The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-12-16

Is sweet TO thee, EN- brace our faith. be
iree, be happy"
The young Rrancoyan did not seem
to hear these words, but took from his
vest an lcoana-a sacred iinage-which
he wore next 10 his heart, and holding
IL out said:
III any among W here have pity upon
me, let him send this holy Icoana 10
my dear young wife. IL will be a conso-
lation To her until the hour Of her
death"
Not hand was raised to take the
holy jewel, and casting ii on the
ground. and crushing ii with his foot.
lie exclaimed: 80 sanctified relic
shall not be aeiiled by your Pagan
touch!"
knceling down he kissed the rem
nants OF the broken lcoana. and signed
TO the execu,ioner TO do his work.
Prince Brancoyan sighed once more
deeply, but said again Good Lord,
Thy viii be done."
Then the sultan called:
'Branco,an, a single child now only
remains 20 thee. Reflect before thou
sacrifices him also."
1ae prince looked on the form OF his
delicate boy. on his wife below, who
had tainted and was happily still in
sensible. on his beautiful daughter who
was choking with conyulsive sobs, and
after making the sign Of the cross
again said:
''The Lords will be DONE"
Child" cried the sultan. "If thou
wilt embrace our faith, thou shalt live
mad be happy"
Ihe boys soft eyes sought those OF
his father, as if to gain strength and
courage.
Il die willingly, my father" he said
in firm tone. 1T is true that | am
! Young, but am Of thy race,'
And shortly his youthful head
crowned with rich dark c9rls, was sew
cred from his body
Then, and then only, did the old
mans strength. fail him. as he fell on
his knees and kissed the hcadless
corpse.
At length he rose in great fury anc
cursed his enemies, crying out: Pa
gans' you have slain my four sons.
May God destroy you and yours. may
lie wipe you all from the face of the
earth. May you have no ground ir
which TO be buried and may your soul.
never know peace or rest"
The sultan and his servants were Sc
highly incensed at this anathema tha;
they tore off his vestments in shreds-
il is even said that they tore the skin
from his flesh. the willie calling him:
"Ghiour. Dog of Chrisiianl"
Brancovan raised his voice for tn,
last time:
You can cut my flesh into morsels
nevertheless Constantin Brancovar
dies faithful Christian. Though for
saken, and abandoned by all, he will
rest in Christ Jesus"
The yataghan Of the executionel
closed his early career.
Then the grandchild of the old prime,
who had hidden himself in a woman's
slNiris--was perceived by the execu
tioner. who caught him, and holding
him up by his hair. cried:
is this one TO remain alive. or shall
he follow his elders?''
At this moment woman beat hel
way through the crowd and holding UP
a child high i'm her arms. said: stay
your hand. that is my child, this one is
Erancovan's grandson ?"
1t was the nurse who heroically gave
her own offspring to save the last re
naming princciy heir, She witnessed
unflinchingly the sacrifice of her child
clasped the other one TO her breast and
vowing a holy vow. she fed with him
After some time had elapsed the
widows of these unfortunate prince:
were set NJ liberty, and withdrew &c
Venice. They did not return TO their
own country for many years. One OF
Brancovan's daughters. Domnitza Bal
asha, was SO deeply impressed b,
their miSfortunes that she retired to
monastery, and would receive no part
of her share of the vast inheritance
which had produced such dire misfor
tune TO her family.
She caused the fine Brancovan hos.
pital at Bucharest TO be erected and
an almshouse for decayed gentlewom.
en-. as well as very beautiful church
which TO this day bears the name oil
Dominica Balasha.