Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-02-12
1'ottrn.
"Curfew Must Not Ring Tonight" >"

England's sun was setting DER the hills SO far
away.
Filled the land with misty beauty at the close
of one sad day:
And the last rays kiss'd the forehead Of a man
and maiden fair
He with step 80 slow and weary, she with sun
ny. floating hair;
lie with bowed head sad and thoughtful, she
with lips so cold and white.
Struggled to keep back the murmur, "Curfew
must not ring tonight"
Sexton Bcs>ie's white lips faltered, point
ing to the prison Old.
With it. walls 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 Curicw. and no earthly
help i nigh.
Cromwell will not come till sunset and her
face grew strangely white.
A. she spoke in husky whisper-"Curfew must
not ring tonight"
Bessie ca lmy spoke the sextoa,-every
word pierced her young heart,
Like a thousand cleaning arrows-like n dead
ly poisoned dart;
Long. long years I've rune the Curfew from
that gloomy shadowed tower;
Every evening. Just at sunset. il has told the
twill ght hour:
| have done my duty ever. tried 10 do il just
aud right,
Now lam old, will not miss it girl, the Cur
few rings tonight.'
Wild her eyes and pale her features, stern and
white her thoughtful brow.
And within her hearts deep centre, Bessie
made = solemn VOW;
She had listened while the judges read, with
out tear or sigh.
AT the ringing OF the curfew-Basil Under
wood must 9is.''
And her breath came fast and faster, and her
eyes grew large apd bright
One low murmur. scarcely spoken-'Curfew
must MT ring tonight
She with light step bounded forward, sprung
within the old church door, -
Len the Old man coming slowly, paths he'd
trod 30 Oft before;
Not one moment paused the maiden, but with
checks and brow aglow.
Staggered up the gloomy tower, where the bell
swung To aud fro;
Then she climbed the Shiny ladder, dark with
out one ray of light.
Upward ,ttll. her pale lips saving "Curfew
StaN nat ring tonight
She has reached the topmost ladder, Ger her
hangs the great dark bell.
And the awful gloom beneath her, like the
pathway down 10 hell;
see. the pondefous tongue Is swinging. It's the
And the sight has chilled her bosom stopped
her breath and paled her brow.
shall she lei II ring: No, never. her eyes flash
with sudden light,
A. she spring, aad grasps it firinly-"Curfcw
StaA not ring tonight
out She swung. far out, the city seemed tiny
speck below;
There. 'twlxt heaven and earth suspended. as
the bell swung to and fro:
And the half-deaf sexton ringing years he had
not heard the belD.
And he thought the twilight Curfew rang
young Basil, funeral knell:
Still the. maiden cinging firmly, cheek and
brow pale and white.
stilled her frightened hearts wild beating
"Cpfc.c shall not ring tonight.
1t was o'er-;he bell ceased swaying. and the
maiden stepped once more
Firmly on the damp old ladder, where for
hundred years before,
Human foot had not been planted; and what
she this night had done,
should BE- told long ages aiter,-as he rays Of
setting sun
Light the sky with mellow beauty, aged .sir,s
with head, Of white
Tell the children why the Curfcw did not ring
that ole sal night.
O'crihe distant hills came Cromwell; Bessie
saw him, and her brow.
Lately white with sickening horror, glows
with sudden beauty now;
At hi> feet she told her story, showed her
hands all bruised and torn.
And her sweet Young face 50 haggard. with
look 80 sad and worn.
Touched his heart with sudden pity,-lit his
eyes with misty light;
Go, your lover lives" cried Cromwell; "Cur-
few shall not ring tonight"