336 THE WILL AND THE WAY. the monster. A roar of redoubled fury again resounded through the spacious amphitheatre, as the enraged animal, mad with anguish from the wound he had just received, wheeled hastily round, and sprung a second time at the Nazarene. Again was the falchion of the cool and intrepid gladiator deeply planted in the breast of his terrible adversary; but so sudden had been the second attack, that it was impossible to avoid the full impetus of his bound, and he staggered and fell upon his knee. The monster's paw was upon his shoulder, and he felt his hot, fiery breath upon his cheek, as it rushed through his wide-distended nostrils. The Nazarene drew a short dagger from his girdle, and endeavored to regain his feet. But his foe, aware of his design, precipitating himself upon him, threw him with violence to the ground. The excitement of the populace was now wrought up to a high pitch, and they waited the result with breathless suspense. A low growl of satisfaction now announced the noble animal's triumph as he sprang fiercely upon his prostrate enemy. But it was of short duration; the dagger of the gladiator pierced his vitals, and together they rolled over and over, across the broad arena. Again the dagger drank deep of the monster's blood, and again a roar of anguish reverberated through the stately edifice. The Nazarene, now watching his opportunity, sprung with the velocity of thought from the terrific embrace of his enfeebled antagonist, and regaining his falchion, which had fallen to the ground in the struggle, he buried it deep in the heart of the infuriated beast. The noble king of the forest, faint from the loss of blood, concentrated all his remaining strength in one mighty bound; but it was too late; the last blow had been driven home to the centre of life, and his huge form fell with a mighty crash upon the arena, amid the thundering acclamations of the populace. THE WILL AND THE WAY.-JOHN G. SAXE. THE WILL AND THE WAY. "They're safe in such a fortress: There is no way to shake it-” "On! on!" exclaimed the hero, "I'll find a way, or make it!" Is fame your aspiration? Her path is steep and high: Is learning your ambition? Must climb to her abode; Are riches worth the getting? To all the prize is open, Who says, with Roman courage, In love's impassioned warfare, 337 338 THE SEPTEMBER GALE. THE SEPTEMBER GALE.-O. W. HOLMES. I 'M not a chicken; I have seen Full many a chill September, That gale I well remember; The day before my kite-string snapped, The wind whisked off my palm-leaf hat;- It came as quarrels sometimes do, Before the fire was flashing,- And then came on the thunder. Oh! how the ponds and rivers boiled, And all above was in a howl, And all below a clatter,-- It chanced to be our washing-day, I saw the shirts and petticoats I lost, ah! bitterly I wept, I lost my Sunday breeches! I saw them straddling through the air, Alas! too late to win them; COUSIN SALLY DILLIARD. I saw them chase the clouds as if That night I saw them in my dreams,-- Where demon claws had torn them; I have had many happy years, And not till fate has cut the last Of all my earthly stitches, This aching heart shall cease to mourn 339 A COUSIN SALLY DILLIARD.-H. C. JONES. SCENE-A Court of Justice in North Carolina. BEARDLESS disciple of Themis rises, and thus addresses the Court: "May it please your worships, and you, gentlemen of the jury, since it has been my fortune (good or bad, I will not say) to exercise myself in legal disquisitions, it has never befallen me to be obliged to prosecute so direful, marked, and malicious an assault-a more willful, violent, dangerous batteryand finally, a more diabolical breach of the peace has seldom happened in a civilized country; and I dare say, it has seldom been your duty to pass upon one so shocking to benevolent feelings, as this which took place over at Captain Rice's in this county. But you will hear from the witnesses." 340 COUSIN SALLY DILLIARD. The witnesses being sworn, two or three were examined and deposed: one said that he heard the noise, and did not see the fight; another that he seen the row, but didn't know who struck first; and a third, that he was very drunk, and couldn't say much about the scrimmage. LAWYER CHOPS. I am sorry, gentlemen, to have occupied your time with the stupidity of the witnesses examined. It arises, gentlemen, altogether from misapprehension on my part. Had I known, as I now do, that I had a witness in attendance who was well acquainted with all the circumstances of the case, and who was able to make himself clearly understood by the Court and jury, I should not so long have trespassed upon your time and patience. Come forward, Mr. Harris, and be sworn. So forward comes the witness, a fat, shuffy old man, a "leetle" corned, and took his oath with an air. CHOPS. Harris, we wish you to tell about the riot that happened the other day at Captain Rice's; and as a good deal of time has already been wasted in circumlocution, we wish you to be compendious, and at the same time as explicit as possible. HARRIS. Adzactly (giving the lawyer a knowing wink, and at the same time clearing his throat). Captain Rice, he gin a treat, and cousin Sally Dilliard she came over to our house and axed me if my wife she moutn't go. I told cousin Sally Dilliard that my wife was poorly, being as how she had a touch of rheumatics in the hip, and the big swamp was in the road, and the big swamp was up, for there had been a heap of rain lately; but, howsomever, as it was her, cousin Sally Dilliard, my wife she mout go. Well, cousin Sally Dilliard then axed me if Mose he moutn't go. I told cousin Sally Dilliard that he was the foreman of the crap, and the crap was smartly in the grass; but howsomever, as it was her, cousin Sally Dilliard, Mose mout go CHOPS. In the name of common sense, Mr. Harris, what do you mean by this rigmarole ? WITNESS. Captain Rice, he gin a treat, and cousin Sally Dilliard she came over to our house and axed me if my wife she moutn't go. I told cousin Sally Dilliard CHOPS. Stop, Sir, if you please; we don't want to hear anything about your cousin Sally Dilliard and your wife-tell us about the fight at Rice's. WITNESS. Well, I will, Sir, if you will let me. |