The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-01-02
Anaeraom Yntelliaeleer.
Cureem Must Not Ring Tonight.

The following poem is founded on on in
cident in English history. IN the days Of
the Protectoratc a young soldier was con-
donned to die 'at the ringing Of the Cur
few." His friends intercedcd for him in
vain; and u fair young GIRL who was at
tacled to him. pleaded with his judges to
spare his life at least until tho hour when
she could see the stern Cromwell herself,
but her efforts were fruitlcss. Sho then
sought to bribc the sexton to omit the
Curiew for single day. hut a.. w.e alsc
incxorable. The hour drew on, and the
executioncr stood awaiting the signal which
as ii. poem will show. did not sound that
night.
For the benefit Of our young readers we
may say that the ringing Of the Curfew bell
was practice established IN England by its
Norman conqucrcr. All .he inhabitants
were required to cover their fires, and cx-
tingush their lights, and rest at night. fall
and the bell was rung rs signal at the
appointed hour.
The poem was written by Miss Rosa
IIartwlck, now Mrs. Edmund c. Thorpe,
in April, 1867. She was born in Mishnwaka,
Indiana, July 18th, 1850, and was in her
seventeenth year when she read this little
story of Love and Loyalty" and told it so
swectly in rhyme.
"CURFEsy MUST NOT RING TONIGHT"
Slowly England's sun was setting DER the
hll-tol,s inr away,
Filling all the land with beauty al the close
of one sad day,
And the last rays kissed the forehead OF n
man and maiden fir
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,
.,truggling 20 keep back the murmur-
"Curfew must not ring to night"
Sexton" Tcssic's white lips faltcrcd, point
ing to the prison old.
With its turrcts tall and gloomy, with its
walls dark. damp and cold
i've lover in that prison. doomed this
very night to die,
at the ringing Of the Curlcw, and o earthly
help is nigh;
Cromwell will not come ill sunset" and
her lips grew strangely white
AS she brcathcd the husky whisper
"Curfew must not ring tonight"
Bessie calmly spoke the scxron-cvcry
word pierced her young heart
Like the piercing of an arrow, liko a deadly
poisoned dart,
Long, long years I've rung the Curfcw
from that gloomy. Swallowed tower;
Every evening just ut sunset. it has told the
twilight hour;
have done my duty ever, tried TO 90 it
Just and right,
Now I'm old but still must do it.
Curfcw it must ring tonight"
Mild her eyes and pale her fixtures. stern
and white her thoughtful brow,
And within her secret bosom Bessie made
solemn vow.
She had listened willie the Judges read
without tear or sigh
at the ringing of the Curfcw, Basil Tn
dcrwoOd must die"
And hcr breath came fast ant' faster, ana
her eyes grew large and bright
In nh undertone she Inurmured
''Curfew must not ring to. night 4"
She with quick steps bounded forward,
sprung. without the old church door,
Lett the old inuli tTeading SLOWLY paths SO
Oft he's trod before;
Not ono mOnont paused the mai,icn, but
with eyes and cheek ngIow,
Mounted up the gloomy tower where the
bell ssnns ~ and fro,
AS she climcd the dusty ladder on which
fell no ray Of light,
Up and uP-hcr white lips saying
"Curfow mus. not ring tonight"
She Inns reached the topmost ladder, Ger
her hangs the great dark bell.
Awful is the gloom beneath her, like the
pathway down to hell.
Lo, the ponderous tongue is swinging, It's |
the hour of Curfcw now,
And the sight has chilled her bosom, stopped |
her breath and paled her brow.
Snail she let Il ring? No, never! Flash
her eyes with sudden light
mr. pI grr Il 10
: "Curfew shall not ring tonight"
Out she swung. far out, the city seemed q
speclI of light below,
'Twixt Heaven and earth her form suspend
ed, c. the BELL swing to and fro,
And the sexton ut the bell-rope, old and
deaf, heard not the bell,
But he thought it still was ringing fair
young Basils funeral knell
stu the maiden clnng more firmly, and
with trembling lips and white,
Said, to hush her hearts wild beating
"Curfew shall not ring tonight"
1t was DER, the bell ceased swaying, and the
maiden stepped once more
Firmly on the dark old ladder, where for
hundred years before
Human fat had not been planted. The
brave deed that she had done
Should be told long ages after, as the rays
Of setting sun
Should illume the sky with beauty; aged
s:Tcs with heads Of white.
Long should tell the little children
Curfew did not ring that night.
Ger the distant hills came Cromwell; Bessie
sees him, md her brow,
Full Of hope and full of glalness, has no
anxious traces now.
Al his feet she tells her story shows her
hands all bruised and torn;
And her face so sweet and pleading, yet
with sorrow pale and worn,
Touched his heart with sudden pity, lit his
ego with misty light;
60 |! your lover lives, sail Cromwell,
"Curfew shall not ring tonight -
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