Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-11-07
THE ROT1L ZULE.


Beneath the shade Of a grove of palms a
Zulu maiden knelt in prayer on the morning
Of the fatal 22d of January, 1879. Her face
was pretty beyond most Of her country-wo-
men, and her small hands and feet, her dis
tinguishing ornaments, and graceful form be-
spoke her the daughter of some powerful
chief. But strange, considering her nation
ality, were the words which flowed from her
lips as she raised her clasped hands to heaven.
Not from witchcraft or enchantment or from
the equally powerless dcites Of her nation,
did she seek for help, but from Him only, the
one true God, Jehovah.
Father :" she cried, ito whom all the ends
of the earth look for help in trouble, hear me
for the sake of Jesus. The evil spirit of war
and persecution has come down and entered
my fathers kraal and Cetywayo has folded
his hands and bowed his ear TO listen. He
has sworn to drink the blood of the white
men, and eat up all the Christian Zulus of his
nation. 0 Great Father in this hour of
trial, keep Cassatonga and me faithful to thy
self
At this moment movement beside her
caused the worshipper to turn round, and she
behed stately warrior standing near her,
leaning ON his black shield. His eyes were
fixed with unspeakable love on the youthful
form before him. Lucia" he said, your
prayer for me is answered: | can fight no
more for Cetywayo. Last night the murder,
indescribable in cruelty, Of Sirayo's wives,
for their adherence to the Christian faith,
proves what little mercy the king would show
toward any one, even yourself, were you to
oppose his will and though it is your duty
TO bear persecution when it comes, it is no
doubt equally madness to provoke it. Here
we can no longer stay without declaring our
faith and therefore We must hy with all haste
to Helpmakaar. You know the good mission
ary there. the same who taught us the will of
the Grcat Master. and beneath his care YOU
will be safe from your fathers wrath. This
alternative is the only one left to us, and |
feel it is the right one. viii YOU come now,
IuoIay Nv horse stands ready in the thick
ct"
II will" And though the hand extended
to him trembled, the voice was steady that de-
cided their fate.
"By Rorkes Drift is our shortest road" he
said. ms they reached the tree where his horse
was fastened and placing the princess on its
back. he mounted behind her, and turned his
steed in the direction of the Buffalo They
travelled for some hours with extreme caution,
skirtinp every kraal and omen ground. till at
length they arrived at large thckly planted
wood. in which they hopcd to find an hours
repose. But they had scarcely dismounted
ere the roar of artillery and the cracking of
rifles mingled with Wild wells were heard
the distance. and Cassatonpa fastened to con-
ceal his royal charge before endeavoring to
discover the cause. Hiding Lucia and his
horse in the densest part of the grove around
him he selected lofty tree. whose thick
branches would be n shield in themselves
Climbing with the agility of his nation to the
topmost bouphs. he beheld the fatal field of
Isandula spread out before him. Amazement
ot the uuexpected sight and deem admiring
pity flashed in his ewes as he looked ON the
inv hand of white men who. shoulder to
shoulder received unflinchingly the masses of
his countrymen. as thew swept down upou
them
The first emotion of his heart WAS to Ay to
the mid of the devoted column. but the Thought
of his bride restrained him. and he sank back
among the sbelterinq leaves Straininp his
siobt over tho avvfnl nlain he could distin-
guish his own fierce rtpinent although fore
most in the work of death vet not so preoc-
cunied Herewith as to bo nnconscious of the
nInnder which Law around. pausiug even in
their butchery to collect cattle, stores, and
WAGONS To he driven to their distant kraals.
Horror and disgust filled his now enlightened
soul, "Why do those English soldiers stand
there " he asked himself as the breath came
onickIv tbronoh his laborinp chest ION that
Main 9f Africa far away from tbeir island
homes to be shot down. steady in their mattel h.
less ranks bv their swartLy foes ?" His own
heart gave him the reply '.To save helpless
women from the savage butchery he beheld
last night: to guard the gray hairs of old age
from going down to a terrible grave beneath
the real or feigned imputations of witchcraft
and divination and, above all, to teach the
pure faith of the Gospel where reigned the
degrading demonology of his native land. "
His dark eyes blazed and his pulses throbbed
as these thoughts surged through his mind,