Middletown transcript., 1874-03-21
S.leet Yssitp. ''s'''' !.
II Ct y ? = =. z = y = 2 q Y 2 Y
",OURFEW, MUST NOT RING TO-
rstss, NIGHT.n ~ ~

N4duIs
Eaehsds sun swss setting DER the bills 20 far
Filled The land with misty beauty at the close
And ,sbe last rays kiss'a the forehead OF man
end naidsa fsir-- - sssAs =
He with step, 30 slow and weary, she with sunny,
He with bowed head, sad a,d thoughtfui, she
with lips % cold and white, a ,,L4.,., M
Strukeled 10 keep back the mnrmur, Curfew
mutt not ring tonight" ,. 4.
.ssxtop," Bessis's vhit. lips faitsred, pointing
win IL walls o % taR and gloomy, walls 50 DARK
~ and damp and cold, 6l .Fsi ~. 81
"rys . lover In that peison, doomed this very
AttSs sinsins ii ths Curfs~, and ne earthly
Cromwell viii not come till sunset, and her face
grew strangely white, 81 81 i. ~ n !
As she spoke Ia husky whispets- Curfew must
NOT ring tonight" = = ~
s.Besse, ~ calmly spoke the sexton, EVERY word
pierced her young heart
Like 4 thousand CLEANING arrows-like dead
"Lons, i long years i've rnng ,hs Cursw from
that gloomy Swallowed tower; x
GvSTy evcutuEy Ju9t ~ SuooSst ~ ss~S s~'~ 49,
have done u,y duty ever, tried to do It just and
Now IN old, Twin not miss It; girl, the Cur
few riuEs to-nightl' Aia# sR81 "a e~s
Wild:her eyes and pale hsr features stern and
white het thouRhtful blow N ~. .
And within her hearts deep centre, Bessie made
solemn vow
She had listened while the judges read, without
"At he lieslss of tbs car'sx- Bash Underwood
And Rsr breath cApe East and faster, aud her
eyes grew large and blight
One low mur~u5 sc..fce!y spoken" carfsw
nsust not ring tonight ~ ,',s7'.''. =.
sks viii, lipbt step bounded forward, srrang
sn within the old church door,
Left the old man coming slosly, paths bed trod
50 OF before 7. 81 ; = ia x IS x t{t4t
Not one moment paused the maiden, but with
cheek and brow aglow,
Staggered up the gloomy tower, where the bell
swung 10 and fro; 'i''Has ~ ~
Then she Climbed the Shiny ladder, dark, with
out one ray Of light f
Upward still, her pale lips saying "Curfew shall
not ring tonight"
She has reached the topmost ladder, Ger her
~ hangs the great dark bell, 90 .
And the awful gloom beneath her, like the path
way down to hell; 'T'5''r 's1a
See, the ponderous tongue is swinging, 'tis 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 her eyes fash
As % She springs and grasppss q It firmly" Cursew
shalI.iot ring Tonight ssD~SN
Ontshe, swung, hr out, tho city seemed tin,
Tbere, twixt heaven and earth suspended, ,as tlse
4 bellswungt ~ and fro; #slp..EsltE a..
Anaihe hslf-deaf sexton ringing (years he had
mot hear6 the be.D, l4.slS fl4
And be thought The twilight Curfew rung young
~ BAsi's sf9neral knsll; n
Siill the maiden tlinging firmly, cheek and brow
Stiled her frightened hearts villa beating" Cur
few shall not ring to-night" 6 Ut
It. was o'er--the bell ceased swaying and th,
maidsn stepped once more - gs-T - =
Firmly o6the damp old ladder, where for hun
dred years before,
Human foot had not been planted !. and what sh'
this night had done, ~ n N 4
Should be told long ages after-as the rays o
Light ,ts sky vim mellow beauty, aged sire
T9ii' 'ihe Children why the Curfew did not RIM
that one SAD night. sai'sHa e4A
O'eg IN listant hills came Cromwell; Bessie "a,
him, and her hrow,.
I Lately white with sickening horror, glews witt
ssddep beauty now;
.At his feet she told her story, showed her hand
Aii bruised and torn, at NE
And her sweet young face so haggard, with
Ao0ksso sad sud worn, $500 .fkL +.
Touched HE heart with sudden pity,--Iit his eye
With misty light;
"Gesyour loverlives," !" cried Cromwell; "Curfe,
hall not ring to-night."