The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1899-02-02

me, let him eend this holy nj to
my dear young wife. twill sonso-
lation to her until the h Of her
DEATH"
Not a hand was raiseS take the
holy jewel, and casti II on the
ground, and crushing IN his foot,
he exclaimed: $50 s;iiied a relic
shall not be defile' your Pagan
touch!"
kneeling dowr - Kissed the rem
nants of the bro !. lcoana, and signed
to the execu : % do his work.
Prince III 'ar sighed once more
deeply, but gain: Good Lord.
Thy will l ~
Then tan called:
"Brar .. a single child now only
renal q &c! Reflect before thou
sacr =. aiso!"
T ',nce looked on the form of his
de BOY. on his wife below, who
/ .',ated and was happily still in
si'h.e, on his beautiful daughter who
cas choking with convulsive sobs, and
.Cr 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
and be happy"
The boys soft eyes sought those of
his father, as if to gain strength and
courage.
81 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 curls, 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 headless
corpse.
At length he rose in great fury and
cursed his enemies. crying out: PA
gans! you have slain my four sons!
May God destroy you and yours, may
He wipe you all from the face of the
Garth! May you have no ground in
which to be buried and may your souls
never know peace or rest!"
The sultan and his servants were sc
highly incensed at this anathema that
they tore off his vestments in shreds-
it is even said that they tore the skin
from his flesh. the while calling him:
"Ghiour. Dog of Christian"
Brancovan raised his voice for the
last time:
"You can cut my flesh into morsels,
nevertheless Constantin Brancovan
dies faithful Christian. Though for
saken, and abandoned by all, he will
rest in Christ Jesus!"
The yataghan of the executioner
closed his early career.
Then the grandchld Of the old prince
who had hidden himself in a woman's
skirts-was perceived by the execu-
tioner, who caught him, and holding
him up by his hair. cried:
rs this one to remain alive, or shall
he follow his elders?"
At this moment woman beat her
way through the crowd, and olding up
child high in her arms, said, Stay
your hand! that is my child, this one is
Brancovan's grandson?"
It was the nurse who heroically gave
her own offspring to save the last re-
naming princely heir! She witnessed
nnflinchingly the sacrifice of her child.
clasped the other one to her breast and,
vowing holy VOW, she fed with him.
After some time had elapsed the
widows Of these unfortunate princes
were set at liberty, and withdrew to
Venice. They did not return to their
own country for many years. One of
Brancovan's daughters. Domnitza Bal.
asha, WAS SO deeply impressed by
their misfortunes that she re tired 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 fue 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 Of
DomnitZa Balasha.