Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-01-08
to Priscilla, with instructions to offer

to Priscilla, with instructions to offer
her his hand in marriage.
She Indignantly rejected it because
the captain did not present his own
claims in person. Alden plead the
captains cause with such zeal and
tenderness that the maiden became
fascinated with his persuasive elo-
quence and captivatingly asks:
" Why don't you speak for yourself,
John?" Astounded at this unex-
pected interrogation, he rushed like
a mad man out into the open air and
to the seashore, where he wandered
in bewilderment till at last in fear
and anxiety, he returned to the
captains room, whom he found
eagerly awaiting reply from Pris
ella. But when it was delivered, he
burst out in storm of rage, not less
terrific than that Of the roar of the
sea. At this moment,
messenger announced expected
danger from the Indians,
when the captain FASTENED to arm
himself and joined the council which
was in session. The Indian presents
ed his rattle-skin full of arrows,
which the captain unloaded, and filled
it with powder and lead, and banded
it back to him with looks of defiance.
He resolved upon wsr, and pursued
the savage, whose chiefs met him with
Boosting and abuse. The Indians
were closing around him when he
leaped upon the insulting savage,
seized his knife and stabbed him to
the heart. Then his cannon spread
death and terror among them and
they fled. In the mean time Alden
had won the heart of Priscilla, while,
in their sweetest love-naking, mes
senger announced the terrible news
that Standish was dead, and that the
town would be burned and all would
be murdered. Alden was ecstatic in
his sense Of freedom, and clasped the
statue like form of Priscilla in his at
fectionate embrace. The wedding
day was named and ceremony per
formed, when, like an apparition, the
awful form of Miles Standish sprang
into the room. He grasped the hand
of Alden, implored his pardon, and
said with smile: q should have re-
membered the adage If you would
be well served you must serve your
self and moreover, mo man can
gather cherries in Kent at the season
OF Christmas.
Such is the golden thread of this
captivating story, a gem among the
poetic jewels Of Longfellow.
In it's delightful rendition the Rev.
gentleman seems to have just con-
ception of the spirit of it's interest
ing character. At first he intro>
duced the story in pleasant colloquy
and easy PRESERVATION. He then pic
tured the scene of Alden first meet
ing Priscilla with tenderness, and
adorned it with pleasing drapery.
On, he showed a high order of
dramatic talent, when he burst forth
in volcanic rage and hatred, using
/ the oratund and gutteral tones with
great power in the language of the
captains fearful disappointment. In
the scene where Standish thrusts the
dagger of the insolent savage to his
heart, the acting was so fine in this
tragedy that the audience greeted it
with applause,
reminded me somewhat of Forest
in the tragedies Of Shakespere's plays.
Having visited the home of the poet
Laureate, when in New England, the
recalling of this poem excited fresh
interest in his productions, and
showed that the Rev. Mr.. Sparrow
possesses many Of the clements of a
successful dramatist and reader.