Page:Life of David Haggart who was executed at Edinburgh, 18th July, 1821 for the murder of the Dumfries jailor (2).pdf/20

 20 through in hiding them when the Judge was passing the awful sentence, I turned dizzy, and gasped for breath. They say I looked careless, but they could not see within me. I did not know what had happened, oh where I was thought of every thing in a minute--I thought of my father--and I thought of my mother, who died of a broken heart-I thought of es- cape, and very near made a plunge over. the heads of the crowed--then I could have cried out. When the sentence was over I gathered my thoughts, and my heart way as hard as ever; for I said, " Well! the man that is born to be hanged, will not be drowned !" This was very wicked, but I could not help it, for I had no com- mands of my thoughts on words. But these wild and wicked thought's soon left me. Every body was very kind to me. How this happens I cannot tell, for from my infancy my hand bas been against every man, and I never saw a human be- ing without trying to do them harm- This kindness is a awful lesson to me now, but it has done my heart good for it is the surest punishment I have met with vet in this world have been visited by: several clergymen. They have prayed mock with me and for me. I told them I had no words to pray, but they taught