LESSON ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SEVENTH. American Magnanimity. On the 17th of October, the convention was completed. General Burgoyne, and the other generals, waited on the American general (Gates;) the troops laid down their arms, and gave themselves up prisoners of war. My husband, says the baroness, sent a message to me, to come over to him with my children. I seated myself once more in my dear calash, and then rode through the American camp. As I passed, I observed (and this was a great consolation to me) that no one eyed me with looks of resentment, but that they all greeted us, and even showed compassion in their countenances, at the sight of a woman with small children. I was, I confess, afraid to go over to the enemy, as it was quite a new situation to me. When I drew near the tents, a handsome man approached and met me; took my children from the calash, and kissed them, which affected me almost to tears. "You tremble," said he, addressing himself to me; "be not afraid." "No," I answered, "you seem so kind and tender to my children, it inspires me with courage.' He now led me to the tent of General Gates, where I found Generals Burgoyne and Phillips, who were on a friendly footing with the former Burgoyne said to me, "Never mind, your sorrows have now an end." I answered him, that I should be reprehensible to have any cares, as he had none; and I was pleased to see him on such a friendly footing with General Gates. All the generals remained to dine with General Gates. The same gentleman who received me so kindly, now came and said to me, "You will be very much embarrassed to eat with all these gentlemen; come, with your children, to my tent, where I will prepare for you a frugal meal, and give it with a free will.' I said, "You are certainly a husband and a father, you have shown me so much kindness." I now found that he was General Schuyler. He treated me with excellent smoked tongue, beef steaks, potatoes, and good bread and butter! Never could I have wished to eat a better dinner. I was content. I saw all around me were so likewise; and, what was better than all, my husband was out of danger. When we had dined, he told me his residence was at Albany, and that General Burgoyne intended to honor him as his guest, and invited myself and children to do so likewise. I asked my husband how I should act; he told me to accept the invitation. As it was two days' journey there, he advised me to go to a place which was about three hours' ride distant. General Schuyler had the politeness to send with me a French officer, a very agreeable man, who commanded the reconnoitring party of which I have before spoken; and when he had escorted me to the house where I was to remain, he turned back again. Some days after this, we arrived at Albany, where we so often wished ourselves; but we did not enter it as we expected we should-victors! We were re ceived by the good General Schuyler, his wife and daughters, not as enemies but kind friends; and they treated us with the most marked attention and politeness; as they did General Burgoyne, who had caused General Schuyler's beautifully finished house to be burnt: in fact, they behaved like persons of exalted minds, who determined to bury all recollection of their own injuries in the contemplation of our misfortunes. General Burgoyne was struck with General Schuyler's generosity, and said to him, "You show me much kindness, although I have done you much injury " "That was the fate of war," replied the brave man, "let us say no more about it.' LESSON ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-EIGHTH. Christian Hope. The stars that silent burn on high, But there is one, whose gentle ray, For so earth's transient hopes arise LESSON ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-NINTH. Isaac Haynes. After the city of Charleston had fallen into the hands of Lord Cornwallis, his lordship issued a proclamation, requiring of the inhabitants of the colony, that they should no longer take part in the contest, but continue peaceably at their homes, and they should be most sacredly protected in property and person. This was accompanied with an instrument of neutrality, which soon obtained the signatures of many thousands of the citizens of South Carolina, among whom was Colonel Haynes, who now conceived that he was entitled to peace and security for his family and fortune. But it was not long before Cornwallis put a new construction on the instrument of neutrality, denominating it a bond of allegiance to the king, and called upon all who had signed it to take up arms against the rebels! threatening to treat as deserters, those who refused! This fraudulent proceeding in Lord Cornwallis roused the indignation of every honorable and honest man. Colonel Haynes now being compelled, in violation of the most solemn compact, to take up arms, resolved that the invaders of his native country should be the objects of his vengeance. He withdrew from the British, and was invested with a command in the continental service; but it was soon his hard fortune to be captured by the enemy, and carried into Charleston. Lord Rawdon, the commandant, immediately ordered him to be loaded with irons, and after a sort of mock trial, he was sentenced to be hung! This sentence seized all classes of people with horror and dismay. A petition, headed by the British governor Bull, and signed by a number of royalists, was presented in his behalf, but was totally disregarded. The ladies of Charleston, both Whigs and Tories, now united in a petition to Lord Rawdon, couched in the most eloquent and moving language, praying that the valuable life of Colonel Haynes might be spared; but this also was treated with neglect. It was next proposed that Colonel Haynes's children (the mother had recently deceased) should, in their mourning habiliments, be presented, to plead for the life of their only surviving parent. Being introduced into his presence, they fell on their knees, and, with clasped hands and weeping eyes, they lisped their father's name, and plead most earnestly for his life, but in vain; the unfeeling man was still inexorable! His son, a youth of thirteen, was permitted to stay with his father in prison, who, beholding his only parent loaded with irons and con demned to die, was overwhelmed with grief and sor row. "Why, my son," said he, "will you thus break your father's heart with unavailing sorrow? Have I not often told you that we came into this world to prepare for a better? For that better life, my dear boy, your father is prepared. Instead, then, of weeping, rejoice with me, my son, that my troubles are so near an end. To-morrow, I set out for immortality. You will accompany me to the place of my execution; and, when I am dead, take and bury me by the side of your mother." The youth here fell on his father's neck, crying, "O my father! my father! I will die with you! I will die with you!" Colonel Haynes would have returned the strong embrace of his son, but, alas! his hands were confined with irons. Live, my son,' said he, "live to honor God by a good life, live to serve your country, and live to take care of your little sisters and brother!" 66 The next morning, Colonel Haynes was conducted to the place of execution. His son accompanied him. As soon as they came in sight of the gallows, the father strenghtened himself and said "Now, my son, show yourself a man! That tree is the boundary of my life, and of all my life's sorrows. Beyond that, the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest. Don't lay too much to heart our separation from you; it will be but short. It was but lately your dear mother died. To-day, I die; and you, my son, though but young, must shortly follow us." "Yes, my father, replied the broken hearted youth, I shall shortly follow you; for, indeed, I feel that I cannot live long." On seeing, therefore, his father in the hands of the executioner, and then struggling in the halter, he stood like one transfixed and motionless with horror. Till then, he had wept incessantly; but, as soon as he |