THE
DEMOCRAT.
1 hare aworn upon tho Altar of God, eternal hostility to every form of Tyranny over, the, Mlud of Man.'! Thomas Jefferson
P1UNTE1) AND PUBLISHED BY II. WEBB.
Volume VS.
BLOOMSBURG, COLUMBIA COUNTY, PA. SATURDAY, MARCH, 11 1843.
il'umber 46.
ases
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LEGEND OF THE BELL KOCK.
BY CAPTAIN MAMUT, K. N.
There was a 'grand procession through
the streets of.lhe towns of Perth and of
Dundee. , T.he holy, abbots, in monks
chained, thq censers were .swung, flag
and banners ere carried by seamen, light
edtapersby penitents St. St. Antonia,
the patios of those who trust to the stormy
ocean, was, carried in al pomp through the
streets, and as .the .pocession passed, dins
.of various value .were thrown down, by
jhpsp:wijo watched, it from, the Windows,
which as fast as thrown, were collected
by little boys dressed as angels, who held,
silver vessels to receive the largesses. Dur
jng the whole day did tne pageant con
'tinue, and large was the treasure collected
,'jn tjie two town,, Every one gave freelj , for
there were. few, indeed none, wliO) if not in
I'Veir own circle, at leist among their ac
quaintances, but hid to deplore the loss of'
some one, deaf-to .them, or to those wliom
jlioy .visited, from the dangerous rock.whieh
Jay in the very track of all the vessels
entcrjng the Frith of, Tay.
These processions had been arranged,
in order that a sufficient sum of money
might be collected to enable the authorities
t(i pill in execution a plan proposed by an
adventurous and bold young seaman; in a
council held for, the purpose, of fixing a
bell on the rock; which' should be so ar
ranged thal the slightest breath of wind
would cause, the hammer of it to vibrate,
anl thus, by its rolling, warn the mariner
of' his danger. The money received was
morethan sufficient for the purpose. A
meeting was then held, and it was unani
mously agreed thal'Aiidrew M'Clise shoujd
b"e harmed with the commission to go over
to Amsterdam, am! purchase the bell of a
metchanls reading there, who, as Andrew
staled, had one in ,his ppfsessinn, which,
from its fine lute and i,ize, was exactly
calculated for the service to which it was
to he annronrinteil.
Andrew, UM' Clise .embarked with the
money, and made. .a prosperous voyage.
He Ijad often been at-Amstcrdam, and had
liyed with (hq merchant, whose name was
Vandcrmacljn, and the attention to his af.
fairs, the dexterity, and the rapidity of the
movements of Andrew M'Clise, had often
eljcited .the warmest lencmninms Horn
IMvnheer Vandv rmt":lin;,and many even-
ings had Andrew M'Clise passed with him,
drinking in moderation their favorite scliee
-dam? arid'iotiulging i' the meditative mecr
shaum. Vandermaclin has often wished
that he possesed a son like Andrew M
'Clise, to whom ho could leave his propei
ty, with the full assurance that at would not
ibe scattered, but greatly increased.
VandermacTin was a widower, he had but
one daughter, who was.now just arrived at
grunge, to ittutn from the pension to iet
Sfaher'thoBsc, and like upon herself the do
mestic duties. M'Clise had never yet seen
Hie beautiful Ivaterina,
And so,' Mynheer M'Clise,' said Varf
3trm'ucllii,who wa silting in the ware.
.inue'oulilio'grouiid floor of his tenement,
you, eairte'to purchase the famous bell of
Uttedhtf with - tho intention of fixing' it
upon the rock, the danger of which we
have so often talked over after the work
of the day has been done? I, too, have'
suffered' from that same rock, as you well
know; but stilt I have been fortunate.
The price will bo heavy: and so il ought
to be, for the bell itself is of no small
weight.'
We are prepared to pay it, Mynheer
Vandermnrliu."
'Nevertheless, in so good ft cause, and
for so good a purpose, you ahull not be
overcharged- I will say nothing of the
beaut) of the Worksmanship. You shall
pay but for its value as metal ihc same
price which the Jew Isaacs offered mo for
it bill fdur monls ago. I will not ask what
a Jew would ask but what a Jew would
give, which makes no small difference.
Have you ten thousand guilders?'
I have, and more.'
'That is my price, Mynheer M'Clise,
and I wish lot no more, for I, ton, will
contribute my share' lo the good work.
Are you'eontent, mid i6 it a bargain?'
'It is; nr. ' the holy abbots will thank
you on vellum, Mynheer Vdiidermacliu,for
yon'r'gcnprosky.l'
' 'I prefer the thanks of the bold seamen
to those oTllic idle churchmen, but never
mind, it a bargain. Now, well go in,
it is lime to close the doots. We will
take our p'pes, and you shall make the nc
qtininlarice of my fair .daughter, Kalerina.'
At the time of which we are s peaking,
M'Clise wes about' six and twenty years
of age; he was above the middle size, ele-g-.nl
in poison, and with ra frankness and
almost a nobility in. his countenance, which
won all who saw him.
'His inminers weie like those of most
seamen, hold, but not offensively so.. His
eye was pireroing as an eagle's and il
scetnpd as if his very soul spoke from it.
At the "ery firsi meeting between liiin & ihe
daughter of Va'nderinaclin, appeared to
both us if their destinies were to unite
them.
They loved not as others love, but with
an intensity it would be impossible to por
tray: but they hardly exchanged a word.
Again and i-.gain they met; their eye
poke, hut nothing more: The bell was
put on board tho vessel, the money had
been paid down, and M'Clise could no
longer delay. lis frit as if his heart
strings were severed, as he tors himself
away from the laud where all remained-
that he coveted upon earth. And Katerian,
she too fell as if her existence was a blank.
As the vessel sailed from the port, she
breathed shoit; and, when not eren her
white and lofty top-gallant sail rould be
discerned as a speck', she threw herself
upon hrr couch and wept. M'Clise, as'
he sailed away, remained for hours leaning
his cheek on his hand, thinking of, ag;dn
and ugain, every lineament and feature of
Ihe peerless Kalerina.
Two months passed away, during which
M'Clise, was busied every ebb of ihe tide in
suppei intending the work on the rock. At
last all was ready, and once more was to
be held a gay procession; but this time il
was on ihe wat er. 1: was on a ralmnand
lovelv summer's morn, that ihe abbots and
the monks, altenied by a large company of
tho authorities, started from the shore of
Abcrhrolhwit-k in n long line of boats, de
coiated with sacred banners, and with,
other various Hags and devices. The
music floated along the waler, and ihe sol
emirchanis of the monks wete, for mice;
heard, where never yet they had been lis
tened lo before, or eyer will again. M'
Clise was at the rock, in a small vessel
purposely contracted to carry the be)l, and
with sheers to hang it on tho suppoijs im
bedded in the solid rock. Tho bell wan in it?
place, and thci sllot blessed the hell; while
holy water was sprinkled on tjie metal,
which was, for ihe. future, tu bo allied by
the waves of ihe sail sea. The music and
the chants were renewed, as lliey contimi'
ed, the wind gridually rose, and, wilti the
rising of the wind, ilio bell lolled loud spd
deep. The tolling of tho bell was the
signal for raturo, fox it was a ataming that
that the weather was about to change, and
the procession pulled back to Aherbrolh
Wick and landed in good time; for, in one
nour morn, and lite rocky coast was
again lashed by the waves, nnd the bell
tolled loud and quick, although there was
nothing near il but the sea gull that scream
with fright as he wheeled in the air, at
this unusual noise upon the rock, which
at the ebb, lie had so often made his reeling
place.
M'Clise had done his work; the bell was
fixed, and .once mora he hastened with his
vessel to Amsterdam. Once more he was
an inmate of Vandermaclin's house, once
more in the presence, of the idol of his soul.
This lime they spoke; this time their vows
were exchanged for life and death, llul
Vandermaclin saw not the slate of their
hearls. lie looked upon the young sea
man as one too low, top poor, to be, a match
for hia daughter; so ho never imagined
that he would have dared to love her. Bui
he was sooh undeceived; for M'Clise frank
ly slated his attachment, and demanded
tlie hand of Malerina, and, at the demand,
Vandermaclin's face was flushed with an-
'Mynheer M'Clise, said he, alter a
pause, as if to control his feelings: when n
man marries, he is bound to show that l)e
has where wilhal'to support his wife to
support her in thai rank,, and to afford her
those luxuries, to wiucli sue has been ac
customed in her father's house. Show
me that you ran, do so, and I will not re.
fuse you the hand of Kalerina.
'As yet, I have il not,' replied M'Clise;
'bill I am v.oung, and .can work; I have
money and I wil gain more. Te ,m
what sum do, you think that , I. should pns
scss. to warrant my demanding' ihe handof
your daughter.'
'Produce twelve thousand guildm and
she is yours,' replied the merchant.
'I hate but three thousand,' replied
M'Clise.
'Then, think no more of Kalerina. It
is a funlish passion, .and you must forget
it. And, Mynheer M'Clise, I must no
have my daughter's affections tampered
with. She must forget joii; anil that can
only be effected by your not meeting her
again. I wish you well, Mynheer M'Clise
Uut 1 must lequesl jour absence.'
M'Clise departed from the presence of
the merchant, bowed down with grief and
disapointment. He contrived that a letter
containing the result of his application,
should be put in iho hands of Kalerina.
Um Vandcrmaclin was in formed, of this and
Kalerina was sent to convent, there to re
main until the departure of her lover, and
Vandermaclin wrote to this correspondent
at Dundee, requesting that the goods for
warded to him might not, in future, he
sent by the vessel commanded by M'
Clise. Of this stir young captain received in
formation. All hope was nearly gone,
still he lingered, and delayed his departure.
He was no longer tho active, energetic
seamen, he neglected all, even his attire.
M'Clise knew in which convent his fair
Kalerina was iininured; and often would he
walk round its precincts, with tho hope of
seeing her, if it were but for a moment, but
in vain. His vessel was now laden, and
he co'dd no longer delay. He was lo sail
the next morntng;and once mnredid the un
happy young man take his usual walk In
look at those writs which contained all that
was dear to him. His reverie was biokeu
by a stone falling at his feet, he took it up;
there was a small piece of paper attached to
il with a silken llutad. He opened it; in
the handwriting of Kalerina he found but
these I wo ominous words 'The Bell.'
The bell! M'CIUft started, for he im
inediatcly comprehended what was meant,
i'hu whole plan csino like electricity
through U brains. The bell was worth
ten thousand guilders; that was the' sum
oiTeied, and would now be given by
Isaacs the Jew, He would be happy with
his Kalerina, and he, blessed Iter ingeuuiiy
fox devjsiog tb means, For ruinate or
two tie was transported, but the reaction,
soon took place What was he about lo
attempt? Sacrilege a treason against
humanity. The bell had been blessed by
the holy church, il had been purchased by
holy and devout alms. It had been placed
on the rock to save tho lives of his brother
seamen; and were lie to remove it, would
he not be responsible for all the lives lost?
Would not the wnil of the widow, and the
moan of the orphan, be crying out (0 Heav
en againsl himl No, no! never! The
crime was too hornhleand M Clise stamp
ed upon the paper, thinking that ho was
temped by Satan in the shape of a Woman,
but when woman tempts man Is lost. He
recalled ihe charms of Kalerina, all his re
pugance was overcome, he fcsolved that
the' deed should be accomplished, and that
Katctina sho old be gained, even if he lust
his own soul.
Andrew M'Clise sailed foim Amslerdam
and K-.terina recovered her libeity. Van
dcrmaclin was anxio us that she should
uarry; and many were the unsuccessful
suitors for her hand. She reminded litr
father, that 'ho had pledged himstlf, it
.M'Clise. counted down tuelve thousand
guilders, thai she should be tils wife; and
to that pledge she insisted he was' bound
fast. And Vandetmaelin, after "reasoning
with ami poititiiig out to her iha,t twelve:
thousand guilders was a, sum, so, large, .that
M'Clise .might. not procure it until Ins old'
age, even if he were fortunate, acknowl
edged that sucl: was lia promise, .and that
he would, like an honest man, abide .by il,
provided that M'Clise should fulfil his pari
of the agreement in llio space of two ycaisi
after which lie should delay her settlement
no longer. Ivaterina raised her eyes to
Heaven, -and whispered, as she clasped her
'hantls, 'The IJell.' Alas! that we' should
invoke Heaven when we would wish to
dj wrong; but mortab aie blind, and none
jio blind as those who are impelled, by pas
sion.
It was in the summer of that year that
M'Clise made his arrangements; having
procured the assistance of some tawles
, , . i. .i i . .
lauus, ue uau mitcii ine auvaniage oi a
smooth and glassy sea and a high tide, lo
emove ilio bell lo his own vessel; a work
of liule difficulty to him, ns he had placed
ii there, and knew well the manner of the
fastenings. He sailed away fur Amster
ildiu and was permitted by Heaven to
arrive safely with his sacrilegious freight
He did nut, as b'efore, enter the canal op
posilo to ihe house of Vandermaclin, but
one that ran behind the habitation of ihe
Jew Isaacs. At night, he went into the
house, and reported to the Jew what lie
had for sale; and ihe keen gray eyes of the
bent double little Israelite sparkled with
delight, for he knew that his profit would
be great. At midnight the bell was made
fast to the crane, and safely deposited in
the waiehoilse of the Jew, who counted
out the ten thousand guilders to the enrap
tured JSl'Clise, whose thoughts were
wholly upon the possession of tiis Kateii
na, and not upon the crime ha had com
mitted. But, alas ! to conceal one crime, we too
often come lo be guilty of many of a deeper
line; and thus il was with AiuIrew-M'Cliie
The people who had assisted htm, upon
the promise of a thousand guilders being
divided among them, ,iow murmured at
their share, and insisted upon an equal di
vision of the spoils, or threatened an im
mediate confesf ion of tho black deed.
M'Clise raved, and cursed; and tore his
hair, and promised to give tho n the mo
ney as soon as lie had wedded Katetina;
but they would not coiiieul. Again the
devil came to (lis assistance, and whisper
ed how he was to act: He yielded to their
demand. The next night the division
was 10 be made. I hey met n his cabin;
lie gave them witie, and they drank plen
tifully; hut the jwine was poisoned, and
lliey all died before the morning, M'Clise
lied weights to their bodies, and tank- them
in tho deep, canal, and broke open his
batches, to raak it appear that bji vtiwel
had been plundered. He then went to the!
authorities, denouncing lliscfctv. as having1
robbed him and escaped. Immediate
search was made, but lliey Were not (o .1(0
found and it Wu9 supposed that, lliey had
made off in n boat,
Once mora M'Clise, whose' conscience
was seaied. went to the house of Vander
maclin, counted down ten thousand 'guild
ers and claimed his bride; and Vander
maclin, v!u fell that his daughter's happi
ness was at slakci now gnvo his consent.
As M'Clise staled that lie was anxious to
return to England, and arrange with tho
merchants whose goud had been plunder
ed, in, a few days their marriage (ook place'
and Kalerina clasped the murderer in her1
arms. Alt was "apparent joy and revolrvl
but, there was anguish iu Ittie heart of
Clise, who,, now that he had gained his ob
ject, fell that it had cost him lob much, fof
his peace of mind was gone (at ever, jtiul
Kalerina cared not; every spark of feeling
was absorbed in tier passion, and, the very
guilt of M'Clise. but rendered him mora
dearjfor was il nof for her that he had dono
all this? ' M'Clise received her portion, and
hastened to sail away; fur the bodies were
still in ihe canal, and he trembled every
hnuidcstJiis crime should be discovered.
When Vandermaclin bade farewell lo hi
daughter: lie' knew not why, but there waa
a feeling he could not suppress, that they
never, should meet again.. r
Down down below, Kalerina; thlsiS
no place for'you.'cried MClise.as he stood
at the helm of ihe vessel. - 'Down, deaietlf
down, or, you will be washed overboard.
Every sea threatens' lo pour into our decks;
already have we, lust tw men. Duwa'
Kalerina J down I tell you.'
'I fear not; let roe remain with yon.'
'I tell you downcried M'Clise in wrath
Kalerina cast upon Jiira a reproachful look,
and obeyed.
The storm was at its height; the sun had
set; black and monstrous billows chased
each other and the dismasted vessel was
hurled on lowaid the land.- The wind
howled, and whistled shaipiy through each
chink in the bulwaiks of the vessel. For
three days had lliey fought with the gate,
but in vain. Now, if it continued, all ulianco
was over, for the slime was on their lee,
distant not many miles.
Nothing could save them, but gaining
the mouth of the Frith of Tay, which would
enable them to bear up for Dutideo. There
was a boiling surge, a dark night, warring
seas, and their masts were, floating far
away. M'Cliie stood at the )tem, keep
ing the vessel broadside to the sea; his
heart was full of bitterness, for his guilty
conscience bore l)im down, and lie lopked
fur death, yet lie dreaded it; for was he not
a sacrilegious murderer, and is there not an
avenging God above?
Once more Kalerina appeared on deck,
clinging for support to Andrew.
'I cannot stay below. Tell me, will it
soon be oveil'
Yes,' replied M'Clise, gloomily; 'it will
soon be over with all of us
How mean you? You told me thero
was no danger,'
' I, told you falsely. There is death soon.
and damnation afterwards fur you I hato
lost my soul !'
Oh tay nut sol'
I say it. Leave me woman, leavo me
or I curse thee."
Curse me, Andrew? Olmo! Kits ma
Andrew; and if we are to perish, let us ex
pire in each, other's arms;'
''Tis as well; you haw dragged me to
perdition. Leave me, I say, for you have
my bitter curse.'
Thus was his fniltv Invn tnrned tn linir.
D 4
now thai death was stiemgjiint in tits
face.
Katr-una maie ho reply, She threw
..it-... .i i i. . . ' . . . , .
iiciirit mi mo ucc.t, ar.u aD.iiiiMtiru ucr.ulf
to her feeling of bitter anguish. And at
she Uv there, and M'Clis) stood at tho
(liein, the rain abated, tho V8si:j was r
loi2er borne down as tofbre, &Uhoogct th
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