The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-11-24
). Curfcw Must Not Rang Tonight


fRepublshed by request.I
Epelards sun was setting DER the hills far wav
Fitted the land with misty beauty at The close OF one
Aud The last rays kiss'd The forehead of man and
He wish step SO slow and weary; she with sunny,
He with bowed head, sad aud thoughtful; sho with
lips 30 cold and white,
Struggled to keep back the murmur, Z" Curfew must
not ring Tonight"
81 xton" Bessie's white lips faltered pointing to
with lis walls 50 tail and gloomy, walls so dark aud
damp, and CO q,
i've lover ia that prison. doomed this very night
At The riuring of The Curfew, and no earthly help
isnigh.
Cromw well win not come I'LL sunset" aid her face
As she spoke in husky whispers "Curfew must not
ring o-nieht"
- Bessie" calmly spoke The sexton-every word
pierce d her young heart
Like a thousand cleaning arrows like deadly
=. Long, oas years i've rung the Curfew from that
gloomy .hadowe tower:
Every evening, ju, at sunset 1t has told the twi-
I have due my duty ever. tried TO do it jast and
right.
rugs night.
wild her eyes aud pale her features stern and white
her thOnghifu brow,
and within her hearts deep centre Bessie made
solemn vow: .
She had lis ened while the judges read, without a
tear or sigh,
- At The ringing of the Curfew-Basil Underwood
must die"
A nd her breath came fast and faster, and her eyes
One low mur mur, scarcely spoken, "Curfew must
not ring tonight"
Che with light step bounded forward, sprang within
the old Church door,
Left the old man coming slowly paths hed troo SO
Not one moment paused the maiden. but with cheek
and brow aglOw,
Staggered up the gloomy tower, where The belswun
Then I've csimbed the Shiny ladder dark, without
Upward still, her pale lips saying, "CurieW 6hdH
not ring Tonight"
She has reached the topmost ladder. DER her hangs
And The awful gloom beneath her, like The pathway
down TO he'll;
And The sight has chilled her bosom. stopped her
breath aud paled her brow.
shall she let IL rGgY No, peyerl her eyes fash with
sudden light,
And she springs and grasps it firmly" Curfew
shat not ring 10 night J"
Out she swung, far Out:he city seemed tiny speck
below;
There, 'twixt heaven and earth suspended, as the
bell swung to and fro:
And the half deaf sexton ringing wears he had rot
heard the bell),
And be thought the twilight Curfew rang young
Basil's funeral knell;
stu the maiden clnaing firmly, cheek and brow so
pale and white,
Slilled her frightened hearts wild beating" Cur
fen shall not ring Tonight"
II was oer-ihe 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 atras the rays OF setting
SUI
Light the sky with mellow beauty, aged sires with
heads OF white
Tell the children why the Curfew did not ring that
one sad night.
Over the distant hills came Cromwell; Bessie saw
him. aud her brow.
Lately white win sickeniug horror CLOVIS with sud-
zen beauty now;
At his feet she told her story, showed her hands all
bruised and tom,
nd her sweet young face, so haegard, with look
so SAD and worn,
Touched his heart with sudden pity-lt his eyes
with misty light;
Go. pur lover hves," cried Cromwell; "Curfew
shall not ring to-nish'."