The Death of Parson Caldwell's Wife
THE outrage of innocence in instances too numerous to be recorded, of the wanton barbarity of the soldiers of the King of England, as they patrolled the defenceless villages of America, was evinced nowhere more remarkably than in the burnings and massacres every that, marked the footsteps of the British troops as they from time to time ravaged the State of New Jersey. In their late excursion they had trod their deleterious path through a part of the country called the Connecticut Farms. It is needless to particularize many instances of their wanton rage and unprovoked devastation in and near Elizabethtown. The places dedicated to public worship did not escape their fury; these were destroyed more from licentious folly than any religious frenzy or bigotry, to which their nation had at times been liable. Yet through the barbarous transactions of this summer nothing excited more general resentment and compassion than the murder of the amiable and virtuous wife of a Presbyterian clergyman, attended with too many circumstances of grief on the one side and barbarism on the other to pass over in silence. This lady was sitting in her own house with her little domestic circle around her and her infant in her arms, unapprehensive of danger, shrouded by the consciousness of her own innocence and virtue, when a British barbarian pointed his musket into the window of her room, and instantly shot the her through the lungs. A hole was dug, the body thrown in, and the house of this excellent lady set on fire and consumed with all the property it contained. Mr. Caldwell, her affectionate husband, was absent; nothing had ever been alleged against his character, even by his enemies, but his zeal for the rights, and his attachment to his native land. For this he had been persecuted, and for this he was robbed of all that he held dear in life, by bloody hands of men in whose benevolence and politeness he had had much confidence until the fated day when this mistaken opinion led him to leave his beloved family, fearless of danger and certain of their security, from their innocence, virtue, and unoffending amiability. Mr. Caldwell afterward published the proofs of this cruel affair, attested on oath before magistrates by sundry persons who were in the house with Mrs. Caldwell and saw her fall back and expire immediately after the report of the gun. 'This was,' as observed by Mr. Caldwell, 'a violation of tender feeling; without provocation, deliberately committed in open day; nor was it ever frowned on by the commander.' The catastrophe of this unhappy family was completed within two years by the murder of Mr. Caldwell himself by some ruffian hands. His conscious integrity of heart had never suffered him to apprehend any personal danger, and the melancholy that pervaded all on the tragical death of his lady, who was distinguished for the excellence and respectability of her character, wrought up the resentment of that part of the country to so high a pitch that the most timid were aroused to deeds of desperate heroism. They were ready to swear, like Hannibal against the Romans, and to bind their sons to the oath of everlasting enmity to the name of Britain.
poem by Mercy Warren
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Related quotes
The innocence of War
The innocence of war is a lie
there is no innocence in killing people
there is no innocence in destroying part of the world
murder of plants animals and many people
where is the innocence in that
More crimes and violence in this unholy cruel world
influenced on war
Death and Karma will come to all who
support this evil devilish thing, sport, crime!
The blood of many men drip on your hands
my hands
our hands
Familys departed over politics
new borns lifes already taken away by men they don't even know
its not there fault
its yours and mine because we don't
Listen! Hear! Speak!
save the life of the real innocence
poem by MeganOlivia Maxwell
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Character, I am sure, lies in the genes.
quote by Taylor Caldwell
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Innocence Again
Do you remember when
You were way back then
You held the world inside your hands
When you told me love
Was the strongest stuff
Your strength was innocence
But, oh man
The signs of the times are omens
You're starting the day in
No man's land again
Who are you gonna be?
When you're on your knees, who do you believe? (oh, oh, oh)
Fear is a lonely man
You've been given innocence
You've been given innocence again
You should know by now
That your darkest hour
Is when your broken heart goes down
It's a bitter end
When the sweet begins
Grace is sufficiency
But, oh dear, we'll never deserve it
No dear, we never could earn it
Now, here the choice is yours
Who are you gonna be?
When you're on your knees, who do you believe? (oh, oh, oh)
Fear is a lonely man
You've been given innocence
You've been given innocence again
Grace is high and low
Grace is high and low
Grace is high and low
We'll never be the same
Who are you gonna be?
When you're on your knees, who do you believe? (oh, oh, oh)
Fear is a lonely man
You've been given innocence
You've been given innocence again
oh, oh, oh...
You've been given innocence, innocence, innocence.
Who are you gonna be...
You've been given innocence.
song performed by by Switchfoot
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Driftwood
Oh come pity me, a poor mad sailor
Stranded on this love
Here I lie like driftwood, honey
Is this what i? ve become
I go high over, down under
At a lady? s will, under you
At a lady? s will
I? m drifting still
I? m drifting still
So I ask in fading innocence
And all my full rage
Will your hands still touch me
When my face has fallen in with age
I go high over, down under
At a lady? s will, under you
High over, down under
At a lady? s will, under you
At a lady? s will
I? m drifting still
I? m drifting still
High over, down under
At a lady? s will
High over, down under
At a lady? s will
song performed by by A-Ha
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Are we not all desperate one way or another?
quote by Taylor Caldwell
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Lady Ice
Lady ice, slips into her soul
Lady ice, leaves a house so cold
Lady ice, did you know that the world was lonely too?
Drifting snows searching flames and hide
Burning stones, as she looks for the heart somebody stole
She knows the violation, lovers arms, without occasion..
Who knows where to find a true heart for lady ice?
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Mezmerized in the candle flame
Compromised by the cruel bands of steel around her breast
She knows the desolation, of lovers arms, their isolation..
Who knows where to find the true heart for lady ice?
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Ladys eyes, slip away from the part she plays in school
She knows of roles and hide-aways
Suppose she knows the times away?
She knows where to find the true heart for lady ice..
Lady ice, step outside your soul
Lady ice, do you know that the world is frightened too?
song performed by by Duran Duran
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Learning should be a joy and full of excitement. It is life's greatest adventure; it is an illustrated excursion into the minds of the noble and the learned.
quote by Taylor Caldwell
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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What Makes You Happy
But dont worry, mom, I met him in a restaurant
And all this time Ive been getting to know him
Hes got an ex-wife in pasadena
And sometimes shes a mess to deal with
But mostly weve been living here uninjured
Theres a silence, and she says:
Listen here young lady
All that matter is what makes you happy
But you leave this house knowing my opinion
Wont make you love me if you dont care to.
But mom, Im sending you this photograph,
I swear this one is going to last
And all those other bastards were only practice
I feel the sun on my back
I smell the earth in my skin
I see the sky above me like a full recovery
Listen here young lady
All that matters is what makes you happy
But you leave this house knowing my opinion
Wont make you love me if you dont care.
Listen here young lady
All that matters is what makes you happy
But you leave this house knowing my opinion
Wont make a difference if youre not ready
Listen here young lady
All that matters is what makes you happy
But you leave this house knowing my opinion
Wont make you love me if you dont care.
Listen here young lady
All that matters is what makes you happy
But you leave this house knowing my opinion
Wont make you love me if you dont care.
Make you love me if you dont care
song performed by by Liz Phair
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and assistance to foreign hands should be curtailed, lest Rome fall.
quote by Taylor Caldwell
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Let Joy And Innocence Prevail
I tell you of a girl her husband was a soldier
gone to war in some strange country far away
no word had come to her
but the rumour of great battles fought
and dying in their thousands and the world full of fear
as the day would turn to evening she would a pure white candle
and place it in a window bright from where it could be seen
as she placed it in the window softly ? and ?
she said let this burning candle be a beacon
let joy and innocence prevail
let joy and innocence prevail
believe that luck will never fail
let joy and innocence prevail
and one night, asleep, she dreamed she saw her husband
fall in a great white cavilry charge
and waking in tears she saw the candle burning in the window
she still had hope
and through the window a man in the distance
but has he came closer, she saw he was a stranger
the stranger said I bring a message from a general
your captain has been wounded, his life hangs by a thread
he calls out your name and he wishes you to come to him
but the journey is a hard road and you may be afraid
and she laughed and said no road could be too hard for I am fearless
a captain and a husband I have gained this bright new day
and she said with all her heart she would fly to be beside hik
and her love would heal his wounds restore him to her
let joy and innocence prevail
let joy and innocence prevail
believe that luck will never fail
let joy and innocence prevail
let joy and innocence prevail
let joy and innocence prevail
believe that luck will never fail
let joy and innocence prevail
let joy and innocence prevail
song performed by by Grace Jones
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The C.F.A.
You ask old Meg McHenry about the C.F.A.
And without them she will tell you she'd be Homeless today
The trees and paddocks around her house left burnt and looking black
But they risked their lives to save her home and they beat the huge flames back.
The Country Fire Authority members their brave deeds worthy of recall
Men and women who risk their lives though their rewards may seem small
Stories of their courage in the gap of danger have been told far and wide
Without them facing the fire front far more homes would be destroyed.
The men and women of the C.F.A. fearless in their fight with fire
They are the unsung heroes and one only can admire
Them for their courage in times of danger death one mistake away
True stories of their fearlessness we hear of every day.
They often risk their lives and limbs for human lives and property
The brave volunteers of the C.F.A. and their services are free
And seventy years old Meg McHenry tells everyone she meet
That only for the fire fighting volunteers she would be on the street
poem by Francis Duggan
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I like animals because they are not consciously cruel and don't betray each other.
quote by Taylor Caldwell
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Learning … should be a joy and full of excitement. It is life's greatest adventure; it is an illustrated excursion into the minds of noble and learned men, not a conducted tour through a jail. So its surroundings should be as gracious as possible, to complement it.
quote by Taylor Caldwell
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Even the most malignant gods would not continue to inflict life upon humanity, time without end.
quote by Taylor Caldwell
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Learn everything you can, anytime you can, from anyone you can - there will always come a time when you will be grateful you did.
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Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Gouge Back The Innocence
This moment is just the moment
and thats what it will always be
Waves of time wash away
all thats left is sand this day
Fresh, and this moment will mould
Once again for time to take
My castles still up you see
tides havnt washed it away
Its just the way I am
new eyes in this world
but I guess thats just me
Im afraid its gonna get the best of me
I take shelter under the house,
built of pink pills and smoke rings
Time goes by fast
Still this castle stands
Maybe youre the wiser part of me
thats slowly starting to see
the short roads not the one to take,
on the other side theres more heart-ache
Hope still glimmers inside of me
Movies and fairy tales have gotten the best of me
False hope gets the best of me
from time to time my soul takes a stride
robbed of innocence along the path
someone tear my eyes out
a price I pay to get it back
robbed of innocence along the path
someone tear our eyes out
a price we pay to get it back
poem by Wild Child
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Obscurity can be a fire of ambition in those who have stalwart souls.
quote by Taylor Caldwell
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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If you can sell green toothpaste in this country, you can sell opera.
quote by Sarah Caldwell
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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People are scared to death of dying. I am the opposite.
quote by Taylor Caldwell
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Messenger
She rose up in the early dawn,
And white and silently she moved
About the house. Four men had gone
To battle for the land they loved,
And she, the mother and the wife,
Waited for tidings from the strife.
How still the house seemed! and her tread
Was like the footsteps of the dead.
The long day passed; the dark night came.
She had not seen a human face.
Some voice spoke suddenly her name.
How loud it echoed in that place,
Where, day on day, no sound was heard
But her own footsteps. 'Bring you word,'
She cried to whom she could not see,
'Word from the battle-plain to me?'
A soldier entered at the door,
And stood within the dim firelight;
'I bring you tidings of the four,'
He said, 'who left you for the fight.'
'God bless you, friend,' she cried, 'speak on!
For I can bear it. One is gone?'
'Ay, one is gone!' he said. 'Which one?'
'Dear lady, he, your eldest son.'
A deathly pallor shot across
Her withered face; she did not weep.
She said: 'It is a grievous loss,
But God gives His belovèd sleep.
What of the living-of the three?
And when can they come back to me?'
The soldier turned away his head:
'Lady, your husband, too, is dead.'
She put her hand upon her brow;
A wild, sharp pain was in her eyes.
'My husband! Oh, God, help me now!'
The soldier heard her shuddering sighs.
The task was harder than he thought.
'Your youngest son, dear madam, fought
Close at his father's side; both fell
Dead, by the bursting of a shell.'
She moved her lips and seemed to moan.
Her face had paled to ashen gray:
'Then one is left me-one alone,'
She said, 'of four who marched away.
Oh, overruling, All-wise God,
How can I pass beneath Thy rod!'
The soldier walked across the floor,
Paused at the window, at the door,
Wiped the cold dew-drops from his cheek
And sought the mourner's side again.
'Once more, dear lady, I must speak:
Your last remaining son was slain
Just at the closing of the fight,
'Twas he who sent me here to-night.'
'God knows,' the man said afterward,
'The fight itself was not so hard.'
poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
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