Year: 1875

In the time of Cromwell, a young
soldier, for some offence, was condemned
to die, and the time of his death was
fixed sat the ringing of the curfew."
Naturally such doom would be fearful
and bitter to one in the years of his
hope and pride, but to this unhappy
youth death was doubly terrible, since
he soon was to have been married to a
beautiful young lady whom he had long
loved. The lady, who loved him ardent
ly in return, had used her utmost efforts
to avert his fate. pleading with the judg-
es, and even with Cromwell himself, but
all in vain. In her despair she tried to
bribe the old sexton not to ring the bell,
but she found that impossible. The hour
drew near for the execution. The pre-
parations were completed. The officers
of the law brought forth the prisoner,
and waited, while the sun was setting,
for the signal from the distant bell-tower.
To the wonder of everybody, it did not
ring Only one human being at that
moment knew the reason. The poor
girl, half wild with the thought of her
lovers peril, had rushed, unseen, up the
winding stairs, and climbed the ladders
into the belfry loft and seized the tongue
of the bell The old sexton was in his
place, prompt to the fatal moment. He
threw his weight upon the rope, and the
bell, obedient to his practiced hand,
reeled and swung to and fro in the tower.
But the brave girl kept her hold, and
no sound issued from its metallic lips.
Again and again the sexton drew the
rope, but with desperate strength the
young heroine held on. Every move
ment made her position more fearful !;
every sway of the BELLS huge weight
threatened to fling her through the high
tower window but she would not let go
AT last the sexton went away. Old and
deaf, he had not noticed that the curfew
gave no peal. The brave girl descended
from the belfry, wounded and trembling.
She hurried from the church to the place
of execution. Cromwell himself was
there, and was just sending to demand
why the bell was silent


Slowly England's setting Ger the hiltops
Filling all the land with beauty at the close of one
/ sad day,
And the last ray kissed the forehead of man and
He with footsteps slow and weary, she with sunny
floating hair;
lips all cold and white.
Struggled to keep back the murmur,-
| Curfew must not ring tonight.


Sexton" Bessie's white lips faltered pointing to
With its turrets tall and gloomy with its walls dark
damp and cold.


I've lover in that prison, doomed this very night
TO die,


At the ringing of the Curfew and no earthly help is
Cromwell will not come till sunset" and her lips
grew strangely white
/ As she breathed the husky Whisper
Curiew must not ring to- night"


Bessie. calmly spoke the sexton, every word pierre
| ed her young heart


Like the piercing of an arrow like deadly poisoned
dart,


Long, long years I've rung the Curfew from that
, gloomy, shadowed tower;


Every Evening Just at sunset it has told the twi-
have done my duty ever. tried to do it just and
Now I'm old i still must do it.
Curtew it must ring to- night"


Wild her eyes and pale her features stern and white
her thoughtful brow.


And within her secret bosom Bessie made solemn
She had listened while the judges read without
tear sigh.


"At the ringing OF the curfew. Basil Underwood
must de-


And her breath came fast and faster, and her eyes
nd briRht-


In an undertone she murmured.-
| Curfew must not ring tonight"
She with quick steps bounded forward. sprung with
in the old church door,
Lett the old man threading slowly paths so oft he'd
trod before;


Not one moment paused the maiden, but with eye
Mounted up the gloomy tower. where the bell
swung to and fro.


And she climbed the dusty ladder on which fell no
ray of light.
| Up and up,--her white lips saying,
Curfew shall not ring to night"
She had reached the topmast ladder, DER her hangs
the great dark bell;


Awful is the gloom beneath her. like pathway


down to hell.


And the sight has chilled her bosom. stopped her
Shall she let it ring? No.. neyeri Flash her eyes
with sudden light,
| And she springs and grasps it firmly
"Curfew shall not ring tonight"
Ouh shc ouNt bHS city sSemeu hpSck OF
light below.


Twixt heaven and earth her form suspended as the
And the sexton at the beiirope. old and deaf heard
not the bell


But he thought it still ringing fair young Basis
funeral knell.
| Still the maiden cung most firmly, and with trem-
bling lips and white.
| Said to hush her hearts wild beating-
"Curfew shall not ring to night"
1t o'er. the bell ceased swsyng and the maiden


stepped once more
Firmly on the dark old ladder, where for hundred
years before,
Human foot had not been planted. The brave deed
that she had done


Should be told long ages after the rays of setting


sun,


Should illume the sky with beauty aged sires with
heads OF white.
Long should tell the little children
Curfew did not ring that night.
Ger the distant hills came Cromwell; Bessie sees


him. and her brow.


Full OF hope and full of gladness has no an xious


traces now.


At bis feet she tells her lsory shows her hands all
bruised and torn;


And her face sweet and pleading. yet with sorrow


pale and worn,


Touched his heart with sudden pity lit his eye with


misty light;
Go your lover lives" said Cromwell
Curfew shall not ring tonight"
Every married man of Sr;r;t III