Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

nals, that there are now, and likely to be for years, plenty of openings for good engravers-that unskilled labour is of no value in the literary market-that it is necessary to bestow a certain amount of close application upon whatever branch of art may be taken in hand as a profession-that this training may be received, and this application bestowed, at this Government School,* which we now confidently recommend to the notice of parents, especially those having young daughters dependent on them for subsistence, to whom we would earnestly suggest the advantages of apprenticing girls to so lucrative a profession.

M. S. R.

XXII-A MARTYRDOM.

A Fragment upon the Martyrdom of that youngest of the Saints, the young Master of Wardour: by that poor Servant of his father's house, Patience Morley, 7th May, 1679.

I was close to the door of the brown parlour, when I suddenly came upon Mistress Faith, whose looks were sad but serene. "Oh, dear Mistress Faith!" cried I, catching at her dress and drawing her aside, “what has your honoured mother decided to do, in order to set this worthy man of God on his way out of the reach of the Malignants?" "There is a pass known to few, good Patience," answered she, "which leadeth to a safe place, where a chosen number will keep him close. I may not tell thee more, but Arthur, young as he is, knows every foot of the pass, even were he blindfold. It cannot be undertaken until night favours us: by to-morrow's dawn, please God, Arthur will have seen him safe to the hill-country, that chosen vessel of mighty things to come. We may not refuse to put our hands to the work when called, nor hinder others doing so: but, oh Patience! would it were to-morrow, and noon, when I trust we may have our Arthur back and safe with us!" Oh, Mistress Faith!" exclaimed I, bursting into tears, "how can your honoured mother have decided to send that dear child on so dangerous an errand ?" "My mother has many and weighty reasons which bear this decision in on her mind. For one thing, so young a person as Arthur will be less suspected. Indeed, my beloved mother has rightly determined: I am quite convinced now.' “Mistress Faith, Mistress Faith!" repeated I, in an agony of apprehension, "do you

[ocr errors]

66

*All communications to be addressed to Henry Cole, Esq., Head Master's Office, Cromwell Gardens, South Kensington, S.W.

VOL. I.

know what you are all about? Do you know that this man of God
is what the Erastians call an attainted traitor? Do you know the
penalty of resetting, supplying, or intercommuning with such a
one? That to correspond by word, writ, or message; to supply
him with meat, drink, or harbour, is denounced under the highest
pains? What are you all thinking of? Why, they will take him
and shoot him-him, Master Arthur, I mean-if ever they catch
him, on the very spot! The soldiers are prowling everywhere, and
you know my young master cannot start on this expedition until
the night be far advanced, on account of the moonlight." "Dear
Patience," returned Mistress Faith, looking ready to weep herself,
"go to my mother: this matter is well-nigh above me." She ran up
stairs, and I, turning to the brown parlour, opened the door, and
went in. My lady had her back turned to me as I entered. On
approaching, I found she was setting one of her drawers to rights,
and had in her hand a little red shoe, which Master Arthur had worn
when an infant. She looked up as I came near; then, as if it needed
explanation, remarked, "You see I have turned a thrifty housewife
this afternoon, my good wench. This drawer sadly wanted order-
ing. But, how now? what hath befallen thee, my good Patience?"
With all duty, made bold by the urgency of the case, driven by love
and fear, I ventured, then, to remonstrate with the honoured lady.
I put the matter very home; I did not spare her one thing, so
desperate was I, and I set all the danger before her eyes with cruel
words. "You see, my dear and honoured madam," I concluded,
"what terrible risk must be run: shall it be by the youngest, the
darling of all our hearts; the one of greatest promise of all? Oh,
no! this must not be! You will graciously try me instead, you will
indeed! The Lord will assist me to compass this affair, and to bear in
my mind all your directions?" "Sit down here beside me, my good
Patience," replied my lady very solemnly, "and let me set this affair
before thee, as the Lord hath set it before me, after many prayers
and tears. For this hath not been one of His easy tasks. This
chosen vessel of God, this great and shining light, must not be let
to fall into the hands of the Men of Belial, who are his cruel
enemies!" "Doubtless, doubtless, honoured madam, but
"Has the House of Wardour ever betrayed its ancient trust to the
meanest thing that claimed its shelter? shall it be treacherous, then,
to its dearest friend in the hour of his sorest need? for there is
mercy for none who ever had the smallest hand in the death of the
Archbishop." "Oh, my lady, treachery and the name of Wardour
are the two poles! but She authoritatively broke in upon
"Patience, God doth not set us our tasks as we should choose
them. Could I but do this- oh, my God, my God!" the poor lady
nearly gave way here: but then suddenly controlled herself with
wonderful self-command. "Neither I nor my daughters have any
chance of guiding, with a hope of success, through a secret pass

me.

[ocr errors]

1

unknown to us; and my lord is away. No, Heaven has pointed out my Arthur most unmistakeably; and who am I that I should stand in the way of Heaven? As to thee, my child, though there have been some who cared not to take from their extensive flocks, but rather plundered the poor man of his one lamb, please God, that shall never be my part! But oh, Patience, away with this low regard of things! This is nothing grievous, but a glorious call upon our poor house! No king hath summoned my son to his work, but the King of kings! to protect and save His own beloved servant. My son is distinguished beyond his years! So glorious a task the Lord may see fit to carry through: if not, His will be done!" I kissed the hand of the dear high-minded lady in profound admiration: yet, as my tears streamed over it, "Oh, my beloved lady, pardon, but if I am so willing Silence, Patience!" interrupted she terribly; "let me hear no more: presume not on my condescension!" Alas! her sore strait made her speech so sharp!

[ocr errors]

During supper I cast a wistful look ever and anon upon my lady; I dared not urge her further but I trusted she would understand me. However, she would not so take me. When supper was over, according to custom, I lighted her to see her children safely laid in their beds. On coming to my young mistresses' chamber she was more inspecting than usual even, and inquired whether they had duly taken the spring juices she prescribed them? Methought what was on her mind made her more worrying to others, and herself also. I smiled to find that Mistress Faith had daily swallowed her potion not so Mistress Esther. Yet I verily believe that Mistress Esther hath oftener looked into her tiring-glass than even her elder sister! "Dear mother," pleaded the younger one, "I am as well as well can be; why must I take this horrid draught?" "What has that to do with my orders?" chid her mother sharply : "what one of my family ever passed a spring without partaking of the spring juices, I should like to know? Bring me a cup of them, Patience." And Mistress Esther had to swallow a larger quantity than usual, though with many a wry face. Then, as her daughters lay down-like two goodly roses they were!-my lady put her hand fondly on their heads, and bade them be good and virtuous women, a crown to her in her old age. We next went to Master Arthur's chamber, for he was resting until nearer the time when he was to start. He was fast asleep, but as the light of the lamp I carried fell on him he started up, exclaiming, "I will be in time, mother." "Yes, my son," replied she solemnly; "remember a great trust is put into your hands, and that I expect you to fulfil this your first call discreetly and with honour. God bless and keep you, my dear child! I shall brook no shortcomings!" She kissed him, and went to the door. Here she paused and turned round. He looked so childlike and meek, yet so gracious and promising withal, as he lay there on his bed, that he brought to mind the young Samuel.

My lady went back and kissed him again—a most unwonted thing for her to do. "Be faithful," she said, and left him and closed the door.

The next morning passed heavily. The day was unusually hot, marvellously close, far more like August than May. I was languid and slack in my business, while my lady, on the contrary, was more inspecting than ordinary. I fear I had many impatient thoughts in my head that long morning, saying to myself, "How many faults she finds, what sharp words she uses!" and sundry other forward feelings, with heavy thoughts unto the future which were worse. How often have I thought of those murmurings since! somehow, they form the bitterest part of my recollections of that day. I might have known that the mother had many a weary struggle for grace that same morning! The noon was so sultry, that we dined with close-drawn blinds. We were still sitting round the table after dinner, when the door quietly opened: Master Arthur entered, and sat down among us in silence. He seemed like one out of breath, heated, and yet one who meditated some mighty matter. I marvelled he did not pay his respects to his honoured mother, a thing I had never seen him, or any of the family, fail in before. I could not explain it to myself, but somehow I gazed at him with awe. His mother seemed surprised though silent, and looked at him with inquiring eyes. The dear child appeared to be searching some phrase in his mind for what he had to say. At last his countenance cleared; he rose with resolution, and, going over to his mother, knelt and kissed her hand. “Dear mother, I have done your bidding. By the blessing of the Lord, he is quite safe." The lady smiled so gladly, and was about to speak, when, perceiving something yet lay on her son's mind, she inquired, "Well, my dear child, what then?" He began with a sort of solemnity and tenderness, kissing her hand again: "Dear mother, I know your noble mind has been prepared for everything from the first; I know that God will support you: we could not expect that this expedition should be completed without danger. If the Saint could be put in safety, that was everything. And though I managed that, thank God! I was not so quick but the soldiers got sight of me and understood the whole. They chased me all the way; they gained upon me so fast in the glen"-then with a sudden burst, throwing himself upon his mother, and hiding his face in her lap-"Oh, mother, it is all over! I am to be shot, now, directly! But the officer was very good in letting me go on five minutes before to prepare you, mother, for I knew no one could tell it you as I could! They are all at hand, mother; I have only five minutes to live." His mother had first heard him stupidly as it were, with a faint smile still on her lips: then turned a sudden ashy white: and at last, leaning forward to him, said with a choked voice, What, what, my son? I cannot hear at all.” Alas! poor lady, would she could never more have heard! Master

66

Arthur threw his arms round her neck, and then said, poor child! "I will try not to disgrace you, dear mother." Up to this moment we had all sat motionless in dull bewilderment, staring senselessly with fixed gaze at him; but now we rose with one cry and threw ourselves on the beloved youth. Oh what a wail echoed through that house of lamentation! The hapless mother sat like a thing of stone: then a yet more ashy hue settled on her countenance, an understanding of the affair seemed to break upon her, and she sat up. Kissing her fair son, she said, slowly and with difficulty, "Thou art the grown Christian to-day, my Arthur, I the child: I have left it to thy tender years to bear up under this-this task! Please the Lord, I will do so no longer. Let not the enemy find us unprepared; let not any failure of ours mar the good work this dear child is about to perform! Let us pray." We all mechanically dropped on our knees, my lady still holding her son fast by the hand. One mighty, fervent cry for help from heaven had gone up from her lips, when we were violently startled by a loud blast of trumpets close at hand, shaking the very windows. The soldiers and their officers were all drawn up on the grass outside. We sprang to our feet-all but my lady, who still knelt in breathless prayer. Had all this been but five minutes of space?

[blocks in formation]

Master Arthur knelt down before his revered mother. "Bless you, God bless you, my dearest child!" said she solemnly, with wonderful firmness of voice: "God hath blessed thee! though the youngest of all, thou art the first martyr of our house, thou-" Here something seemed to choke her. She folded him in a long, long embrace, then gently put him from her, and walked steadily towards where we all stood weeping. "Do not look at me, dear mother," cried Master Arthur; "turn away your eyes a moment-it will soon be over." "Dost thou wish to cheat me of a sight of thy glory, my son ?" returned she quickly. She turned towards the officer in command, and said, "Yes, gentlemen, you little know the honour you are conferring through the brief, fleeting pain you can inflict, the mighty, glorious honour! Oh, Gracious, Almighty God! art Thou about to permit a child of mine to testify of Thee, and glorify Thee on the earth? What are our poor drops of blood and labouring breath in view of this? Oh my son, can I weep to see thee kindle a light in the benighted hearts of these thy murderers they may never quench, scoff as they will? Haste, blessed of the Lord," cried she, rapt beyond herself, her face and form kindling; "haste to be enrolled among the bright army of Saints, having outstripped thy years haste to become a watchword in the doing of every godly deed, henceforth, until the Day of Judgment; a mark in every righteous race! I rejoice, I-" The blessed lady all at once faltered here, turned sick, and suddenly sat down. I looked narrowly at her, and then saw how it was: they were vointing their

« ПредишнаНапред »