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and even break, on the skirts of the Andes, as in the valleys of Europe ; 

 and to histories of revolution, when every passion and affection is 

 called into action. These are incomparably the most interesting: 

 they are the materials out of which tragedy and romance are built. 

 The two following were told last night. 



Juana Maria Pola, of Santa Fe de Bogota, was a woman whose 

 husband, and brothers, and sons, were deeply engaged in the patriot 

 cause. When Santa Fe was taken from the royalists, after the 

 barracks of the infantry and cavalry had been seized, the patriots 

 paused to collect numbers sufficient to attack the artillery ; and then 

 was that interval, when " the boldest held his breath for a time." 

 Juana Maria found her son among the troops, who were awaiting the 

 rest. " What do you do here ?" said she. — " I expect each moment to 

 fight for La Patriot," — " Kneel down then, and take a mother's bless- 

 ing. We women will go on and receive the first fire, and over our 

 bodies you shall march and take yonder cannon, and save your 

 country." She blessed her son, and rushed on with the foremost, 

 and the day was theirs. From that day she held a captain's pay and 

 rank. But the royalists retook Santa Fe, and Juana Maria Pola 

 was one of their first victims : she was led to the market-place and 

 shot. 



Jose Maria Melgado was a young man of good family and excel- 

 lent education. He was an advocate at twenty-two years of age, and 

 on the point of being married to the woman of his choice. When 

 Pomacao arose, Melgado instantly joined him, and became judge- 

 advocate to the patriot army. Shortly afterwards General Ra- 

 mirez took the place which was then Pomacao's head-quarters, and 

 Melgado with others was taken and condemned to death. His 

 family and friends, however, possessed such interest that he might 

 have obtained his pardon, would he have submitted to the royal 

 mercy, and embraced the royal cause. But to all that could be 

 urged to that effect he appeared absolutely deaf, and persisted in re- 

 turning no answer whatever. At length he was led out for execu- 

 tion ; and the priest came to confess him, and even then and there 



