VMM seas I have sworii upou tlio Altar of God, eternal hostility to every fona of Tyranny over tlio Wind of Man." Thomas Jefferson. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY II. WEBB. V I lime SV. BLOOMSBUSG, COLUMBIA COOTTT, FA. SATUEDAY, JANUARY 2, 1S41.' Nuuibcr 36. OFFICE OF THE DEMOCRAT, Opposite St. Paul's Ouuncir, MaIN-bt; The COLUMBIA DEMOCRAT will be yVW DOLLARS per annum, payable half ienri i advance, or TVco Ma Fifty Cents, if not paid within the year. Xo subscription will be taken for a shorter period than six months; nor any discon tinuance permitted, until all arrearages arc discharged. JMVE11T (SEME NTS not exceeding square-will be coiUpicuoiuly inserted at One Dollar or tnejirsi rnrre ., and Twenty-five cents for every subse quent nscrtion. ICTA liberal discount made to those, who advertise by the year. LETTERS addressed on business, mint be post paur. ess ffiES EHBMfl&3JlBtffSo THE EARLY CHRISTIANS. In the reign of Marcus Aurelius Antoni us, Ihero lived in Rome a good old senator, who had two daughters. Veroniea and Berenice were noted, less for their beauty and gentleness, than for the extraordinary resemblance they boro to each other, and for their mutual affection. These girls were twins; their mother died during their infan cy, and it was found, after her death, Ihat a mother's eve only had been able to distin guish tile children. Had thtir father, Fhv vius TorqualUB, bestowed much of his time and attention on them, he might havo ao quired the oamo power of discrimination; but the noble patrician's hours was divided between the sonate-houso and the court; and when ho camu homo at night, wcarjad, he. was well cnouch pleased to play with his two sweet little girls without farther trout linir himself conccrniiiir them. And yet " t u he wai a lupd father; he entreated his wid owed sister to taku her abode with him, that tshe might lake caro of the children, he al lolled for thoir use a ulagnifieient suite of rooms; he purchased for them a numerous train of slaves. Veronica and Berenice had scarcely a wish ungratificd. As they increased in years, the remarks ble similarity ef their persons remained un diminished, but thoir characters became es sentiallv different, Berenice was pensive gentle, it might be somewhat melancholy studious, and fond of retirement; Veronica was volatile, giddy, of quick and warm af fections; yet did rhese points of difference not lessen thoir fond affection. They had completed their sixteenth year, when, among othor presents brought by ing Alee to loll her stories, and sing her songs, as sho had been wont to do. Often and often as she watched the quick and soft step of her attendant, and compared her un wearied assiduity and gentle activity with the indoletieo and carelessness of Iter other slaves, she wondeied what could be the crimo of which so meek and unoffending a crcaturo had been guilty. One night, sho felt worse than usual, and having persuaded her sister to retire for a while, she lay quite still, meditating on the prist, and on the fu ture, that fearful future, of which she knew so little, and which she eo much dreaded. Alee was kneeling by her couch, and be lievingher mistress to be asleep, she prayed in a soft voico to the God of the Christians for her reebvory. Berenice listened in still attention; she heard tit iter surprise, the meditation of a being implored, of whose very existence she was totally ignorant; she sho saw Alee rise at last, with an expression f resignation and holy hope in her meekly raised eyes, which she had never witnessed in the volar'ws of Jeve. She called the mbling girl to her sido and bade her their father on his return frem a visit to th Eest, was a young femalo slave of extraor dinarv intellicenco and merit, he 60on became the favorito of Berenice, and th noble young Roman would frequently re cline for hours on her couch, while the Si&v beside her. occupied at her embroidery would tell her tales of her own family and native land. She wept when sho ipoke o her peaceful home and aged parents, an Berenice felt as though she loved iho girl the more for her fond rccret. She asked for what causes her liberty had been forfei ted, for she knew that Alee had not bee lorn a slave, but on this point sho could not obtain satisfaction. Berenice would not pnretie ihe painful subject, but her sister curiosity was not so easily suppressed. She Questioned her father, and the reply of flavins made both his daughters start with horror. ' It was for crime,' he said, ' for crime of n blacker naturo than you can conceive, for crimo that merited Heath, but I pitied hor youth; nay,' ho continued, ' bo not alarmed, the cannot, will not injure you; she is gen tic ml skilful in tho hoaling art, for this reason I have her about you, and you are Romans, and noble, Berenice ! you will not descend to undue familiarity with a slave.' Berenice rememberod this injunction: sho rr.ant lo obey it; but shortly after this con versation she was attacked by a painful ill ness, and, during the tedious hours of sleep less nights she oould nol refrain from desir quickly explain her sacred faith. Alee hes itated; she knew the danger she would in cur for both, and some remains of the fear f man yet lingered about her heart; but she conquered tho unworthy feelings, and dratvr ng from tho folds of her robe a roll of parch ment, she read aloud to her attentive audi tress tho record of Hit? most surprising event in the history of mankind; Many months bad passed away. One veiling the sisters were together in their own apartment. Veronica stood beforo a mirror, her veal of satin, herflowur-wreath- d robe, her zouc of brilliants told that sho was preparing for a festival. At.tho further end of the room Berenice was seatod. Sho was nrrnyod in a plain white dress, and her long hair felt unbraided in its own rich lux uriance ataui hor throat and shoulders; with her hand she foundled a snow-wiiite dove & ever ami anon her dark hair fell over the genllo bird, and it nestled lovingly within it; tlio other rested nn a parchment which appeared to engross the maiden's deepest attention Come now, Berenice,' said her sister, playfully fixing the wreath of roses prepar ud for herself, on her sister's brow, lay a side for onco your melancholy book, and send your dove to his rest, and come down with mo to tho banquet.' Berenice- looked up and answered gfenlly, Nol so, Veronica, not to nighi; it is the anniversiaary of poor Alcc'c death; and did she not die for love of me, watching and waiting when all others slept ? Her imago has been with me through the day; I can not join the banquet with my heart full of sad memories; leavo mo, sister;' and Here nice took off and returned the wreath. ' Yel listen, one word mere; thou L now ebt who, will be (hero this evening. My father will frown and Lucius Emilius will sigh when I go in alone. Lucius departs to morrow for the battle; and shall ho go without one benizon from hie affianced 1 No,' replied her sister, speaking low and faltering; you, Veronica, will tell him that I wail to see him here, beforo his dep.'.r turo Berenice ! ray sister, bethink you of your father; remember his patrician preju ccs; surely this step ' ' Go dear sister,' answered Berenice mild yet firmly; ' for tho love that you bear me, do ine this errand. I would not any other eye should mark tho weakness I fear to betray at parting with one whom my fath er has commanded me to love; tell my father I am unwell, and it is true, my head and heart botli ache -go dearest.' And Vero nica, unconvinced, yet persuaded by ths tears of her sister, which in truth were Uow ing faHt, left her alone. Berenice resumod her reading, but nol for many minutes ! she arose and shut the volurao saying ' Not thus, not thus, with divided attention, and with wandering thoughts, may I presume to read this holy record ' Sho placed it within a 6mall gol den casket; locked it carefully, and then walked forlb Into' abalcony, on. which lb window of tiib apartment opened. The moon had jusl risen and shed soft light on tho magnificent buildings of the eternal city; he cool, thin air swept ever tho brow of the maiden, and calmed her agitated thoughts. Sho had a bitter trial beforo hor,forshe was about to inflict a deep wound oh the heart of one whom she loved with all tho inho cent fervour of girl's first affection; and she tiemblcdcs she pictured to herself his stir priso and sorrow. Then Berenice looked up at tho quiet of tho evening sky, and thought of llictimo when earth's interests would bo over for her, and could sho thus look, and thus think, and still hesitate ? Ah, no 1 When she heard the steps of Lu cius drawing nigh, sho plucked a single flower from a creeping plant, that oversha dowed the balcony, and keeping it in her hand as a token to recall iier belter resolu tions, sho advanced to meet him. 'It was not fur this I sent for you hither,' sho said in reply to his passionate express ion of regret and love; ' you are a Roman soldier Lucius, and I know it was neither your wish nor your destiny, to be ever at a ady'sside. Believe me, I have learned to look on this parting as on a thing inevita ble;' but even as she spoko her voice faltered. Lucius leaned forward to console her, to whinper of re-union, of life-long re-union: Your father has promised, dearest,' he said, 'that this campaign once over, the Mar- cotnaihii onco defeated, I shall be rewarded A my rstcrn, with the hand of my Berenice.' It may bo so,' she anawerod Badly, 'if you still wish it. ' If I still wish it 1 Berenice, of what are you dreaming?' am not dreaming, Lucius Emilius, am speaking the words of sober reality.' You think of mc as of the beloved child of Flavius Toniuatus, the ,jci-h5ircn of his wealth and honors; of ono whoso hand will confer distillation. If. on your return from Germany, you should find me despoiled of all these advantager, an alien from my fath er's house, it may be from his heart's corn ed and forgotten by my friends, despised by mankind ' You will still,' replied Lucius, 'be to mo the samo Berenice, whom in her hour of prosperity,! had vowed to lovo and to cher ish; but what can be tho meaning of your terrible words? why do you torture yourself and me; by such utterly vain imagining?' Berenice withdrew from the encircling arms that supported hur, she leaned against the slight column of the voranda, her voico was softer than tho softest whisper, yet ev ery word fell witSi terrible clearness on the ear of her lover: 'Lucius Emelius I am a Christian.' Lucius went forth that night from the chamber of his betrothed an altered man; for the chill of disappointment had falcn on his proudest and fondest hopes. He iiad tried all his persuasive powers to induco tho girl to forsai.o hor now opinions; he had tried in vainjso now nought for him remain ed to do but to fulfil tho engagement in which his honor was concerned, and then to reluru to lovo hei still, and to protect her, if necessary, with his life ! He boro with him two precious gifts, to console him in absence, as far as any thing could console him the goldon casket and the carrier dove. Berenice was again alono, not, as hereto fore in tho solitude of her own luxurious apartment; nol surrounded, as sho was wont to bo, with her books, and musie and flow ers; sho was alone in the solitude of a gloo my prison chamber. A small apsrturo near tho ceiling, guarded by iron bais, admitted jusl lighl enough to show Ihe dismal cmp tiuess of the place; no tapestried hangings to hide the cold damp walls, ho warm car pet to cover tho stone floor. It contained only a low couch, and un thai tho maiden was seated, sometimes raising her clasped hands in the deep earnestness of prayer, sometimes covering her red and swollen eyes to hide, it might bo from herself, the tearjs sh.0, could riot restrain. Presently u low knock was heard at tho door, and her father entored. Borcnico shuddered,- and said. ' Nol this, oh, let me be spared this worst grief! yet, nol the "sacrifice mus be completed; give me only the strength to bear it.' Then sho advanced and led Fla vius Torquatus to her couch, and meekly kneeling before him, prayed hirri, yet once more to lay his hand upon her, and to bless her. Tho old man answered, 'It is not for this; I come lo tell you that all my entreaties have iieen in vain, tho orders of the cmpe ror must not be disoboyed, and his ordeis were, that all of your fanatical sect should be exterminated. Wore Marcus here, tho tears and prayers of his faithful old servant might avail; but ho is beyond tho Danube; to-moirow, a general execution!- Oh Bernice I my child, my child! must I live lo sec youi blood flow forth by tho hand of a common executioner?' 'I come nut, as I enmo yesterday,' he continued, after a long pause, ' with tears and entreaties to move you; yesterday; I To- You knell to implore you to save your fathers heart from breaking, and all in vain, day I come with harsher purpose. asked mo but now to take you, as I did when you wore a little child. Berenico, if yoii do not abandon your infatuation, if you persist in bringing eternal dishonor oh your line Berenice, listen! may the curse of your father ' The girl pressed his arm heavily; she tried to speak but her parted lips, were whito as marble, and refused to utter a sound: Tho old man looked on hcr;and tho curse on his lips was stayed. He looked on her, and kissed her ere lie went, for he had ten dctly loved her mother. My sister!' t'ij faintly answorsd, as he moved avvaj , but Flavius answered. '.You will never see her againjyou would infect her with your superstition; 1 cannot be left childless in my old ago.' And the old man went, and as the last sound of his departing step died away, Berenice thought her worst trial was over, and she withdrew her thoughts from the world, and sought to prepare her soul for death; Late in the following day, the people of Rome assembled in the ampilheatre, to wit ness the martyrdom of the Christians Horrible deaths they uieu 1 borne were torn to pieces by wild beasts; others were burned al a slow fire; some few were cruci fied,and they counted such death an unmer ited honor. Berenice was reserved fur the last, and because sho was of Roman patri cian blood sho was to sillier the milder pun ishment of decollation. The sign was giv en, and when it was proclaimed by the her ald, that the Christian maiden was coming forth, there was so deop a silence among that vast multitudo that even tho advancing steps of the girl and her conductors woro heard. But what was the aurpriso of all present, when they beheld, not one, but two young maidens, both dressed alike in white raiment, both coming forth with tho same quiet step, uno placid demeanor; and one, it might be tho most tranquil, advan ced a stop towards the seat whero he who governed tho city, during tho absence of Marcus Autonius sat, and thus addressed him. It is I, most noble perfect, who am Ber enice the Christian; this girl, my sister, for lovo of me, would fain take rny name and punishment on herseif, but credit her not, it is I who am tho condemned.' Then arose a touching dispute between the sisters; sisterly love lending one the eloquence which tho other derivod from truth. Many of their friends, and even of their relatives, m the ampitheatre, were called on to come down and decide between them, but some spoke for tho ono and some spoke for the other. Veronica, in her ago nizing fears, had lost the light and joyous expression of her countenance; and Bere nice's meek and hely hopes had chased tho deep rrielancholv from her face & mien. One or two bniiel voices arose and said, 'they both call lliomselves Christians, lot them both die tho death ! but one of the k ' maidens answered, 'think not, most nobl8 prefect, it you thus decree, that you will be guiltless of my sisters blood: sho is not a Christian at heart; would to God sho. werel then would I no longer oppose hor sharing my sarly death. Veronica.acknowl edge the truth,arid leave me to suffer alone.' But Veronica, if she it was, persisted in her first declaration, and none could tell how. this dispute would terminate, when a new incident attracted the attention of ths multi tude, and sileucbd doubt. . ,,. . A speck was socn in the air; it came low er; nearer; u was a milk-white dove. Iho. bird fluttered round one, then drew near tho other; no caressing hand wa3 held out to receive him but his instinct was not to bo. deceived; ho settled on the choulder of her who had answered tbc harsh voies from tho crowd, and sought to nestle aa he was wont in her long hair. Many were present who knew the pet belonged to Berenice, ha tho people were satisfied with this docision,and Iho weeping Vcrbnica,still protesting againeC her own identity, was torn from th arms of her sister. Then the prefect, who had! been much moved at the singular isbenej turned to Berenice, as she stood alona the arena, and said : , 'It is not yet too" lata, young maiden, preserve thy life; have pity on thy youtli and loveliness, and on the gray hairs of thy aged father. What harm is it to swear by the fortune of Caisar and to sacrifice and be safe?' But she answered more firmly than ever. "t to' ' I am a Christian, and I oannoi sacrifice -to your false Gods ! You condemn me to death, but I fear nol to die in defence of tho truth.' Sho advanced unbidden, to the fatal block, and knelt by it; yet, ers she joined her hands, in prayer, she bent onco more, fondly over her little messenger bird, as if to bid farewell to ths last object that told of earthly tics. There wa3 a small scroll of parchment undsr its wing; Berenico felt it, and thinking it might porhapa tell her the only tiding3 she cared now to hear she rase' again, and holding it forth she prayed per mission to read it. The prefect did uot re fuse, and Berenice read, first in silence and then aloud i 'The Emperor Marcus is dead, and Commodus is already proclaimed Ca:sar. A loud shout rent Ihe air. It was well known ihat Commodus, in liis heart favored tho despised sect; and in spite of their prejudices Berenico moved the heart3 of her countrymen in her favor. A general outcry for her release was heard, but thus the prefect dared not grant. Berenice was remanded to prison until tho pleasuro of Commodus should bs known respecting the' Christian. It was not very long ere, weari ed with tho hardships of tho camp, ho re turned to his capital, and his first order was that all Christians should be released, and restored lo thsir privileges as Roman citi zens. In his train came tho young Lucius! ho had found leisuro amid all ihe excite ment of glory.and the hardships of his cam paign, to study the precious gift of his be trothed, at first for love of her, afterwards from a wish to know the truth. So wheri their nuptials delayed awhile by tho death of Flavius Torquatus, v'ere at last solemni- ed, Berenice had tho deep happiness of knowing thai iho husband of her ehoice, shared ths euro faith and pure hops of her own spirit. They remained nol long in Rome, the folliei and cruelties of Commo; dus, rendered it distasteful to them, altho' Lucius stood high in his favor, as ho was very capricious, ihey knew not how long it might remain in their own power to depart or abide in safety. They, thereforo bade adieu without a sigh, to the pomp and lux uries of the capital, and embarked for a lit tle island in the northwest of Europe, with out the range of civilization, where they should enjoy safety mid freedom. Berenico was perfectly happy; she gavo not ono regret to the magnificence she aban doned, for Lucius was with her, and as she stepped into tho boat a trembling, caressing girl clung to her, and a soft voice whisper ed in her ear: My sister! whither tho'tl goest,l will go; thy people shall bo my pecf pie, and thy God my God:'
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