Unconscious of the high sublimity, As 'twere a common thing-thy soul unaw'd, 4. And thou must sail upon this sea, a long, Eventful voyage. The wise may suffer wreck, Points to the light that changes not, in Heaven. 5. Farewell—Heaven smile propitious3 on thy course, 'Blend' ing, joining; mingling. Fåth' om less, too deep to be measured; that which can not be understood.- Propitious (pro pish' us), highly favorable to success. And favoring breezes waft thee to the arms CHRISTIAN DISCIPLE. 146. CRIME ITS OWN DETECTER. AGAINST the prisoner at the bar, as an individual, I can not have the slightest prejudice. I would not do him the smallest injury or injustice. But I do not affect to be indifferent. to the discovery and the punishment of this deep guilt. I cheerfully share in the opprobrium,' how much soever it may be, which is cast on those who feel and manifest an anxious concern that all who had a part in planning, or a hand in executing, this deed of midnight assassination, may be brought to answer for their enormous crime at the bar of public justice. 2. Gentlemen, this is a most extraordinary3 case. In some respects, it has hardly a precedent* anywhere—certainly none in our New England history. An agèd man, without an enemy in the world, in his own house, and in his own bed, is made the victim of a butcherly' murder, for mere pay. Deep sleep had fallen on the destined victim, and on all beneath his roof. A healthful old man, to whom sleep was sweet-the first sound slumbers of the night hold him in their soft, but strong embrace. 3. The assassin enters through the window, already prepared, into an unoccupied apartment; with noiseless foot, he paces the lonely hall, half-lighted by the moon; he winds up the ascent' of the stairs, and reaches the door of the chamber. Of this he moves the lock, by soft and continued pressure, till it turns on 'Op pro' bri um, reproach with contempt or disdain; disgrace.--2 Assas sin a' tion, the act of murdering by secret assault, or by sudden violence. Extraordinary (eks trår' de na ri), uncommon; remarkable.— ♦Préc' e dent, something that may serve for a rule in after cases of a like nature; some instance of a like kind.--* Bütch' er ly, cruel; bloody. its hinges; and he enters, and beholds his victim before him. The room was uncommonly light. The face of the innocent sleeper was turned from the murderer; and the beams of the moon, resting on the gray locks of his agèd temple, showed him where to strike. The fatal blow is given, and the victim passes, without a struggle or a motion, from the repose of sleep to the repose of death! 4. It is the assassin's purpose to make sure work; and he yet plies the dagger, though it was obvious that life had been destroyed by the blow of the bludgeon.' He even raises the agèd arm, that he may not fail in his aim at the heart, and replaces it again over the wounds of the poniard! To finish the picture, he explores the wrist for the pulse! he feels it, and ascertains that it beats no longer! It is accomplished! The deed is done! He retreats-retraces his steps to the window, passes through as he came in, and escapes. He has done the murder; no eye has seen him, no ear has heard him; the secret is his own, and he is safe! 5. Ah, gentlemen, that was a dreadful mistake. Such a secret can be safe nowhere. The whole creätion of God has neither nook nor corner, where the guilty can bestow it and say it is safe. Not to speak of that eye which glances through all disguises, and beholds every thing as in the splendor of noon,such secrets of guilt are never safe; "murder will out." 6. True it is that Providence hath so ordained, and doth so govern things, that those who break the great law of heaven, by shedding man's blood, seldom succeed in avoiding discovery. Especially in a case exciting so much attention as this, discovery must and will come, sooner or later. A thousand eyes turn at once to explore every man, every thing, every circumstance, connected with the time and place; a thousand ears cătch every whisper; a thousand excited minds intently dwell on the scene; shedding all their light, and ready to kindle the slightest circumstance into a blaze of discovery. 7. Meantime the guilty soul can not keep its own secret. It is false to itself—or, rather, it feels an irresistible impulse of 1 Bludgeon (blůd' jun), a short stick, with one end loaded, and heavier than the other; a thick stick or club.-2 Poniard (pån' yard), a small dagger. conscience to be true to itself-it labors under its guilty possession, and knows not what to do with it. The human heart was not made for the residence of such an inhabitant; it finds itself preyed on by a torment which it dares not acknowledge to God or man. A vulture is devouring it, and it asks no sympathy or assistance either from heaven or earth. 8. The secret which the murderer possesses soon comes to possess him; and like the evil spirits of which we read, it overcomes him, and leads him withersoever it will. He feels it beating at his heart, rising to his throat, and demanding disclosure. He thinks the whole world sees it in his face, reads it in his eyes, and almost hears its workings in the very silence of his thoughts. It has become his master; it betrays his discretion; it breaks down his courage; it conquers his prudence. When suspicions from without begin to embarrass him, and the net of circumstances to entangle him, the fatal secret struggles with still greater violence to burst fōrth. It must be confessed; it will be confessed; there is no refuge from confession but in suicide,' and suicide is confession. DANIEL WEBSTER. 147. THE GREEK EMIGRANT'S SONG. 1. NOW upon the wave OW launch the boat I will not live a cowering slave, In these polluted islands more. 2. The wind is blowing off the shore, That heaven seems opening to my view. 'S'i clde, self-murder.-* Cån' o py, covering overhead. 3. I will not live a cowering slave, Though all the charms of life may And sky, be drawn in tints divine: 4. Sweeter than spicy gales, that blow shine From orange-groves with wooing breath, 5. Softer than Minder's winding stream, 6. Brighter than all the tales they tell Hung round with glowing tapestry1— Swell brighter o'er a freeman's form. 7. The spring may here with autumn twine, may And fresh-blown flowers, and racy wine Dearer the wild and snowy hills Where hale and ruddy Freedom smiles. Low' er ing, dark; gloomy; frowning.-2 Lo' tus, a class of plants the fruit or seeds of which are eaten.- Pageantry (på' jent ri), something for vain outward display or appearance.-Tåp' es try, a kind of woven hangings for rooms, often enriched with gold and silver, representing figures of men, animals, landscapes, &c. |