The Pascagoula democrat-star., 1880-10-01
For the DemoeTat-star.
THE ROCK OF DE4TH.
BY CLINTON.

- f.,
pears under the name OF Clinton feel
that owe no further apology. y.-CaISToN.
On beetling erass Of awful mein,
That oyerhung from dizzy height
The dark depths of the Rhine below,
Rose tallerstill, and grandly high,
A castle, massive, old and grim,
Whose minarets aud lofty spires
Reached heayenward thro' the quiy'riug
air.
Its old stone walls were gray and green
From mosses, vines, and dusty age
For centuries had known the place.
But strong the castle was, and yet
Bore marks of gallant ehiyalry.
Within, long corridors there were,
With arms Of lovers Of the chase
Hung on their walls, and spacious halls,
Where rcv'lng crowds were wont to dance
And festive spend the wee, small hours
Beneath the'brlliant golden lamps
That glttered in their 'traucing light
From th' grand worked ceiling overhead
Aud scores OF slaves TO minister
into the guests of Rupert, knight
And Barou bold Of old Khyuhart,-
The brave Of all the bravest kulghts,
The daring ehieftain of their elan.
Sir Rupert bad daughter, whose
Rare beauty wrought sad havoc with
The heart Of many u snitton Knight.
And we'll the g,rl did 10, ,e the bold,
Zen reckless spirit which SO fllsd
Her sire. Proud Knights, t,om leagues
arooud, -
Had sought to win Gwendolens hand
But all in vain The naughty girl,
As pmud'as was her sire, but gave
Her -uitors sneers--or pitied them.
But heautiiul-aye, fair she was,
And still her urging wooers pressed
lIer with their pleas and vows of love;
Bat no purpose-'for her heart
Was loeSed against their pleading love.
Oae day, as chance her father came
From some long chase, of fox or stag,
He brought with him to dine, q friend
Aud as they wearied rode, aud neared
The castle,-"lIere, quoth Rupert, "page
Run thou, and to thy mistress say,
That Rupert brings his friend to dine;
Prepare the wine, that since the chase,
viii make. us merry. 40 thou, haste"
Now, round the ella, a path there lay,
Where only man rgoat had trod,
So difficult, 50 narrow twas.
Instead of going thro' the wood,
A longer tho a safer way,
Thepage wish'eustomed foot tripp'd round
The dangerous crag aud passed quite safe
To the other side. The stranger with
An anxious heart there silent reined
His horse, and watched the lad cross Ger
" Sir Rupert, twas dangerous freak
The boy should choose that path"
Nay" quoth the Knight, Il, with my
steed, rs
Could cross the place and would not fsll;'
= ! .ha eriand .syer aara nat
1T is said country editors VIII
Trayel as far as forty miles to at
lend q barbecue. That's SO.
! Mr.. j. l.. Norris is agent of the
Southern express company at Mis-
sissippi. Office at his hotel.
There are no labor strikes IL
hese parts as yet, but we do moi
know how soon such may be inau
gurated. lr,y
The dengue feyeris still on The
rampage in our town. New vic
Tins to its prey are reported every
day.
Aheh as tney Iell-uown, uown. Inro
The Rhine below; and meath its wave
Proud Rupert sank, a bleeding corse.
Aud since that fall, the people call
The awful crag-" The Rock of Deathw
uwendolen grew more naughty now;
mo grieyed to lose her sire, yet more
she loved his daring. More, she swore
She'd neer accept suitor not
AS bold as Rupert was; the Knight
VINO won her hand aud heart must pass
The Rock Of Death. Aud many who
were tiuid ceased to urge, at this
hash, cruel vow. But some there were
VI braver heart, and wiling. too,
10 risk lilo to gain the fair
Gwendolen's hand,
Ihere came a. knight
uhe morn, with spurs and armor bright,
Andat the castles gate did vow
alls vow to-pass the roek--or die.
Inc lady'vowed her hand, If brave
enough he be TO cross the elf.
he kissed her hand and rode away;
nnt, ahl poor knight, he rode to death.
ihe fatalrock, with-eager arms
m"u breast, seemed 70 invite his steed
40 slip. lie did not cross, but like
Inc Knight before, he found hts fate
VI Hnnual L.. a -. / i Z ~ !