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in search of my daughter； if you do not speak quickly； and tell me
where she is。 I care nothing about that outcast rubbish of creation；
that mean； low…lived Elfonzo； if I can but obtain Ambulinia。
Are you not going to open this door？〃 said he。 〃By the Eternal
that made Heaven and earth！ I will go about the work instantly；
if this is not done！〃 The confused citizens gathered from all
parts of the village； to know the cause of this commotion。
Some rushed into the house； the door that was locked flew open；
and there stood Ambulinia； weeping。 〃Father； be still；〃 said she；
〃and I will follow thee home。〃 But the agitated man seized her；
and bore her off through the gazing multitude。 〃Father！〃 she exclaimed；
〃I humbly beg your pardonI will be dutifulI will obey thy commands。
Let the sixteen years I have lived in obedience to thee by my
future security。〃 〃I don't like to be always giving credit；
when the old score is not paid up； madam；〃 said the father。 The mother
followed almost in a state of derangement； crying and imploring
her to think beforehand； and ask advice from experienced persons；
and they would tell her it was a rash undertaking。 〃Oh！〃 said she；
〃Ambulinia； my daughter； did you know what I have suffered
did you know how many nights I have whiled away in agony；
in pain； and in fear； you would pity the sorrows of a heartbroken
mother。〃
〃Well； mother；〃 replied Ambulinia； 〃I know I have been disobedient；
I am aware that what I have done might have been done much better；
but oh！ what shall I do with my honor？ it is so dear to me；
I am pledged to Elfonzo。 His high moral worth is certainly worth
some attention； moreover； my vows； I have no doubt； are recorded
in the book of life； and must I give these all up？ must my fair
hopes be forever blasted？ Forbid it； father； oh！ forbid it； mother；
forbid it； Heaven。〃 〃I have seen so many beautiful skies overclouded；〃
replied the mother； 〃so many blossoms nipped by the frost；
that I am afraid to trust you to the care of those fair days；
which may be interrupted by thundering and tempestuous nights。
You no doubt think as I didlife's devious ways were strewn with
sweet…scented flowers； but ah！ how long they have lingered around me
and took their flight in the vivid hope that laughs at the drooping
victims it has murdered。〃 Elfonzo was moved at this sight。
The people followed on to see what was going to become of Ambulinia；
while he； with downcast looks； kept at a distance； until he saw
them enter the abode of the father； thrusting her； that was the
sigh of his soul； out of his presence into a solitary apartment；
when she exclaimed； 〃Elfonzo！ Elfonzo！ oh； Elfonzo！ where art thou；
with all thy heroes？ haste； oh！ haste； come thou to my relief。
Ride on the wings of the wind！ Turn thy force loose like a tempest；
and roll on thy army like a whirlwind； over this mountain of trouble
and confusion。 Oh； friends！ if any pity me； let your last efforts
throng upon the green hills； and come to the relief of Ambulinia；
who is guilty of nothing but innocent love。〃 Elfonzo called out with
a loud voice； 〃My God； can I stand this！ arise up； I beseech you；
and put an end to this tyranny。 Come； my brave boys；〃 said he；
〃are you ready to go forth to your duty？〃 They stood around him。
〃Who；〃 said he； 〃will call us to arms？ Where are my thunderbolts of war？
Speak ye； the first who will meet the foe！ Who will go forward with me
in this ocean of grievous temptation？ If there is one who desires
to go； let him come and shake hands upon the altar of devotion；
and swear that he will be a hero； yes； a Hector in a cause like this；
which calls aloud for a speedy remedy。〃 〃Mine be the deed；〃
said a young lawyer； 〃and mine alone； Venus alone shall quit her
station before I will forsake one jot or tittle of my promise to you；
what is death to me？ what is all this warlike army； if it is not
to win a victory？ I love the sleep of the lover and the mighty；
nor would I give it over till the blood of my enemies should wreak
with that of my own。 But God forbid that our fame should soar
on the blood of the slumberer。〃 Mr。 Valeer stands at his door
with the frown of a demon upon his brow； with his dangerous
weapon ready to strike the first man who should enter his door。
〃Who will arise and go forward through blood and carnage to the rescue
of my Ambulinia？〃 said Elfonzo。 〃All；〃 exclaimed the multitude；
and onward they went； with their implements of battle。 Others； of a
more timid nature； stood among the distant hills to see the result of
the contest。
Elfonzo took the lead of his band。 Night arose in clouds；
darkness concealed the heavens； but the blazing hopes that stimulated
them gleamed in every bosom。 All approached the anxious spot；
they rushed to the front of the house and； with one exclamation；
demanded Ambulinia。 〃Away； begone； and disturb my peace no more；〃
said Mr。 Valeer。 〃You are a set of base； insolent； and infernal rascals。
Go； the northern star points your path through the dim twilight of
the night； go； and vent your spite upon the lonely hills； pour forth
your love； you poor； weak…minded wretch； upon your idleness and upon
your guitar； and your fiddle； they are fit subjects for your admiration；
for let me assure you； though this sword and iron lever are cankered；
yet they frown in sleep； and let one of you dare to enter my
house this night and you shall have the contents and the weight
of these instruments。〃 〃Never yet did base dishonor blur my name；〃
said Elfonzo； 〃mine is a cause of renown； here are my warriors；
fear and tremble； for this night； though hell itself should oppose；
I will endeavor to avenge her whom thou hast banished in solitude。
The voice of Ambulinia shall be heard from that dark dungeon。〃
At that moment Ambulinia appeared at the window above； and with a
tremulous voice said； 〃Live； Elfonzo！ oh！ live to raise my stone
of moss！ why should such language enter your heart？ why should thy
voice rend the air with such agitation？ I bid thee live； once more
remembering these tears of mine are shed alone for thee； in this dark
and gloomy vault； and should I perish under this load of trouble；
join the song of thrilling accents with the raven above my grave；
and lay this tattered frame beside the banks of the Chattahoochee
or the stream of Sawney's brook； sweet will be the song of death to
your Ambulinia。 My ghost shall visit you in the smiles of Paradise；
and tell your high fame to the minds of that region； which is far more
preferable than this lonely cell。 My heart shall speak for thee till
the latest hour； I know faint and broken are the sounds of sorrow；
yet our souls； Elfonzo； shall hear the peaceful songs together。
One bright name shall be ours on high； if we are not permitted to be
united here； bear in mind that I still cherish my old sentiments；
and the poet will mingle the names of Elfonzo and Ambulinia
in the tide of other days。〃 〃Fly； Elfonzo； 〃 said the voices
of his united band； 〃to the wounded heart of your beloved。
All enemies shall fall beneath thy sword。 Fly through the clefts；
and the dim spark shall sleep in death。〃 Elfonzo rushes forward
and strikes his shield against the door； which was barricaded；
to prevent any intercourse。 His brave sons throng around him。
The people pour along the streets； both male and female； to prevent or
witness the melancholy scene。
〃To arms； to arms！〃 cried Elfonzo； 〃here is a victory to be won；
a prize to be gained that is more to me that the whole world beside。〃
〃It cannot be done tonight；〃 said Mr。 Valeer。 〃I bear the clang
of death； my strength and armor shall prevail。 My Ambulinia shall
rest in this hall until the break of another day； and if we fall；
we fall together。 If we die； we die clinging to our tattered rights；
and our blood alone shall tell the mournful tale of a murdered
daughter and a ruined father。〃 Sure enough； he kept watch all night；
and was successful in defending his house and family。 The bright
morning gleamed upon the hills； night vanished away； the Major
and his associates felt somewhat ashamed that they had not been as
fortunate as they expected to have been； however； they still leaned
upon their arms in dispersed groups； some were walking the streets；
others were talking in the Major's behalf。 Many of the citizen
suspended business； as the town presented nothing but consternation。
A novelty that might end in the destruction of some worthy
and respectable citizens。 Mr。 Valeer ventured in the streets；
though not without being well armed。 Some of his friends congratulated
him on the decided stand he had taken； and hoped he would settle
the matter amicably with Elfonzo； without any serious injury。
〃Me；〃 he replied； 〃what； me； condescend to fellowship with a coward；
and a low…lived； lazy； undermining villain？ no； gentlemen； this cannot be；
I had rather be borne off； like the