The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1882-03-29

=
fierce and terrific impulses, till at length
the graceful attributes Of mind and man
ners by which the Queen, the beauty
and the patroness Of learning had been
distinguished, were forgotten in the am
azon and the ayenger."
With n husband wanting in resolution
and frmness, and whose mind was fire.
quently afflicted, with princely boy, TO
guard whose interests the most constant
and anxious vigilance were requisite, tho
Queen was imperatively called upon to
exercise 10 the full all the courage,
promptitude and determination she pos.
sessed.
The luctuating fortunes OF those long
continued deadly Wars Of the Roses
afford proof-if such. be wanting--that
the influence Of the Qneenly Margaret
was something above and beyond that
Of an ordinary woman. Time after.
time, when even veteran commander
might have reasonably concluded all
was lost, Margaret rallied fresh adj.
herents TO her standard. So long as her
husband lived, so long as her princely
son was safe beside her, she never lost
heart nor courage, nor energy.
From the terrible battle Of Hcxham
she, in mortal terror for her sons life,
fled with him on foot through the neigh.
boring forest, till they encountered
band Of robbers who possessed them
selves Of her Jewels. While the men
were disputing over the booty, Mar
garet caught her son up III heI arms and
sped on. She had not proceeded far
when she met one Of the troop alone.
With her usual spirit and self-possession
she stepped forward with her little son,
and, presenting him TO the robber, ex-
claimed "Here, my friend, save the
son Of your Kingw The man, struck
by her beauty aud majesty, as well as
by the boys interesting and helpless app
pearance, turned his threatened cnmity
into fricndliness, and he led them to O
cave where he sheltered them for two
days.
All readers of history know how Mar
garet's heroic struggles were finally
overcome in the last brave effort Of the
Lancastrians at Towksbury, that "iatal
field that witnessed the death Of "the
gallant, springng young Piautaqenet."
Tho despair OF Queen Margaret at this
overwhelming disaster was lifelong.
She was brought TO London with tile
youthful widow OF her beloved son, tl.e
Inflated Anne OF Warwick, to grace the
train Of the victor. The same night tine
Queen was imprisoned in the Tower.
and TO the loss Of her son was added
that Of her husband, WHO was murdered
at the same time by Richard, Duke Of
Gloucester.
After long and weary period, in
which she was conscious Of nothing but
an awful sense Of utter desOlAtion, the
childlcss, widowed and dethroned Queen
was ransomed by her kind old father,
King Rene, at the sacrifice OF hii inner.
itance OF Proyence-oi that Provence
which had once rung with joyful accla-
nations at sight OF the lovely Margaret
and her beautiful mother. AuiOu's
lone matron had now drunk too deeply
of the cup Of sorrow and bitterness t.
take much interest in anything That life
could offer her. The agony end fierce
agitations she had undergone turned
the whole mass Of her blood, and every
trace of her once rayishing beauty dis.
appeared. She made the most strcuu-
GUS efforts to obtain the bodies Ot ACI
murdered husband and son. Even this
consolation WAS denied her; YET up t.
the last day of her life she employed
some faithful ecclcSiaatics in England
to perform at their humble graves the
offices deemed needful for the rcpose O!
their souls.
The remainder Of her life was passed
in the greatest seclusion. She expired
at the Chateau of Dampriargc on the
2jth Of August, 1850, in her jlst year