison, doomed this very |!
night to die,
At the ringing Of the Curfew, and no earthly /
he.p is nigh;
Cromwell will not come till sunset" and her lips
grew strangely white
As she breathed the husky Whisper
"Curfew must not ring tonight"
"Bessic," calmly spoke the sexton, every word |
pierced her young heart
Like the piercing of an arrow. like deadly /
poisoned dart,
Long, long years I've ruug the Curfcw from |
.that gloomy, shadowed tower;
Every evening, just at sunset, it has told the
twilight hour;
p have done my duty ever, tried 70 do it just ard
right,
Now Pm old still must do it,
6ssrfew it must ring Tonight"
With her eyes and pale 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 curiew, Basil Underwood |
must die.''
And her breath came fast and faster, and her |
eyes grew large and bright
In an undcrtonc she murmured,-
"Curfew must not ring tonight"
She with quick steps bounded forward, sprung
within the old church door,
Left the old man threading slowly paths SO oft !
he'd trod before
Not one moment paused the maiden, but with
eye and cheek aglow,
Mounted mp 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,-hcr white lips saying
'.Cnrfew shall not ring tonight.
She had reached the topmost ladder, Ger her
hangs the great dark bell;
Awful is the gloom beneath her, like Il pathway
down to hell.
Lo, the pouderous tongue is swinging, MS the
hour of curfew now,
And the sight has chilled her bosom, stopped her
breath and paled her brow.
Shall she let it ring No, never, Flash her eyes !
with sudden light,
aud she springs and graspa it firmly
''Carlew shall not ring tonight. /
ont she swung, far out, the city seemed spccI .
of light below,
'Twixt heaven and earth her form suspended, as .
the bell swung to and fro.
And the sexton at the bcll-rope, old and deaf, /
heard not the bell,
But he thought it still ringing far young |
Basil's funeral knell
Still the maiden clung most firmly, aud with .
trembling lips and white,
said to hush her hearts wild bea.ing,-
s.Curfew shall not ring tonight
1t was DER, the bell ceased swaying, ana the |
maiden stepped once more
Firmly on the dark old ladder, where for hun /
dred years before.
Human foot had not been planted. tn" brave /
deed that she had done
should be told long ages after. as the rays Of
setting sun,
should ilIume the sky with beauty; aged sirc5 !
with heads Of white,
Long should tell the little children,
Curfcw did not ring that night.