spreading in long neglected tresses on her neck and bosom.
And thus in silence she sat, a statue of grief, sometimes with
her eyes hard fixed upon the earth, like one lost in thought,
sighing and groaning the while as if her heart would burst --
then starting, as from a reverie, she would dart her eager eyes,
red with weeping, on her husband's face, and there would gaze,
with looks so piercing sad, as though she saw him struggling in the halter,
herself a widow, and her son an orphan. Straight her frame would begin
to shake with the rising agony, and her face to change and swell;
then with eyes swimming in tears, she would look around upon us all,
for pity and for help, with cries sufficient to melt the heart of a demon.
While the child seeing his father's hands fast bound, and his mother weeping,
added to the distressing scene, by his artless cries and tears.

The brave are always tender-hearted. It was so with Jasper and Newton,
two of the most undaunted spirits that ever lived. They walked out
in the neighboring wood. The tear was in the eye of both.
Jasper first broke silence. "Newton," said he, "my days have been but few;
but I believe their course is nearly done."

"Why so, Jasper?"

"Why, I feel," said he, "that I must rescue these poor prisoners,
or die with them; otherwise that woman and her child will haunt me
to my grave."

"Well, that is exactly what I feel too," replied Newton --
"and here is my hand and heart to stand by you, my brave friend,
to the last drop. Thank God, a man can die but once,
and there is not so much in this life that a man need be afraid to leave it,