Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1874-08-08
ooURFaw Musr NOT RNa To WIGHT .

for some offence, was condemn ned to die, and
the time ni HIS death was liked "at the
ringing 0f the curfew." Naturally, such a
doom would he fearful and bitter 10 one 10
the years ol hi hope and pride, bnt TO this
unhappy youth death was donhly tctrlbls,
since he was soon 10 have been married 70
> beautiful young lady whom he had long
loved. The lady, who loved HIN ardently
In return, had used her utmost Efforts "a
avert his fate, plea ing with the iudg 4
and even with CrOm we'll himself, hut all In
vain. In her deepair 3he tried to hribe the
Old sexton rot 10 ring the bell, but rho
found that Imp ssihle. The hour drew
near for the execution. The prepAf fations
were completed. The ofneers 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 ever body, It dld not rlngi Only one
hnman heius At that moment knew the
reason. The poor girl, half Wild with the
thought OF her lovers peril, had rushed,
unseen, up the winding stairs, and climbed
the ladders &c the helfry loft and seized
tho t1ngueof the bell. The old sexton was
Ia his place, prompt to the fatal moment
lie threw his weight upon the rope, and the
hell Obedient TO his piaetlced hand, reeled
and awulg to aud fro in the tower. But the
brave gin kept her hold. aud no sound
Issued from its metallic lips. Again and
again the sexton drew the rope, but with
desperate strength the young heroine hold
On. Every movement made her position
more fearful every sway Of the belis huge
weight threatened to Ming her through the
high tower widow but she would not let
60. At .ast ihe sexton went away. Old
and deaf, he had not noticed that the curfew
gave no peal The brave girl descended
from the belfry, wounded aud trembling.
She hurried from the church TO the place Of
execution. Cromwell himself was there,
aud was just sending to demand why the
bell was silent
Slowly England's sun was setting DER the
FILLING ali The land with beauty at the
close Ot one sad day,
And the last rays kissed the forehead OF .
man and maiden fair
lie with footsteps slow and weary, she
with sunny floating hair
He with bowed head, sad and thoughtful,
she with lips all cold and white,
Struggled to keep back the 1nurmut,-
| "Curfew must not rlog Tonight"
'sexton," Bessie's white lips faitered,
! pointing TO the prison old,
| With its turrets tall and gloomy, with its
walls dark damp and cold.
|" I've lover 10 that prison, doomed this
At the finging Of the Curfcw, and no earthly
Cromwell viii not como TIL sinset," and
her lips grew strangely white
As she breathed the husky whisper-
OuIAbW uluat uuN iAuE fo-hAhhh
&" Bessie" 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 rung the Curfew
from that gloomy, shaaowed tower
Every evening, just at sunset, IL has told
the twilight hourt ~
have done ny duty ever, tried to do II iusi
and right,
Now I'm Old still must do II.
Curlew, 1t must ring tonight
wild her eyes and pale her features. steTr
and white her thoughtful brow,
And within her secret bosom Bessie made 1
solemn vow.
She had listened while the judges rest
Without tear or sigh,
"At the ringing Of the curfsw, Basil Under
wood must die"
And her breath came fsst and faster, an'
her eyes grew large and bright
In an undeItoue she murmured,-
"CuTfew must not ring tonight.
She with quick steps bounded forward
apfung within the old church door,
Left the old man threailug slowly pathe 9,
oft he'd trod before;
Not one moment paused the maiden, bu
with exc and cheek AglOw,
Mounted up the gloomy tower, where th'
bell swung too and iTo.
Aud she imhed the dusty ladder 90 whiei
fell no ray oi light
vp and up,--her white lips saying
"Curfew shall not ring tonisht'
SIZE had reached ihs topmost ladder, o'e
her hAnga the great dark bel
Awful is she gloon beneath her, like
Apaih gng down TO hell,
To- The pnniCf0us tongue is swinging, II
the hour OF curiew now,
And the sight has chilled her bosom sl0ppe'
her breath and paled her brow.
Shall she let IL ring No, never Flasl
her eyes with sudden light.
And she sprlnga aud grasps II hrmly-
"Curfgw shall not ring TO nisht'
Out she swung. faf out, the city seemed
spsck Of light below,
'TWixt heaven aud earth her fofn sua
pended, as the bell swung 10 ArG fro,
And tho sexton At the helLrops, old 80,
deaf, heard not the bell,
I Bet he thought u Htill was ringing TAI
young Basil's funeral knell.
Still the metden clung most firmly, anl
with tIembliug lips and white,
said TO hush her hearts Wild heating.
UuIfew shall not ring tonight"
1t was DER. the he'll ccassd swSyirg, an
the maiden stepped ouce more
: Firmly on the dark old ladder, whore 70
hunlrei ears before.
Human fOlt had uut hCtn planted, In
brave Gesd that she had done
Should be to :, ig agen after, no the raj
OF Bettirg sun,
Should Hume the skT with beauty age
sires with heads oi white,
Long should tell the little chi,aien,
DuIfcw did not nng that night.
e. Ger tho distant hills came Cromwell
, Bessie sees him, and her brow,
Full Of hope and full of gladbess' has o
anxious traces now.
At his feet she tells her story, shows be
, hands all bruised and torn
And her face so sweet and pleading, yt
1 with sorrow pale and worn,
/ Touched his heart with sudden ply, lit III
eve with misty light:
"Ool YOUR lover lives, said Cfomwell
, CuIiew shall not ring to-night"