"On our approach to the ruins of a once clean and neat house, we were suddenly shocked by the approach of an old woman. The genius of extreme wretchedness seemed faithfully pourtrayed in her ghastly countenance.
"She flung herself upon her knees, and in a shrill voice of desperation, imprecated the most direful curses on our heads. "If," says she, "you call yourselves men, and not savages of unequalled brutality, either kill me instantly, and end my extreme sufferings; or, O! let me have help to search for the remains of my children."
"I tenderly exhorted her to calm herself--that she might expect every a.s.sistance; and staying with her till my son had returned with a few soldiers, I learnt, that on the alarm of the sudden approach of our troops to the village, the unrestrained disorder which was naturally to be expected, had forced her son and daughter, with two grandchildren, to seek shelter in a cellar of the house; which house sharing the same unfortunate fate with the rest, was soon pillaged and set on fire--that she herself had fled some little way into the country, and had retired from the danger of the enemy, in hopes that, in case of a discovery, her age might secure her from that fate which her grandchildren, two young women in the bloom of life, might otherwise be exposed to--that their father, who was a notary of the place, with his wife, had resolved on staying with the children in their concealment.
"When my son returned with the soldiers, the old woman showed us the spot where we should search for the poor devoted family. We had not been long at work among the ruins, when we broke into the cellar whither the family had fled. Here a scene presented itself, that would have turned a monarch"s heart from the fell tide of war, which brings such desolation and horror in its course.
"Clasped in each others arms lay two beautiful sisters, with their father and mother by their side, suffocated by the smoke; while the old woman, with horrid yells, was bewailing the loss of her unfortunate children, kissing the bodies, and frantic with grief. My son stood with folded arms musing over this melancholy spectacle.
"I solicited him to depart; I urged him to withdraw from so affecting a scene. Sternly did he turn his eyes on me, and seemed petrified to the spot. In vain did I reason on the necessary consequences of war; that it was no premeditated cruelty, but one of those casual misfortunes that even the civil transactions of life are often checquered with.
"Where is your reason, your manhood, my boy? shall a soldier be overcome with weak womanish feelings? for shame! for shame! All men in the course of their lives must make up their minds to calamities like these. Away!
Your countrymen will ridicule your want of firmness; and the laurels which you have hitherto acquired, will only serve to point you out as a more conspicuous instance of effeminacy.
"I took him by the arm to draw him gently from this distressing sight, when he flung himself away from me, and exclaimed, pointing to the youngest of the girls, whose tongue, from the convulsive gasps of death, hung from her mouth, "Behold this unparalleled butchery of my countrymen! Will not the wrath of heaven revenge this outrage on humanity? Cruel, cruel Prussians! You are b.l.o.o.d.y indeed! accursed profession! h.e.l.l only has invented thee. From this moment I abjure thee.
I will not return to these blood-hounds: I will fly to the desarts for ever, and hide my face from such inhumanity:" with "see there! my father," pointing again to the dead bodies, and burst into a flood of tears.
"It required some force to bear him from this calamitous scene; and so strong was the impression, that a fixed melancholy took entire possession of him: and such was the extreme delicacy and tenderness of his feelings, that I was destined to see this beloved child seized with a violent fever, and to hear him, in the paroxisms of his distemper, rave in the wildest, yet most pathetic language on this event.
"Some little time before he expired, he had fashioned one of the young women into his wife; and starting up in bed, cursing the war which had s.n.a.t.c.hed her away from him, he fixed his eyes ghastly upon me, which I readily translated into a remonstrance for being the author of his unhappy malady, fell back into a swoon, from which he never recovered."
MIRANDA.
A Moral Tale.
(Concluded from page 318.)
Sighs and tears interrupted her speech; her words died on her tongue; she pressed her little companion, and was silent. Her mother begged she might here take up the story.
She was just beginning, when an old woman opened the cottage-door. Her appearance was such as to prejudice beholders in her favour. She set down a basket, which she carried on her arm; and, without speaking a word, was about to retire, when the matron called to her--"This gentleman, Mary, who deigns to interest himself so much in our afflictions, will not, my heart, I know not why, tells me, be offended at your being admitted to his company." I joined my voice to the old lady"s--Mary curtsied, and sat down.
"This, Sir," continued the old lady; "this, Sir, is our Heaven-sent benefactress: under that rustic garb, are virtues which would adorn the possessors of a throne!--But I make you uneasy, my good friend; I will cease to praise you in words: I will only tell your actions, and let them praise you. This worthy creature, Sir, lived with us twenty years.
In that s.p.a.ce, she saved nearly forty pounds; by which we have all, my poor dear husband included, been for these nine months supported."
"The money came from you, my good lady; it was my duty, therefore," said Mary, "when you stood in need, to restore it to you again."
"Her attentions, Sir, would heal our woes, if they could admit of cure: but, alas! that seems impossible. However, when I reflect how miraculously Heaven has. .h.i.therto preserved us, I take comfort; and hope that, in his own good time and manner, he will make us triumph over our calamities. G.o.d is just; he chastens those whom he receives into the number of his children."
"Do not doubt, Madam," exclaimed I, involuntarily clasping her hand; "do not doubt, that G.o.d will speedily cause you to emerge out of this sea of adversity!"
"Will you please, Madam, to take your little supper now?" said Mary, with officious attention.
"We will," replied her mistress; "and this gentleman, if he can put up with our rustic food, will perhaps do us the honour to partake with us."
We moved to the table; and, when supper was over, the old lady returned the clue of the narrative--
"Henry, the rector"s amiable son, returned now from Oxford; he saw, he admired, he loved Miranda. The n.o.bleness of his nature caused him to act in every thing with the strictest honour and integrity. He confessed his pa.s.sion, and received as ingenious reciprocation of love. With generous frankness, he acquainted his father with his attachments. The haughty priest foamed with rage at the bare mention of it, and maddened at the idea of his son"s marrying---these were his words---"a wench without fortune, family, or any thing; the daughter of my curate, too!" In short, from hence forward, he studied only how to distress and ruin us.
His first motion was to get his son out of the way, whom he compelled to take the tour of Europe!---Miranda sobbed aloud--"a joyless tour, alas!
for Henry." We believe he constantly writes to Miranda; but the rector secures his letters, knowing that we are not able to bring him to account. Not satisfied with having separated the lovers, he sought for other means of distressing us; and, having bought the debt which my husband had contracted, thrust him with merciless cruelty into prison.
Here we succour him, and make him as comfortable as such a situation will allow: though the surly priest takes every means of harra.s.sing both him and us."
When the old lady had finished her narrative, I felt such deep commiseration, that I could answer her only by marks of indignation, and by sighs.
Miranda, during the whole time, had been totally absorbed in tears: but, now, collecting herself, she caught my eyes fixed on the little dog.
"You wonder," said she, "no doubt, at the unusual kindness which I manifest towards this little animal. I will put an end to your astonishment. It is the only memorial of my Henry; he gave it to me: we were both wont to amuse ourselves with it; since his departure I have cherished it in my bosom; it has eat of my bread, drank of my cup, and been to me as my lover."
I thanked her for her condescension; and, turning to address the old lady, found her eyes again fastened on me: she examined my features involuntarily, and with seeming forgetfulness; then shook her head as before, and sighed. This striking behaviour, particularly as I found myself similarly circ.u.mstanced, stopped what I was about to utter. I was silent. Soon after, she looked eagerly at me again.
"Excuse me, Sir; I am sensible of my rudeness, but nature impels me to this behaviour; will you have the goodness to ease my doubts, by informing me, whether you are a native of England?"
"No, Madam! but born of English parents in Russia."
"Good Heaven! art thou, then, making me amends for the afflictions thou hast laid upon me!"
"Your words, Madam, distract me! What do they mean? My heart tells me that some kindred tie binds us. Heaven grant that it may be so!"
"Is your name, then, Egerton?"---"The same."
"I thank thee, O G.o.d!"---Here she sunk into a swoon; but was quickly recovered by her daughter and the old servant.
She opened her eyes again; and, by the kindness of indulgent Heaven, I embraced a long-lost-sister! Who can describe my joy?
Our family thought she had become a prey to the waves. She had been shipwrecked, at an early age, in a vessel bound to England; was taken up by an English privateer, and adopted as the captain"s daughter. About the time she married, the captain had been unfortunate; and had, therefore, no portion but about two hundred pounds to give with her, which sum had been long since expended in the education of her children.
He promised, however, to seek out her parents, but was cast away in the voyage. She, therefore, had never heard any thing of them; and, as the captain of the vessel in which herself had been wrecked had her instructions in his possession, she knew not whither she was intended to go to, in England.
Miranda, and her sister, now pressed me to take their bed for the night, as it was too late to return; but, as I was stronger, and in better health than them, I insisted on using the couch.
Early next morning, I repaired to Lord Alton, my worthy host, and acquainted him with my adventure. He hastened with me to relieve my respected, but unknown brother, from the horrors of confinement.
We reached the prison; when, lo! the good man had just been liberated by his future son. Henry had returned in disguise; had discharged the debt; and was now receiving his grateful benediction. I explained who I was: and they received me with tears of joy.
His lordship took upon himself the conciliation of the rector, and immediately set out to acquaint him with all the circ.u.mstances, while we hastened to the cot. I will not attempt to describe the overflowing joy of the old couple, nor the rapturous embraces of the young folks.
Miranda underwent a transient suspension of her faculties, but awakened to never-fading happiness. The two young children climbed the good man"s knees, to share the long-regretted kiss. The old woman gazed on her worthy master, with eyes overflowing with unaffected tears of mingled joy and sorrow. Her extacy was unbounded; she lifted up her hands to Heaven, and silently blessed its goodness! Her master did not neglect her, but quickly received her in a kind and grateful embrace.
We now received a message from his lordship, desiring our attendance immediately. Henry, the worthy curate, and myself, quickly obeyed it. We met the hitherto obdurate father--but, how changed! He was all politeness, all compliance: proud of an alliance with his lordship"s friend and relation--for such Miranda now proved to be. I gave my niece a dower equal to the young man"s fortune.
In a few days the nuptials were celebrated. All the inhabitants of the village shared heartily in their joy. They danced on the village green, and were treated in rustic sumptuousness by the happy bridegroom.
Whispers of blessings showered on them both! Such as had been ungrateful to the father, threw themselves on their knees, and asked his forgiveness; which was readily granted them, with a kind and gentle rebuke. Even the rector sued for pardon, ashamed of his inhuman treatment, as he himself termed it.
His lordship soon after stationed my brother in a comfortable rectory, to which I added five hundred pounds a year as my sister"s fortune.
The old woman survived but a few months: during which time she had been treated as a sister. Her remains were interred in a vault designed for the family; and a small mural monument was erected with this inscription----
To the Memory of MARY S-- A humble Christian, A steady Friend, The best of Servants; Who graced her station by her Virtues; Supported her Master and his Family In their distresses; And strove, with tender and incessant attention, To blunt the stings of Adversity: This Monument Is erected, as a testimony of Grat.i.tude And sincere Respect, And as an example, to excite others To the like pious Conduct, By her grateful Master, W. JACKSON.
Henry, and his ever-lovely Miranda, live in tempered extacies of love; their little dog is treated as a child. They have one child, a sweet boy, called after my name. My niece is again pregnant. May Heaven render my dear little son, and all their future offspring, who are to inherit my estates, as worthy and as virtuous as their parents.