The United States Democratic Review Volume 16 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1845 Excerpt: ...never to answer the bell when the guard should be absent; and on this occasion, while poor Esteer's heartbeat violently with agitation and terror, she of course made no response to the summons. The effect of this on the wild men without, was to throw them into a state of violent rage; and their clamors and threats, as they furiously besieged the door, at last constrained Esteer to draw the bolt and raise the latch. Pale, trembling from head to foot, and crouching to the ground from fear of the cruel enemies of her race, now so exasperated against herself, she flung herself before the terrified child, who clasped his arms round her nefk and clung to her for the protection which she was so little able to give. But instead of receiving, the child itself bestowed protection, and by that embrace saved the life of the poor Jewess, its beautiful nurse; for one of the savage and infuriated Arabs, with raised cimetcr, was in the act of striking when the child entwined its arms around her, interposing its body before the blow. The Arab dared not strike the Christian boy, and while his companion was in the act of tearing away the child from its close and struggling clasp, the mother, whom the sound of alarm had reached in a distant part of the house, entered, and accosted the Arabs with a mother's resolute courage. They paid no regard to her, and seemed not indeed to hear her, and yielding to terror, she gazed powerless on the fearful scene. f hey would undoubtedly have executed their purpose, and struck the girl dead before her mistress's feet, but before they could disengage the child, the Moorish guard entered, his return (from some errand in the neighbourhood) having been hastened by the clamor of the Arabs at the gate. His presence was like oil upon the raging wa...