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Ten Boys from History

by Kate Dickinson Sweetser · English · Gutenberg #23650 · 330,284 chars · public domain (US)

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Title: Ten Boys from History

Author: Kate Dickinson Sweetser

Illustrator: George Alfred Williams


        
Release date: November 28, 2007 [eBook #23650]
                Most recently updated: January 3, 2021

Language: English

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        Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net


*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TEN BOYS FROM HISTORY ***




Produced by Juliet Sutherland and the Online Distributed
Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net






Transcriber's Note: Minor typographical errors have been corrected
without note. Dialect spellings, contractions and discrepancies have
been retained.


[Illustration: MIDSHIPMAN FARRAGUT ON THE "ESSEX"]




TEN BOYS FROM HISTORY



By

KATE DICKINSON SWEETSER


AUTHOR OF

"TEN BOYS FROM DICKENS"
"TEN GREAT ADVENTURERS"
"BOOK OF INDIAN BRAVES" ETC.



ILLUSTRATED BY

GEORGE ALFRED WILLIAMS



HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS
NEW YORK AND LONDON




BOOKS BY

KATE DICKINSON SWEETSER


TEN AMERICAN GIRLS FROM HISTORY. Illustrated.
BOOK OF INDIAN BRAVES. Illustrated.
BOYS AND GIRLS FROM ELIOT. Illustrated.
BOYS AND GIRLS FROM THACKERAY. Illustrated.
TEN BOYS FROM DICKENS. Illustrated.
TEN BOYS FROM HISTORY. Illustrated.
TEN GIRLS FROM DICKENS. Illustrated.
TEN GIRLS FROM HISTORY. Illustrated.
TEN GREAT ADVENTURERS. Illustrated.



HARPER & BROTHERS, NEW YORK

[ESTABLISHED 1817]


TEN BOYS FROM HISTORY

Copyright, 1910, by HARPER & BROTHERS
Printed in the United States of America




PREFACE


In this small volume the boys of many lands and races whose stories
are told, have been selected not because they later became famous men,
although some of them did, but because each one achieved something
noteworthy as a boy. And in each boy's character, whether historic or
legendary, courage was the marked trait. For this reason it is hoped
that their stories will prove stimulating to some who read them.

K. D. S.




CONTENTS


                                                             PAGE

STEPHEN AND NICHOLAS: BOY CRUSADERS                            11

PETER OF HAARLEM: THE BOY WHO SAVED HIS COUNTRY                45

DAVID: THE SHEPHERD BOY                                        55

LOUIS SEVENTEENTH: THE BOY KING WHO NEVER REIGNED              91

EDWARD THE BLACK PRINCE: THE BOY WARRIOR                      131

TYRANT TAD: THE BOY IN THE WHITE HOUSE                        145

S. F. B. MORSE: WHO INVENTED THE TELEGRAPH                    169

DAVID FARRAGUT: THE BOY MIDSHIPMAN                            179

MOZART: THE BOY MUSICIAN                                      197




ILLUSTRATIONS


                                                             PAGE

MIDSHIPMAN FARRAGUT ON THE "ESSEX"                  _Frontispiece_

DAVID AND GOLIATH                                   Facing p._ 70

THE BLACK PRINCE AT CRECY                            "        136

TYRANT TAD AND ABRAHAM LINCOLN                       "        154

DAVID FARRAGUT                                       "        186




TEN BOYS FROM HISTORY




STEPHEN AND NICHOLAS:

Boy Crusaders

    "To the sea of fools
    Led the path of the children."

                    _Old Epigram._


Just a word about the Crusades, or Holy Wars, before we begin our
story.

A war is generally a conflict between nations, countries, or individuals,
for possession of land or a throne, but the Holy Wars were not such.
They were expeditions made by those Christians who were determined to
rescue the Sepulchre, or tomb, of Christ and the City of Jerusalem,
from the rule of unbelievers.

For eighty-eight years Christian kings ruled in Palestine, then all the
land was conquered by the Mohammedans, except a few cities, and the
Christians sent out another, and still another, and another expedition
to subdue the enemy, but all were useless. The Holy City and the Holy
Sepulchre were still in the hands of infidels, who persecuted the
pilgrims who visited the Holy Tomb; and the Christians sent a
heart-rending cry to all Europe for help, but Europe was slow to answer
the appeal, and it was several years after Pope Innocent ordered a new
Crusade, before an army departed for the scene of conflict.

It was during this interval that the Children's Crusade or Holy War,
took place--of which we are about to read.

But first let us go back to the city of Chartres, on the 25th day of
April, 1212, when a surging crowd of men and women is filling every
street and by-way of the quaint city.

What are the crowds watching so eagerly? A procession of priests and
laymen, carrying banners and black-draped crosses, and chanting in
solemn unison as they march.

It is the day of the celebration in Chartres of the "Black Crosses," an
old church ceremony instituted centuries before, by Gregory the Great,
during the ravages of the Plague, but now celebrated as an appeal to
the people to free Jerusalem and the Holy Tomb from the hands of the
infidels.

The solemn ranks of the procession move slowly through the streets of
Chartres, carrying black-draped symbols of a Saviour's death, chanting
deep-toned litanies, and that the old ceremony has lost none of its
emotional power is shown by the tears and silence of the watching
throngs, while among all the crowd none is more profoundly stirred than
a slender shepherd lad from the neighbouring town of Cloyes, who is
seeing the ceremony for the first time.

Agile as such a lad should be, and sturdy in consequence of his
out-of-door life, Stephen, for that was his name, found it an easy
matter to breast the surging tide of spectators following the
procession, to slip in where he could to best advantage watch the
solemn ceremonies, to stand without fatigue while he drank in all the
emotional thrill of the day.

The shrouded crosses, the appeals for rescue of an entombed Christ in
the hands of an infidel enemy, the tears and cries of the crowds,
worked on the impressionable shepherd lad, unaccustomed to aught but
life with his flocks, worked on him so powerfully that he was hot with
a desire to rush to Jerusalem and expel the hated Mohammedans from that
land and city, once blessed by the living presence of Jesus, and
hallowed by the possession of his tomb.

So filled with enthusiasm was Stephen that his burning cheeks and
glowing eyes told the tale to an observant priest, who to accomplish
his own end, kept close watch of the boy, spoke to him, making
inquiries as to his name and occupation, and then decided to make him a
tool of destiny.

But of this Stephen knew nothing. Filled with thoughts of what he had
seen and heard, at evening he walked slowly towards his home in the
little village of Cloyes, walking less on solid earth than on a cloud
of dreams and desires, and from that moment he was never again the
contented shepherd lad, son of the peasant of Cloyes. He was alive with
new emotions now, and as he wandered on the hillside with his flock he
was in imagination the hero of daring deeds, taking part in such
pictured scenes as his excited fancy could conjure up, until at last,
he was in a state of mind suited to any enterprise, prepared to believe
any story, however improbable, to accept any life except that of his
own monotonous peasant existence.

While in this mood there came to him on his hillside, several days
later, a stranger in the dress of a pilgrim, returned, as he at first
said, from Palestine. He was on his way to a distant home and in need
of food.

Only too eagerly did Stephen share with him such food as he had, asking
in return to be told of the wonders of the Holy Land and of the daring
deeds of the heroes who had fallen there in battle. The stranger
readily complied with this request and poured into the boy's credulous
ears tales well calculated to thrill and excite his already inflamed
fancy. Then, watching Stephen closely as he spoke, the stranger said
with solemn earnestness:

"But this is not all I have to tell, my lad. There is work for you to
do,--for you, the Lord's anointed, his chosen apostle, and in the name
of Christ and his Holy Cross, I bid you arise and do his will."

"Work?--for me? From whom comes this message?"

Stephen's eyes were lit with the fire of excited desire and his voice
trembled with emotion.

Very slowly the answering words fell from his companion's lips:

"The message is brought by him who sends it. Behold, lad, the Christ of
history and of truth! _I_ bid you arise--rouse up the youth of our
land! Lead them to that Holy Sepulchre! As prophet and as leader, go
thou where they shall follow, and bring to pass that which nobles and
soldiers have failed to accomplish. Go lad--go!"

Stephen's breath came in quick gasps--his eyes were like coals of fire
as he sank on his knees, crying:

"Oh bless me--bless me--I will go--Lord, I will go!"

A hand was laid gently on his head as the deep voice said, "In the name
of Jesus, lad--in the name of the Crucified, lead thou thy troops to
victory. Across the land, across the sea, lead them to victory!" Then
in a less impassioned tone, the stranger added, "I leave with you a
letter to the king of France. Haste thou to him with this proof of thy
divine mission and he will aid thee in thy enterprise. In the name of
Jesus, lad, arise and go!"

A letter was pressed into Stephen's hand. He heard retreating
footsteps, and before he had gained his composure and risen to his
feet, his divine guest was gone. He was alone with his straying flock,
not sure except for the letter, whether he had had a vision or a
visitor.

And how was he to know, innocent peasant lad, of an ignorant and
superstitious ancestry, brought up on miraculous tales of saints and
seers, that the Christ of his visit was no other than that priest whose
attention Stephen had attracted by his emotion at Chartres, who with
crafty keenness had chosen the peasant boy to carry out his purpose of
arousing the youth of the land to undertake a new Crusade? How was
Stephen, all aflame as he was, to be supposed to penetrate the priest's
disguise, to realise his purpose, and throw off the thrill? He could
not and he did not.

Leaving his flocks to ramble at will over the plains and neighbouring
hills, with the divine letter clasped in his hand, Stephen ran homeward
through the little village where he lived, past its dilapidated church,
its quaint shops and rows of houses, over the old stone bridge by which
the main street crosses the little river Loir, running in a southerly
direction to join the beautiful Loire. The bridge is a pleasant place
to linger on a summer day, and recalls many a historic memory of Joan
of Arc, who once passed that way, on her way to Orleans--of Philip
Augustus--of Richard Coeur-de-Lion--but on naught save his divine
mission was the lad Stephen intent as he crossed the bridge on that
April day.

Having reached home, he hastily called his parents from their labour,
and gathering together such neighbours as could be summoned, he told of
his talk with the Saviour, who had come to call him, Stephen, the
shepherd boy, from tending his flocks, to rescue the Holy City and tomb
from wicked hands, and in proof of the truth of his story he showed the
letter from Jesus Christ to the King of France asking the king's aid
for Stephen in his holy mission.

As I have said, this was an age of dense ignorance and superstition
among the peasant classes. Those who had heard Stephen's tale were dumb
with awe and wonder and doubted not its truth. Only his father spoke
against the plan, mentioning his son's youth--commanding him to go back
to his flocks. But to these commands Stephen turned a deaf ear, for was
not he the Lord's anointed? Who could dictate to him, now that the
Divine voice had spoken in accents clear and strong?

On the next day and the next, even until darkness fell over the little
town, Stephen narrated his story in the market-place to ever-increasing
audiences, telling that now when the defenders of the Holy Sepulchre
were so few, and older and stronger Crusaders had failed to carry out
their divine purpose by reason of the ravages of war and disease, God
had revealed his plan to give the possession of Palestine to those
children who should enlist in his holy cause.

"For the last time have we heard of defeat," cried Stephen. "Hereafter
shall children show mailed warriors and proud barons how invulnerable
are youths when God leads them!"

This cry stirred the youths of Cloyes profoundly, and they all rushed
to enlist under the banner of Stephen and the Holy Cross, but the
number was not large enough to satisfy Stephen's ambition. He was
determined now to rouse all France and in consequence of that desire,
he decided to leave his home and go to a town five miles north of
Paris--St. Denys, the great shrine of the land, where lie the bones of
the martyr Dionysius, the object of countless pilgrimages, where to
ever-changing crowds, he could preach his Crusade, and gain recruits
for his army.

And so to St. Denys, Stephen of Cloyes went, in May of 1212. Dressed in
his shepherd's clothes, for he had no others, with his crook in his
hand and a little wallet by his side, he left quiet Cloyes for ever.
With a heart throbbing with hope and excitement, he journeyed on,
feeling neither fatigue nor fear, and as he went he preached his
mission in towns and cities by the way, and ever the interest deepened
in this lad who spoke with such burning eloquence, proclaiming himself
God's chosen instrument to rescue the Holy Sepulchre, and everywhere he
gained recruits. But even in Paris and Chartres, he did not linger
long, being eager to reach St. Denys. At last he arrived there, and
standing at the door of the historic church which contained the
martyr's tomb, proclaimed his new Crusade to astonished crowds whom he
fascinated by his unusual eloquence as he told the old story of the
sufferings of the Christians in the Holy Land, telling it so simply and
so vividly that his audiences were profoundly stirred, especially by
Stephen's last and best appeal. He pointed to the Sepulchre of St.
Denys, to which worshippers were thronging, and contrasted its
condition with that of the Sepulchre of the Saviour, asking if his
hearers would not help him make the Saviour's tomb as honoured and as
free from disturbing influences as was that of the saint. He then read
his letter to the king and asked if God's commands were to be
disregarded, telling of his interview with Christ, and adding that
after his day in Chartres, he had gone in search of his flocks and
found them missing, but had later discovered them in a field of grain,
from which he was about to drive them angrily, when they fell on their
knees and begged his forgiveness. This, he said, with other signs, had
led him to believe that he was truly God's anointed, even before he had
been visited by Christ.

It may well be asked here how a lad scarcely over twelve years of age
and born of the peasant class, could have suddenly become so
eloquent--so capable of appealing to audiences, and the answer is not
easy to give unless one thoroughly understands the spirit of that age
in which Stephen lived--an age in which there was much high-coloured
and stirring language used by the priests, language which appealed so
strongly to an impressionable lad like Stephen, that he unconsciously
took it for his own and made use of it; being often carried on the tide
of his emotion, far beyond his own understanding of the words and
thoughts he was uttering.

Immediately, he became the Saint of the day, and the martyr's bones
were deserted by those who preferred to listen to the lad's stirring
appeals. It is even reported that he worked miracles to support his own
divine claim, and the enthusiasm to join his army grew daily more
intense. As pilgrims went back to their homes they carried news of
Stephen's Crusade to their children, who, filled with excitement, in
turn passed the news on to their friends. And so the interest spread
like a contagion throughout all parts of France, through Brittany,
where the English ruled, through Normandy, recently added to Philip's
domain, to Aquitaine and Provence, to Toulouse and peaceful Gascony.
Whatever feuds their parents were engaged in, the children did not
care, and were not interested in the wars for power. So while their
elders were prevented from unity of action by the strife and political
divisions of the land, the young were one in feeling and in desire, and
joined gleefully in Stephen's stirring cry:

"Long enough have you knights and warriors, so boastful and so
honoured, been making your fruitless attempts to rescue the tomb of
Christ! God can wait no longer! He is tired of your vain puny efforts.
Stand back and let us, whom you despise, carry out his commission! He
who calls can insure the victory, and we will show you what the
children can do!"

Among the children who listened to Stephen's appeals, the more
enterprising returned home determined to play a part in the Crusade
only second to that of the Prophet, as Stephen was now called.
Everywhere in France, they went through their home districts, begging
their companions to join the Crusade, and it is probable that these
children had much help from priests who sought in every way to inflame
the youthful host, and to lead them on to concerted action.

As the army grew larger, the children formed into bands, and marched
through towns and villages with all the pomp and display possible,
despite much opposition from their parents, who saw with alarm that the
excitement was growing daily more intense. The bands of recruits
carried lighted candles, waving perfumed censers, and at the head of
every band there marched a proud youth carrying the Oriflamme--a copy
of the flag of the church, which was kept at St. Denys. The design of
this banner was a red triple-tongued flame, symbolic of the tongues of
fire that came down at Pentecost. This banner, like the colours of a
regiment, was a symbol of honour, and an object of the young Crusader's
devotion.

As the bands marched, they either sang hymns, such as had kept up the
courage of previous Crusaders, or others composed on the spur of the
moment by their revered children's minds, and in all of the hymns came
the refrain--"Lord, restore Christendom! Lord, restore to us the true
and holy Cross!"

And too they adopted the watchword which for two centuries had rung
through Asia. Crying, "God wills it!" children of all classes and
conditions and ages, cast aside authority, and joined the army, and
soon the movement became like the surge of a great wave, carrying the
youth of France out on its dangerous tide--girls as well as boys--weak
as well as strong--joining the forces.

Of course, the matter attracted the attention of the king, Philip
Augustus, who at first, for political reasons, was inclined to favour
the young Crusaders, but then seeing how serious the matter really was,
and that if it were not suppressed it would bear away the youth of the
land, to almost certain disaster, finally issued an edict or command
that the children return to their homes.

Kings are too wise to pay any attention even to messages written by a
divine hand, and there is no evidence to show that Philip was in any
way influenced by the letter given to Stephen by his celestial visitor,
and Philip's edict went forth, that there be an end to the uprising of
the children.

But in vain was the edict, which the King did not attempt to enforce,
in vain were all the commands and threats and pleas of parents and
guardians. Stephen's Crusade had become an epidemic. If a lad were
locked up that he might not join its ranks, he straightway sickened;
some even died of pining; where commands were the only bar to freedom,
the youths utterly disregarded them and ran away. So, after a few weeks
of Stephen's inflamed preaching there was rebellion in many a before
happy household in France, agony in many a mother's heart, who saw her
children leaving her, never, as her mother instinct told her, to
return.

In the ranks of recruits were many noble youths, sons of counts and
barons, who had from birth been brought up with knights and warriors
who had won fame and honour in former Crusades, and who told glowing
tales of the beauty and charm of the Holy Land to their children, and
these were naturally thrilled at the thought of seeing such scenes and
doing such deeds of valour, in gorgeous armour and on prancing steeds,
for so did they picture themselves, as their fathers had done before
them.

And there were others whose fathers had died in the Wars of the Cross,
whose feverish dream was to make use of their father's honoured sword
and shield and thus complete the work that Death had cut short. When
these youths from the hills on which their homes stood, watched the
processions passing with uplifted crosses and banners waving high, when
they heard the songs and shouts of triumph, they could not be held back
from joining the throng, and from their thousand homes they came to
join the army, while higher and higher swelled the excitement, despite
the opposition of king and clergy.

While Stephen was preaching at St. Denys, trying to gather his army
together with all speed, tidings of the new Crusade were brought to a
boy in a village near Cologne, a boy who had always been keenly
interested in reading and hearing of the Crusades, and who was at once
filled with a desire to follow the leadership of Stephen.

Nicholas, for that was this German lad's name, had a father who was
both clever and ambitious. He knew the precocity of his son, and
desiring to have the boy's talents bring him fame, and perhaps worldly
benefits, worked on the boy's young mind in every possible way, until
Nicholas believed himself to be called of God to imitate the example of
Stephen, and to go to Cologne and preach as Stephen was doing at St.
Denys.

Old Cologne was a great and influential city, and at that time the
religious centre of Germany, and there Nicholas went and preached,
telling, and doubtless with much suggestion and help from his father,
many marvellous tales of the cross of blazing light which had been his
pledge of success in the Holy War. Now we hear him speaking in
impassioned words by the door of the old Cathedral, now on a platform
surrounded by his credulous audience, and again simply standing on the
street corner telling his story, while like the widening ripples from a
stone thrown into the still waters of a lake, widened the ripples of
interest in the new Crusade among the German children.

For reasons politic, the Emperor suppressed the matter where he could,
but in the vicinity of the Rhine and the neighbouring land of Burgundy,
the mania spread like wildfire, and as in France, overcame all
opposition, until in little over a month after the first preaching of
Nicholas, his bands were ready to depart for the Holy Land, while
Stephen, Prophet and leader in France, was still waiting for the
completion of his army, recruits for which were ever pouring into St.
Denys, and although Stephen had never seen Nicholas, it must have been
anything but an easy matter for him to control his feelings and act as
such a divinely appointed leader should, when he heard that Nicholas
was ready to lead his forces on to victory, while he, Stephen, first
called of God, was left behind.

But there was no help for it, and on a morning of early July, in 1212,
the German bands were ready to march to glory. Most of them wore the
long grey coat of the Crusader, with its Cross upon the right shoulder,
which, with the addition of the palmer's staff they carried, and the
broad-brimmed hat they wore, made a quaint and pleasing effect upon the
childish figures--while it showed to great advantages the broad
shoulders and fine figure of sturdy Nicholas, who was as different as
possible in physique and temperament from high-strung sensitive
Stephen.

Now the hour of their departure has come. The army of Nicholas is ready
to start from Cologne--a great crowd of spectators surrounds them,
watching their movements in breathless silence. Nicholas stands with
up-raised hands, gives a signal--the army forms into a solid
body--starts--moves--and in a moment, despite opposition,
protestations, pleas and sobs, twenty thousand children have commenced
their march to Palestine. On they move, banners flying, songs and
cheers floating on the clear air, and while there is many a dimmed eye
and choked voice among those gathered to see them start, in the ranks
of the Crusaders there is only enthusiasm and joy. On to victory! is
their cry as they disappear behind the hills, a winding ribbon of
humanity, and soon the sound of their cheers and shouts sinks into
silence.

And now let us follow them, as along the Rhine they journey. Across the
fields--beyond the river--southward through wilderness and vineyard,
they go--marching by an occasional castle rising from some lofty crag,
connected in many a childish mind with oft-heard legend and with song.

As they march on, they while away the tedious hours with hymns and
tales, the children from the castles telling of knightly deeds done by
men of famous name, the peasants, telling of miraculous visions of the
Saints; and in the hearing and the telling of the tales, the children
became as one family, bound up in one holy purpose--to outdo all deeds
of heroic valour which had ever been the theme of song or story.

A motley army they--strangest of all the armies ever seen before--with
face and form and voice of youth, but filled with older purpose and
courage, as on and on they march with Nicholas in command, the lines
stretching behind for several miles; and still are their banners
proudly borne aloft, and still as they march, this famous old
Crusader's hymn rises on the still air:

    Fairest Lord Jesus,
    Ruler of all Nature,
    O thou of God and man the Son!
    Thee will I cherish,
    Thee will I honour,
    Thou, my soul's glory, joy and crown.

    Fair are the meadows,
    Fairer still the woodlands,
    Robed in the blooming garb of spring;
    Jesus is fairer,
    Jesus is purer,
    Who makes the woeful heart to sing.

And still they journey southward, with Palestine their goal, and in
their young minds there is no fear of a way to cross the Mediterranean
sea, for had not Christ assured Stephen, and a vision revealed to
Nicholas, that the drought at that time parching the land was God's
evidence that they were to pass through the sea as on dry land, its
waters having been parted for their benefit?

So fearlessly and happily they travelled on through the lands of the
lords and nobles who owed allegiance to France, and everywhere their
fame had preceded them, and in every village they won fresh recruits,
until at length their number was so great that no city on the way could
contain their army.

Some slept in houses, invited by the kind-hearted, others lay in the
streets or market-place, while others lay down outside the walls of the
cities, or if they were in open country when night fell, slept in barns
or hovels, or by brooks, or under protecting trees, and so weary were
they from their tiresome march that wherever they were, it mattered
not, they slept as soundly as on beds of down. Then when morning came
they ate whatever they had left, or begged or bought what food they
could, for some among them still had money in their pockets. The line
of march was again formed, the banners unfurled, the crosses uplifted,
and with songs and shouts another day was begun. At noon they rested by
some stream or in a shaded nook to eat their scanty meal, and then
again marched on, feeling more keenly each day the distance lying
between them and the land of their dreams, for the great trials of the
young Crusaders had begun. Every day the march grew harder and more
tiresome to the weary travellers, each meal the supply of food was more
scanty, and even those children who had any money were robbed or
cheated of it by hangers-on and thieves. Disorder and lawlessness
increased rapidly in the ranks of the army, until at last they moved on
without any rank or discipline, and under various leaders, who now
openly defied the authority of Nicholas. At last they reached the
territory now called Switzerland, which was then a number of small
districts, mostly belonging to the Emperor; and the army winding
through its beautiful valleys and passing along the banks of its
turbulent rivers, came at last to the shores of Lake Leman and camped
by the walls of Geneva. From thence their task was to cross the
trackless heights of the Alps.

Weary and worn, but singing as they went, they journeyed bravely on
over Mt. Cenis, which in the Middle Ages was the most frequented of all
the mountain passes to Italy, and on that journey many children gave
way to exhaustion. The rocks cut their unprotected feet, the air of
dark chasms chilled them, they saw no prospect of rest or food until
the pass was traversed, and go any farther in such misery they could
not. Many turned back, and sadder and wiser, sought again the
protection and comfort of their homes.

But the majority of the army still feverishly excited and inflamed with
hope, pressed on and on, then suddenly in a moment of unexpected
vision, before them in the distance they saw winding rivers, tapestried
hills, and vine-yards and valleys of such luxuriant beauty as they had
never seen in their Northern lands.

With new courage and strength they hurried on now, and soon they were
in Italy, where, alas, poor children, they met with all sorts of
oppression and cruelty as they journeyed, for the Italians were
embittered against the Germans because of the constant wars carried on
by their emperors, and visited the sins of their fathers upon these
innocent children who were in their power, refusing them entrance to
many towns, and subjecting them to all sorts of cruelties. But still
such of the army as remained pressed on and on, and then one day, oh,
joyous sight, not far beyond they saw the sea, blue and boundless, and
on its shore, bathed in sunlight, lay "Genoa, the proud," a vision of
fairyland to their dazzled eyes.

Discords were forgotten, songs not sung before for many a tearful day,
rose again on the clear air. Crosses and banners were again uplifted as
of old, and Nicholas was once more prophet and leader, as, forgetful of
the past and its miseries, the army of children stood on the 25th day
of August, at the gates of the city of Genoa, waiting to be admitted.

Bright were the floating banners, proud were the waiting youths, as
Nicholas made his plea:--

"In the name of Christ and his Holy Cross, admit us, his soldiers to
your city! Grant us rest on our journey, to rescue the Holy Sepulchre
from the hands of the enemy! Men of Genoa, we ask not for
transportation across the sea rolling between us and our goal. On the
morrow God will part that sea that we may go over as on dry land, to
achieve a victory denied to the wise and powerful of the land. Yea, he
has said, 'Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained
strength, because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy
and the avenger.' Men of Genoa, open thy gates to us, in the name of
Christ!"

A large number of dignified Senators, or rulers of the city, heard the
petition of Nicholas, heard it with pity mingled with amusement, and
offered the protection of the city for a week to the deluded youths,
for by that time--so thought the Senators--the youths would discover
their deception and return homeward.

Eagerly did Nicholas and his army accept permission to enter the city
whose streets and palaces were in such sharp contrast to those of their
own homelands, Genoa being at that time at the height of her prosperity
and greatness, but their joyful wonder found its match in that of the
inhabitants, whose astonished eyes saw so many fair-haired children
marching through their city, with banners and crosses carried high,
singing their splendid songs, and full of such grim determination to
rescue the Holy Land, a feat which experienced warriors had failed to
accomplish.

As the children marched through Genoa, changed indeed was the
appearance of their army; of the twenty thousand who had left the banks
of the Rhine under the leadership of Nicholas, there were only seven
thousand remaining now. Of the rest some were on their homeward
journey, some in new homes which they had found by the way, others were
lying in undiscovered graves in forest or on hillsides. Only the
strongest and most resolute of that great army remained, and in
consequence it was the flower of the youth of the Rhinelands, who
entered Genoa, rugged and healthy, though their clothes were worn and
faded, their feet bruised and bleeding, their faces burned by sun and
wind, and their expressions aged and saddened by experience.

The merchants left their desks, the children stopped their play, and
stared in wonderment, the grave nobles were moved to surprise, and the
mothers wiped their eyes as the army of blue-eyed youths marched by.

No sooner had the Senators extended the hospitality of the city to the
youths than they decided to retract it, for three reasons: They were
afraid of the effect on the morals of the city, which might be produced
by the entrance of seven thousand unrestrained boys--also they feared
that such a sudden addition to the population might produce a famine,
for situated as Genoa was, there was never any too great a quantity of
food. Also, most weighty reason of all, the German Emperor was at war
with the Pope and in the contest, Genoa was on the Guelph, or papal
side. To shelter German children then, even though on a Crusade, would
be to harbour foes and to care for a hated race which the Pope had
declared outlawed.

In consequence of these reasons the children were told that they could
stay only one night in the city, after all, except those who desired to
make it their permanent home, and abandoning their wild scheme, promise
to become good citizens.

But the youths laughed scornfully in answer--saying:

"We only _ask_ to rest one night. To-morrow you shall see how God
cares for his army! Who would remain here, when there lies a path in
the sea, between emerald walls, to the land where glory waits us?"

So saying they slept that night, in proud and peaceful hope of the
morning's glory, and in the morning rushed early to the shore, that
they might see the path across which they were to journey to the
promised land. Alas for hopes and promises and visions! The blue waves
rippled--the sea rolled on. Hours wore away and yet no path was cleared
through the depths, night all too soon came on, and there was no
alternative for the army but to leave the city, and then decide upon
their next step. Some of the children awoke to the deception of that
undivided sea and resolved to stay in Genoa under the conditions
imposed by the Senators, for the comforts of the city appealed strongly
to them after such hardships as they had experienced.

But on that day, Sunday, August 26th, the remainder of the army which
had so proudly and happily entered the city on the day before, went
from its gates with hanging heads and sad hearts--a crestfallen band.
Outside the city walls they gathered in a field near by, to discuss
their plans for the future. Was it wiser to stay and perhaps die in
sunny Italy, than to lose their lives on the weary journey separating
them from their homes?

One cheery lad made answer, "Are there no other cities which will give
us shelter? Why think that Genoa was meant to be the place at which the
way through the sea was to be made? Let us push on to the southward
until we find the passage which God has promised!"

His courage was contagious, as courage always is, and the diminished
band decided to press on still further, until God should show his sign.
This resolve made, all turned to Nicholas for his approval of their
decision, and so intense had been their excitement during the
discussion of their plans that no one had noticed that their leader was
no longer one of the group. Alas, for his consecration to a sacred
calling, Nicholas was not to be found, either then or later! Their
leader, who had led them on to glory, where was he? No one ever knew.
Never again was Nicholas seen by any one of those comrades who had
followed him so far and so faithfully, trusted him so fully, and barest
surmise fills in the mystery of his disappearance.

Nicholas was no high-strung, emotional boy, carried away, as was
Stephen, by the glory of his holy calling, he was a calm quiet lad,
who, once impressed with the fact that there was work for him to do,
always did it to the best of his ability, but always with a keen
businesslike instinct of serving his own interests to the best
advantage. His father had impressed upon him the glory and rewards
which would come to him as leader of a victorious Crusade, and Nicholas
had responded to the call.

Now defeat had come instead, and he, the leader of the army, must bear
the brunt of the disgrace which would weigh heavily upon his shoulders
as long as his life lasted,--of that he felt sure. His comrades were as
competent to press on, or to journey homeward without him as under his
leadership. So he argued with himself and even as he argued, yielded to
a great temptation, and like Esau, sold his honour for a mess of
pottage.

A nobleman of Genoa, who was rich and powerful, and who saw in the lad
a resemblance to his long lost son sought Nicholas secretly, and
offered tempting prospects of a home and such advantages as the lad had
never dreamed of having in all his simple life, if he would abandon his
leadership and forsake his army, and Nicholas yielded to temptation.
With careful strategy he slid away from that little group of
disheartened followers, feverishly discussing what was best to do, and
all that flock who had trusted him so fully, mourned for him, and
mourning, trusted still, accounting him as one whom the Lord God of
Hosts had for some wise reason taken from them.

And even while they were mourning for him as for one dead, Nicholas in
new garments, more rich and showy than any he had ever worn before, was
being shown the wonders of his new home, where servants stood ready to
do his bidding, where every article of furnishing was a miracle of
fairy fashioning, where cultured voices spoke in gentle tones, and
where, oh, rapture far beyond all else, in the near-by stable there
stood a prancing steed that was to be his own. Truly a worthy Crusade
leader, he--Nicholas, the German lad!

Without a leader now, and without discipline or regulations, the
discouraged, disorganised band whom he had deserted, bravely started on
again, and reached Pisa, where they had far kinder treatment than in
Genoa, and from which place two shiploads of them sailed for the Holy
Land, but which we have no record that they ever reached. Those who did
not embark, broke up into various small bands and straggling groups,
travelling still southward, and at last reached Rome where they told
their piteous tale to the authorities, who granted them an audience
with the Pope.

Kneeling before him, they told in graphic words the story of their
wanderings and sufferings and discouragements, to which unmoved the
Pope listened, then, praising their zeal, he commanded them to make no
further attempt to reach Palestine, telling them of the hopelessness of
the undertaking. But he added, that the cross of a Crusader once
assumed, bound one for ever to the Holy Cause, and that when they were
older they must fight again for the rescue of the Holy Sepulchre,
whenever he should call them to do so.

This bound the children to a repetition of their hardships and
adventures, which, considering the courage and suffering of that little
band of youths who knelt before him, was little less than cruelty.

Despairing now, and worn out with what they had endured, they were
forced to obey the Pope's decree, and so with shattered hopes and
dreams of glory for ever abandoned, they retraced their steps, and
found their pathway homeward far more trying than the rest of their
journey had been.

Many of them died on the way, and of those who lived, it was said in
towns and cities through which they passed, that where in departing
they passed in parties and troops, happy and never without the song of
cheer, they now returned in silence, barefoot and hungry, and with no
band of followers.

Day by day they straggled into Cologne--victims of a sad delusion.
Alas, how bitterly they had paid for their wilful disobedience!

When asked where they had been, they said they did not know, and had
only wild confused tales to tell of strange lands and countries,
costumes and customs, and many a mother's heart was broken with sorrow
that her boy had not survived the journeying.

Winter had passed and Spring had come and gone before all the wanderers
had returned, all the lost been given up, and for many a year to come,
peasants and nobles, with tear-dimmed eyes told the story of the German
children's march to the sea, and of the supposed martyrdom of their
lost leader, Nicholas--whose father, the afflicted parents whose homes
had been desolated by the Crusade, turned on in such a frenzy of
bitterness and anger, feeling that he had strongly influenced his son
to leadership that they laid violent hands on him and hanged him in
revenge.

Meanwhile, during all the weeks while Nicholas and his army were
marching southward on their way to Italy, Stephen was still preaching
at St. Denys, and his young lieutenants were still gathering recruits
for his army from all parts of France--but at length in late June, all
was ready except the last preparations for departure, and Stephen then
sent out a command to his forces to gather at Vendome, a city near
Cloyes, which was not only one of considerable importance, but from
which roads lay in many directions from which bands could arrive.

From that moment every day some new band came into Vendome with a young
leader in command, and was loudly welcomed by the other waiting bands;
while coming across the plains, other groups could be seen marching
towards the city, with their flags and oriflammes waving high, and
their crosses held higher yet. As they drew near the city their songs
could be heard louder and louder until when they reached the city
gates, the words were so distinct that their dialect disclosed the
province from which they had come.

From every province in France they came, bringing with them their
different languages, costumes and peculiarities, and consequently,
there was great confusion and variety in the ranks of Stephen's army,
but though their dialects and costumes varied greatly, the youths were
bound together by a single hope, led by a common aim, as they marched
into Vendome ready to start on their perilous journey.

Like the German youths, they were assured that no vessels would be
needed to take them across the Mediterranean, for had not Stephen said:

"Between waters which are to be to us as a wall on the right hand and
the left, are we to cross the untrodden bed of the sea and with dry
feet will we stand on the distant beach by the walls of Acre or of
Tripoli. We bear no weapons and we wear no armour! The pathway of other
Crusaders may be marked by the stain of blood and the glitter of steel,
but our pilgrims' robes are our armour, our crosses are our swords and
our hymns shall time our march!"

Not all wore the Crusader's grey coat, but all wore the Cross which was
made of muslin cloth and sewed on the right shoulder of the coat. To
place the cross there was the duty of the prophets--as the young
leaders of each band were called. Receiving the cross was the formal
act of enlistment, and proud indeed were the lads who wore them.

At last the latest band had come to Vendome, and fully thirty thousand
children were gathered together there, eagerly awaiting the command to
start on their journey. What a sight that was, the army of children as
they stood waiting for the command to march!

Pleading parents and weeping friends begged the youths to repent and
stay at home where their duty lay, but pleas and cries were all
counteracted by applause and encouragement from thoughtless
enthusiasts, and after religious exercises in which God's blessing was
asked, and the oriflammes and crosses raised triumphantly, the army
formed in line of march, and then with a volume of cheers which drowned
the sound of sobs and protests, moved on, out of Vendome under the
protection and leadership of Stephen.

It was only a few weeks since the young prophet had been the humble
shepherd lad of Cloyes, but that was forgotten now, and as he led his
army from Vendome he had assumed a pomp and dignity quite out of
harmony with the appearance of his army. A leader of such a mighty host
must not walk, so Stephen rode. The Lord's own general and prophet must
assume the style which became his rank. He therefore rode in a chariot
as splendid as could be procured, covered with rare carpets of
brilliant colours. Over his head to protect him from the heat of the
sun was a canopy from which there hung draperies of every hue. Around
this chariot to guard him and carry out his commands, as well as to add
to the impressiveness of his station, rode a band of chosen youths of
noble birth, on chargers, dressed in splendid uniforms and armed with
lances and spears. This pomp and splendour increased the confidence of
his followers, who, too young to see the inconsistency of his conduct,
listened to his words as to those of God, and regarded his wishes as
law.

Out of Vendome, amid songs and shouts and tears and applause of the
crowd gathered to see the departure, moved the ranks of youths, their
eyes dazzled with the wonder and the glory of the leader--their hearts
on fire to do his bidding. And in Stephen there burned the zeal of the
real leader. In order to keep up the spirit of the host, which fatigue
would tend to lessen, he spoke to them often in stirring words. At
morning or noon or evening when they halted or encamped and also while
they marched, he leaned often from his chariot and spoke encouraging
words. Sometimes they thronged around him so closely when he spoke that
it was hard work for his guards to protect him from the consequences of
their weak homage and as they pushed forward to be near him, many of
the weak and small were crushed to death. The veneration for the Boy
Prophet was carried to such an extent that all vied with each other to
procure a thread of his clothing, a piece of the trappings of his car,
while they who had a single hair of his head felt they had a priceless
treasure. It is small wonder that this shepherd boy, sensitive as he
was to impressions, and duped as he was in the belief that he was
anointed by God to a holy calling, and then worshipped by an
ever-increasing tide of followers, should have been affected by the
rapid change in his circumstances and surroundings. He was evidently
possessed of no slight ability to carry out plans, and had much power
over people, and his whole nature was aflame with the emotional
credulous piety of the Middle Ages. Such was the lad Stephen, shepherd
of Cloyes, prophet of the Children's Crusade, when with pomp and
ceremony he led his army out of Vendome.

The pathway of his army was marked by far fewer hardships than those
the German children were encountering, for the country through which
they travelled was more peopled and the distance they had to go much
shorter. They did not have to sleep on rocky heights or on freezing
moors, and in the lands through which they passed they encountered only
sympathy and interest. So their ranks were scarcely thinned by
desertion or death, and yet even so, the trip was none too easy,
especially on account of the great heat and drought of the summer, to
which Stephen constantly referred as a sure sign from God that the sea
was to be dried up for their benefit as he had predicted.

His army did not bear heat, want and exhaustion as well as the sturdier
German children did, and in an incredibly short time its ranks lost all
discipline and authority, and at last each one of his band of followers
became keen only to outwit the others in a search for food, and in
endeavours to hide it, they struggled on--a loose, undisciplined mass,
until finally Stephen's authority was entirely lost and the march
became only a race for the sea. All original enthusiasm of the army had
vanished, and the courage which for a while had been kept up by
Stephen's zeal, and by spirited songs and stories, died away, and
Stephen was obliged to make use of constant deceptions in answer to
questions as to when the weary march would be over, saying that a few
more days or hours would bring them to the sea, and so ignorant of
geography were the youths that the falsehoods were not detected. Day by
day they awoke with fresh hope which was fed by the sight of a castle
or walled town which they thought might be Jerusalem, and night after
night they lay down victims of a cruel deception--poor deluded, wilful,
little pilgrims! On and on they marched through central France, through
Burgundy, and beautiful Provence, and finally from the last range of
hills they had to climb, there burst on them a view of the cool, blue
sea, and from their ranks there came a mighty cheer! With renewed hope
they hurried down to the walls of the city of Marseilles which they saw
lying below the hills, an enchanting vision of cool green beauty to
their untravelled eyes. Their shouts announced their arrival to the
people of the city, who hurried to street corners and to market places,
and saw with curious and astonished eyes the strangest of all armies
which had ever visited their city before, and young and old listened
with wide-eyed astonishment to the tale they told. Three hundred miles
they had come, those children, in about a month, and the sea was now to
divide that they might pass over in safety to accomplish their holy
object!

Unlike the German army, their numbers were scarcely lessened, as many
new recruits had joined the ranks and replaced those few who had
deserted or fallen by the way-side. So it was not a small and tattered
or worn-out band who made their appeal to the Marseillian authorities,
but an imposing band of twenty thousand youths, still flushed with
health and hope.

Having no political reason to refuse them entrance to the city, and
possibly rejoicing to have such an influx of pilgrims, permission to
stay was given to the host of youths, who with their leader and the
older companions who had followed the army, accepted the hospitality of
Marseilles and were housed in various places for the one night which
was to be the preface to that miracle which would prove their Divine
mission.

After a night of fitful sleep and vivid dreams, Stephen at dawn crept
out alone, and hastened to the shore of the sea, where he feasted his
hungry eyes on its surging depths, crying, "How long, oh, Lord, how
long, before thou wilt show thy power?" For hours he remained there, by
the sea, and yet there came no pathway for their pilgrim feet to tread.
Soon his army had clustered around him, and there they watched, and
waited, asking eager questions, and Stephen's hour for victory or
defeat had come.

Standing on a rocky height, he spoke, with flashing eyes and ringing
voice, yes, and with an honest conviction of the truth of what he said,
spoke words of hope and cheer that allowed of no backsliding or
complaint, among his followers; and still the weary band kept up their
watch by the shore of that surging sea. The afternoon light deepened,
the sunset came, night spread its glamour over the scene, and yet the
waves rolled on, showing no sign of marvel or of miracle. Over-strained
and broken by discouragement, yet still hopeful, the army waited
through three long days and nights, and still the sea surged on
unchanged, undivided!

Stephen's followers knew the truth at last,--they had been deceived by
a false hope, led by a false leader. Crying out against him who had
brought them to such a plight, so far from home, they vanished one by
one, until of the army that had entered the city, only five thousand
remained.

Bewildered, discouraged, frightened, Stephen knew not where to turn for
help. Dropping on his knees he prayed earnestly for a voice to tell him
of his duty and of God's desire.

Then suddenly his disheartened band of followers saw an unexpected
sight. Stephen, the Prophet, marching alone through the streets of
Marseilles, waving the Oriflamme, singing a song of triumph, shouting
in clear and ringing tones, "God wills it--God wills it!"

They surrounded him, when at last he halted, and he spoke first in
denunciation of their unbelief, and then he told of two Marseillian
merchants who had come to him even as he was on his knees praying for
guidance, and offered him vessels to carry his army to Palestine.

These merchants said they asked no passage money of Christ's soldiers
for the trip, the only reward they wished was the consciousness of duty
done to pilgrims in a holy cause, the prayers of the children, and the
honour of having helped the young Crusaders.

Great was the rejoicing now, and great the shame at having for one
moment doubted God's help and the good faith of his servant, Stephen.

Pressing around him as he told his thrilling tale, his followers begged
forgiveness for their lack of faith, which Stephen graciously accorded
and became once again the beloved leader, the honoured prophet.

Such vessels as were needed for the expedition were speedily made
ready, and in Marseilles loud praises were heard on every side of the
generous men who were helping the young Crusaders to fulfil their
mission, then people began to gather to watch the little host embark.

It was a thrilling sight--there in that quiet bay, to see the
Crusaders, trembling with excitement at this new experience--enter the
vessels which were waiting to receive them, while on shore the citizens
of Marseilles were crowding to the front to see the expedition start,
and the gay colours of the flying banners, the bright costumes of the
women, blended with the sunlight in which the fronts of the quaint old
houses were bathed, together with the blue water and the bluer sky,
made a picture both dazzling and beautiful.

When the little army had entered the ships provided for their use, the
solemn ceremonies took place which in those days, when sea voyages were
so perilous, always preceded such an expedition. Then, the religious
exercises being over, all parts of the ships were examined to see that
they were in proper order for such a dangerous voyage, the sailors were
stationed at their respective posts, the anchor chains were loosened,
ready to release the vessels, and the ropes held in hand. There was a
brief silence, then upon the elevated "castle" or stern of each ship,
the young army of Crusaders commenced to chant that dear old hymn "Veni
Creator Spiritus" which the church in all ages has used on solemn
occasions, and as its words floated from one vessel, they were taken up
on another until the air was full of harmony which was wafted back to
the hills and shore, where the seven vessels were being eagerly watched
out of sight. With none of the noise of modern steamers, those seven
vessels glided out of the quiet harbour, in stately procession and
passed beneath the lofty rock of Notre Dame, and the little voyagers
were at sea.

Soon their songs grow faint as they float over the water, then die
away. After that the flags and banners still tell of joy and hope,
until they too are invisible. The day draws to a close, darkness drops
down and envelops the seven ships sailing towards the promised land
with five thousand courageous little pilgrims on board.

But, alas, for hopes and plans, alas, for the holy ideals of that
little band. Not one of them ever realised his ambition!

Two of those ships which sailed so gaily from the harbour of
Marseilles, laden with the fair and hopeful youths of France, whose
mission was to rescue the Holy Tomb from infidel hands, were wrecked in
a wild storm off the Hermit's rock, lying beneath the cliffs of San
Pietro.

There beneath the "unplumbed, salt estranging sea" lies Stephen, the
boy Prophet--who even while the tempest was hurling his army to death
on the open sea, proved the sincerity of his piety; for clinging to a
spar, while drifting to a certain doom, he led his little flock in song
and prayer, and even as wave after wave dashed over the deck, above the
roar of the tempest could his clear triumphant young voice be
heard--"In the name of Christ and His cross, be brave. We go to
victory--to victory!"

Hideous indeed were the sufferings of the brave youths in the other
ships, when they saw their comrades drifting to their death, and little
did they dream that they had escaped that terrible storm only to meet
still greater perils. Soon they found that they were victims of an
infamous treachery, that the merchants who had been so praised in
preparing vessels for their use, were simply slave-dealers who had
contracted (and probably for an enormous amount of money)--to sell
those unsuspecting children to the Mohammedans--the very nation whom
the youthful Crusaders had gone forth to conquer, to whom such a
consignment of fair young slaves would be of rare value.

Surrounded by vessels of the enemy, they were taken from the ships in
which they embarked, and despite their agony of fright and pleading,
were carried either to Brijeiah or to Alexandria by their captors,
where among the fairest scenes, and the most wonderful and tropical
beauty they had ever dreamed of, they were sold into hopeless slavery.
Not one of all that army of Stephen's ever saw Europe again, and the
Children's Crusade ended as all enterprises end, whether undertaken by
young or old, layman or priest, warrior or statesman, when conceived
and carried out in a spirit of rebellion and frenzy.

Nicholas and Stephen--boy leaders of the Children's Crusade, one of the
most pathetic and thrilling events in all history, one lived--one died.
Which, think you, had the right to wear the emblem of the Holy Cross?




PETER OF HAARLEM:

The Boy Who Saved His Country


It was an April day, and Haarlem, an old Dutch town near Amsterdam was
gay with tulips, for there in Haarlem are grown the most famous tulips
in all the world, as well as hyacinths, and if you had driven through
the country roads on that April day, you would have seen the meadows
and roadsides overspread with a brilliant carpet of the vari-coloured
flowers, while the air was full of the sweet perfume of the hyacinths,
and you could have carried away with you as many flowers as you had
time and patience to pick.

Holland and its provinces and towns are famous for many other things,
as well as for tulips and hyacinths, for it is a country quite
different from the others which we visit and study about more often,
and although it is a small country in comparison to others which are so
vast in territory, yet there has been none more celebrated for courage
than brave little Holland, and its fight for independence has made it
famous in the historical annals of the world. Sturdy and plucky are the
Dutch, and quaint and curious are the customs and manners still
prevailing in many of the country districts. Every district has its own
costume peculiar to its inhabitants, and the many colours of these
costumes, the curious caps worn with them, the heavy wooden shoes, or
sabots, which all true Dutch people wear, and the clothes worn by the
men, so different from the conventional dress of men of other nations,
make a picturesque and interesting sight when the Dutch people are
gathered together on the day of a "Pardon" or religious fete day.

Their homes, too, are quaint and strange in appearance to our
conventional eyes, and it has been said that the Dutch people dressed
up like quaint dolls, with their gay little homes and their little
canals, which cut up their bright green fields into many sections, live
in a country which is like a charming, attractive toy, it is so clean,
so tidy and so bright, and it seems a natural thing that the gorgeous
tulip should be their favourite flower. And that brings us back to the
old town of Haarlem in whose roads we were wandering on an April day.

Now one of the greatest differences between Holland and other
countries, is that it lies below the level of the sea, and so has to be
very carefully guarded from the surging flood at its very door, or it
would be either swept bare by the relentless sea, or entirely wiped out
of existence. To prevent this calamity the patient Dutchmen have built
wonderful dykes which guard their little country and keep the tyrant
sea in check. These dykes are huge banks of earth which tower high
above the lowlands and are the only safeguards of the country. Of
course, these dykes could only be made gradually, as the sea was turned
from one spot to another by dams and locks, and no greater proof of
Dutch industry and patience is shown than the way they have protected
their land from the sea.

When a dyke has been built, then on the edge of it, a windmill is
erected, which works a pump, and as the windmill draws up the water
from the sea, it is discharged into a canal. These canals which flow
through all Holland in a network of winding ways, run to the sea, and
where they meet the sea, in the dykes, great oaken gates, called
sluices are placed across the entrance to the canals, to regulate the
amount of water which shall flow into the canals, from the sea. These
gates are in charge of men called _sluicers_ whose duty it is, when
water is needed, to open the gates more or less, according to the
amount of water required, and then to close them carefully at night, so
that too much water may not flow into the canals, overflow them, and
flood the whole country. Even the smallest child in Holland is brought
up with a keen knowledge of the grave importance of a sluicer's duty
and of the danger to the country if he should neglect it, and the men
chosen for that position are always those whose reputation for faithful
service is unchallenged.

Naturally, a country lying as Holland lies is very damp and misty, and
its entire surface is covered with the network of canals running
through the meadows to the sea. If you could stand on a hill and look
down on it, it would look like an enormous puzzle, consisting of
hundreds of small vivid green pieces cut apart by the canals and
decorated by the quaint red-roofed houses of which we have spoken.

Through all the canals flows the same water, and all of them are
connected with each other, and are so very wide in some places that
there is much traffic on them. Then, too, through miles of the green
fields flow the narrower canals, draining the pasturelands, and
everywhere one feels the nearness and the menace of the everlasting
sea, and the protection of the dykes rearing the huge bulwarks between
the peaceful country and its treacherous enemy.

And that brings us back again to Haarlem on that April day when the
quaint little town was gay with the red and yellow tulips and the air
sweet with the scent of hyacinths.

On that bright spring day a little boy whose name is said to have been
Peter, and whose father was a sluicer, had for his dinner some cakes of
which he was very fond, and which his mother had baked because she knew
how much Peter liked them.

Peter was a very unselfish boy, and whenever he had anything he liked,
his first thought always was to share it with someone else. So, as soon
as he had finished his meal, he jumped up from the table and begged his
mother to let him go to see a poor blind man who lived not far away,
and to let him carry with him those cakes which had not been eaten.

His mother was pleased with this thought of Peter's for the poor old
man, and at once brought a basket and filled it with cakes for him to
carry to the invalid, while Peter's father was making him promise not
to stay out too late, and soon the boy was on his way to his friends,
happy in the beauty of the day, and in the thought of the pleasure his
present would give the blind man.

And he was not mistaken, the old man was delighted with the cakes, and
at once broke and ate one, while he began to tell Peter one of the
stories for which he was famous, and which he knew Peter loved to hear.
But Peter suddenly remembered his promise not to stay out late, and
finally became so uneasy that he told the old man he must not wait to
hear the end of the story, and, hastily bidding him farewell, started
towards home.

His path lay beside the dyke, and along its grassy banks grew beautiful
wild flowers of many varieties, so numerous and attractive that Peter
decided to pick a bunch of them to carry home to his mother, who was so
much of an invalid that she was seldom out of the house. So he picked a
few here and a few there--blue and yellow and pink, until he had a
handful of those varieties of which he knew his mother was most fond,
and as he walked on, to keep himself from feeling lonesome, he hummed a
gay little song.

Presently, he stopped, and neither sang nor smiled, as he looked at a
slender thread of water trickling through the grass. Where did it come
from? Surely not from the canal, and there was nowhere else for it to
come from unless it came from the dyke itself.

The thought was enough to make even a child turn pale and tremble. Only
the dykes stood between the boundless sea and the safety of little
Holland. He looked again, and to his imagination, the stream seemed
greater already. What could he do? Night was coming on, the road was a
solitary one. There was only the barest chance of anyone passing that
way whom he might hail, or of whom he could ask advice.

Then came a quick recollection of his promise to his father, and he
started homeward again, but a force as mighty as a giant's grasp, made
him turn back again to watch that trickling stream of water.

He was near one of the great oaken sluices, and bounding up beside it
he carefully examined the dyke. There, as small as his finger, was a
hole--strange and unaccountable happening,--and through that little
hole was flowing the stream of water at his feet.

Like lightning the flash of intuition came to Peter, if that hole were
not stopped up instantly, the force of the flow through it would
rapidly increase from the pounding of that mighty sea behind it. In a
night the flood would break through the dyke and perhaps destroy all
the homes in Holland.

What could he do? No stone would fit the hole, no amount of earth
packed into the crevice could resist the pressure of the water. Peter
was desperate. Forgotten now were his bunch of flowers which fell
unheeded from his hand. He strained his eyes in a vain search for
travellers on that lonely road, vainly he shouted out for help until
his throat was hoarse. What could he do? It was no common instinct that
came in that lightning flash to Peter. Climbing again up the steep
bank, from stone to stone, he thrust his finger in the hole and, oh,
joy, it fitted! It stopped the trickling water for the moment, but, oh,
what would happen when he took it out?

Ah, it was as clear as daylight, what to do. He would not take it out
until someone should come to relieve him. Forgetful of what this idea
might bring to him, if carried out, he chuckled with a boyish delight
in this real adventure.

"Ha, ha!" he said to himself. "The water _can't_ come down now. Haarlem
shall not be drowned while I am here to keep the flood back."

For awhile excitement kept him warm and fearless. Then the chill
darkness of the night surrounded him. All sorts of strange noises fell
upon his unaccustomed ears, he seemed to see giants and demons lurking
near, ready to pounce upon him and kill him. Although he was a sturdy
lad, tears came at last, when he could no longer keep back thoughts of
his comfortable bed at home, of the parents who might be even then
worrying about his safety, although as he before remained over night
with the old man, Jansen, he felt that his mother and father had
probably gone to bed and to sleep, while he was out in the dark night
alone and in such a misery of pain. The pain grew greater, the misery
harder to bear every moment now, and still Peter kept his finger in
that dangerous hole.

He tried to whistle, hoping to attract the attention of some straggling
traveller, but his teeth chattered so much that he gave it up, and then
he remembered what he had been taught at his mother's knee, and Peter
prayed to the great God who could control the surging sea and protect a
boy who was doing his best. Peter was only a child, but if he ever
prayed with his whole heart, he prayed so that night in the darkness,
with his numbed finger thrust through that hole in the dyke, and when
his prayer was said he somehow felt braver, stronger and older than
before, and in his heart he said:

"I will not take it out till someone comes. I will stay till morning."

Longer and longer grew the hours, the minutes, the seconds, and yet he
never moved--there were strange noises in his head, his thoughts were
confused, pictures of his playmates, of events long ago forgotten
danced before his eyes. He was not sure he could draw his finger out of
the hole even if he wished to do so, it felt so strangely numb. What
did it mean that knives seemed to be cutting, and pins pricking him
from head to foot? What would happen if no one ever found him--no one
ever came to help?

At last the rose and silver of the dawn flushed the sky. Day had come
and along that lonesome road came the first traveller in all the hours
of Peter's vigil.

A clergyman whose night had been spent by the bedside of a sick
parishioner, hurrying homeward on the path beside the dyke, heard a
groan, a feeble sound of one in mortal agony. Turning, he glanced,
first here and there, and looking up, at last, he saw beside the dyke,
the figure of a child writhing in agony.

In a single bound, the clergyman stood beside him exclaiming:

"In the name of wonder, boy, what are you doing here?"

"I am keeping the water from running out," said Peter. "Oh, can't you
ask them to come _quick_."

And they did. The town of Haarlem, even Holland itself, had been saved,
through the courage of a little boy who did his duty, and from that day
to this there has never been a child in Holland who has not heard the
stirring story of Peter, whose pluck was worthy of a sluicer's son, and
whose name will never be forgotten, or effaced from the page of
historic legend.




DAVID:

The Shepherd Boy


A rare good fortune it is to have a friend so true and so faithful that
it is as safe to tell him a secret as to whisper it to yourself, one to
whom your interests are as important as his own, and who would do any
sort of unselfish act to show his devotion to you. It was just such a
comradeship as this which existed between two boys of long ago, the
story of whose intimacy has come down to us from Bible times as a most
wonderful example of what a friendship can be.

Those boys were David, the son of Jesse of Bethlehem, and Jonathan, the
son of Saul, King of Israel, and when you hear two persons spoken of as
"a David and a Jonathan" you may know that they are the closest kind of
friends.

To appreciate thoroughly the friendship between David and Jonathan, and
what it meant to both of them, let us go back a little into the history
of the time in which the boys lived, and look at the circumstances
which led up to their friendship, for that is very important to a clear
understanding of the story of David and Jonathan.

At that time the kingdom of Israel was in a deplorable condition, for
the Philistines, a war-like tribe who lived in a small territory on the
coast, had over-run and conquered most of Israel, and Samuel who was
the aged guide and advisor of the Israelites, as well as the last of
the judges and the first of the prophets of Israel, saw that the only
hope for his people lay in having a higher moral standard and a central
government. To bring this about, Samuel established the schools of the
prophets in Ramah and other cities, where men could be trained to teach
their nation how to live wiser, purer lives--and Samuel also anointed
Saul as King of Israel, and for a while Saul ruled wisely and well.
Then he disobeyed the command of God, and began to care for conquest in
war only when it brought him glory or the spoils of battles, and Samuel
seeing this, was much troubled, and finally went to Saul and told him
that he must repent and do differently or he would no longer be worthy
to be the King of Israel, that God demanded more honest service than he
was giving. Saul was considerably troubled at this plain speaking of
Samuel and promised to do better in future, but when Samuel left him,
it was with a heavy heart, for he felt sure that there would be need of
a new king--that Saul would not keep his promises.

And so Samuel at once began to look for a man whom he could anoint as
the future King, although no one knew of this purpose but himself, and
the voice of God within him inspired him to go to Bethlehem and seek
among the sons of Jesse for the King he wished to find. So Samuel went
to Bethlehem, but in order that the real purpose of his visit might not
be discovered, he took with him beside the horn of oil with which he
would anoint the new King if he should find him, also a young calf to
offer as a sacrifice, that he might have a suitable excuse to give to
the people for his visit.

Of course the coming of Samuel created a great excitement in the little
town of Bethlehem, for the people feared that he came to reprove them
for some wrong-doing, until Samuel assured them that this was not so,
that he came peaceably, and in proof of it invited them to the
sacrifice which he was preparing to offer on a hill just outside the
gate of the city. According to the rule of Oriental hospitality, it was
customary that some prominent man from the village should invite Samuel
to return to his home after offering the sacrifice, to break bread with
him and to pass the night under his roof if Samuel desired to do so,
and as Samuel had invited Jesse to the sacrifice, it came about quite
naturally that, as Samuel desired, it was Jesse's home to which the
aged Prophet went.

After they had arrived there, Samuel and Jesse sat and talked together
alone, for although Jesse had eight sons and two daughters, and they
were no longer children, the Eastern custom forbade a man's family to
enter his presence unless he expressly asked them to do so. And so
Samuel and Jesse were alone together, until Samuel asked Jesse if he
had no sons. Jesse replied that he had, and Samuel then requested to
see them. It was natural for a father to be pleased at such a request
and Jesse at once sent for Eliab, his eldest son, who promptly came
into the presence of his father and the aged Prophet, and Samuel looked
earnestly at the tall, handsome fellow, but a voice within him told
Samuel that Eliab was not the king-to-be, and after a brief talk with
the young man, he was dismissed, and Jesse called another and then
another of his sons, until Samuel had seen seven of them, but the
prophet only shook his head as he saw each one of them, for the voice
of inspiration or instinct said within him:

"Neither hath the Lord chosen this." Then Samuel turned once more to
Jesse and asked:

"Are here all thy children?" And Jesse answered reluctantly:

"There remaineth yet the youngest, and behold he keepeth the sheep."

Then Samuel bade Jesse send for David, which he did, and David, who was
as usual roaming with his flock in the Judean pasture-land, was greatly
surprised to see a messenger coming to him in breathless haste, and
still more was he surprised to receive his father's message that he was
to come home at once, as the prophet Samuel had asked to see him before
leaving. It was an unexpected command, but young David was always ready
for any emergency, and so, simply taking up his shepherd's staff, which
was a long stick with a handle crooked in such a way that by its aid
David could examine the limbs of his flock, or roll a sheep over with
it, when unruly and without further preparation, David accompanied the
messenger, although filled with wonder as to the reason for being
summoned to appear before the aged prophet Samuel.

See him as he enters his home and stands before Samuel, red-cheeked,
fair-skinned, glowing with health and happiness, with arms strong
enough to break a bow of steel, and with limbs like a deer's in their
swiftness to escape a foe or to scale a wall. Sturdy and fearless he
stood before Samuel, the picture of youthful vigour and courage, and
when Samuel had scarcely more than glanced at him, the voice of God
spoke within the prophet saying:

"Arise, anoint him, for this is he."

Then Samuel rose with simple earnestness and laid a hand on David's
shoulder, looking long and solemnly into the clear bright eyes which
answered his glance, then more solemnly still, Samuel took up the horn
of oil which he had brought with him, and with the customary ceremony,
anointed David, the fair-haired young shepherd boy, to be the future
King of Israel. As only kings were anointed and Samuel always performed
this ceremony, Jesse could not have failed to understand the solemn
rite, although he must have marvelled over it, wondering why it should
be performed over this, his youngest and least important son.
Doubtless, although the Bible narrative does not tell us so, the aged
prophet later spoke to Jesse of the meaning of his act, and one can
imagine Jesse's flutter of heart at the thought that one of his boys
should have been chosen to fill such a great position. David also,
young as he was, must have understood in some measure what the ceremony
meant, although he must have been completely at a loss to understand
how he, a mere child, could be the Lord's anointed. Probably, like any
other boy of to-day, he wanted to ask questions, but there was not the
freedom allowed young people in those days that there is now and David,
looking from the awe-struck face of his father, to the solemn one of
the prophet, doubtless kept silent. Then with an appropriately
reverential farewell to the aged prophet he must have been sent from
the presence of Jesse and Samuel, sent back again to his accustomed
task and to await the fulfilling of that destiny which, from the moment
when he thrilled at the touch of the prophet's hand on his head, and
the sound of his solemn words, he felt sure was in some way to link his
life in consecrated service to that of the people of Israel.

But that belief did not alter his conduct in his daily routine of duty,
and with the faithfulness which was one of his marked characteristics,
he continued to care for his sheep, tending them with increased
watchfulness under the stimulus of his new day-dream.

And from that moment David had unconsciously taken the motto which was
his through all his adventurous life:

"I shall not raise my hand against the Lord's anointed."

From that hour when he went back to tend his sheep, after Samuel's
visit, to the time when his destiny was fulfilled, David, even under
the stress of fierce temptation, never moved a finger to hasten events;
never tried to force his way to the throne of Israel, but with buoyant
courage, did his duty day by day, and the monotony of his early
shepherd's life was varied only by an occasional unexpected adventure.

Look--listen--as he wanders over the hillside at dusk, he shows
alarm--he hears a dreaded sound! Ah, yes, one he knew too well--the
stealthy glide of a creeping foe coming to attack his flock.

Alone, with only his sling for weapon, in that wild unpeopled country,
the shepherd boy stands, brave and alert, ready to protect his sheep.
Ah, a lion! the stealthy beast creeps nearer, nearer.

Suddenly David draws his sling, the stone strikes the lion between the
eyes, he falls by a single shot. But look--this is not the end of the
battle. Even while David is encountering the lion, that most dreaded of
all foes of the flock, a huge bear glides with stealthy steps, and
seizes a lamb. Quick as an arrow David hurls himself upon the monstrous
beast, who drops his prey and rises in angry power on his hind legs to
hug and crush his enemy. But David is too quick for him, he grasps the
bear by the jaw with iron force, grapples with him, the great creature
snarls, moans, writhes and is no more, while David, hot with the joy of
victory, turns back to quiet his frightened flock.

Does not this encounter give a hint of the fearless courage that made
David such a famous warrior in later life?

Now let us note another side of his many-sided character while we
listen to the melodies he so dearly loved to play on his harp as he
wandered over the hills and plains with his flock. David had in him the
making of a mighty warrior, a great king, but he had too, a dreamy,
sensitive, poetic side to his nature, which made him deeply appreciate
and enjoy all the beauty of nature which he tried to express in his
music, and which long years later, came out more clearly in those
wonderful psalms which he wrote, and which have comforted and helped so
many generations of Christian people.

In those days Saul was becoming less and less of a dignified,
self-controlled leader, as he began to realise that he was not powerful
enough to hold his people, and he frequently gave way to fits of
terrible anger or prolonged melancholy, from which no one could rouse
him. At that time when the Philistines were gaining so many victories
over the Israelites, it was most important that Saul should not give
way to such attacks, as they unfitted him to perform his public or
private duties, and every means of quieting him was tried, but in vain.
Finally, it was suggested that music has a soothing effect on troubled
spirits, and when the idea was mentioned to Saul it pleased him, and he
at once commanded that a musician be found and brought to him. Then
came the question of who that musician should be, and one of Saul's
counsellors said:

"Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse, the Bethlehemite, that is cunning
in playing and a comely person, and the Lord is with him."

The description pleased Saul and he at once sent a messenger to Jesse,
saying:

"Send me David, thy son, which is with the sheep."

And so once again, there came to David a new experience for which he
had had no preparation, and again, as before, he neither refused nor
questioned the call to a different life, but while Jesse, his father,
was preparing a present to send to Saul by David, according to the
custom of the times, David was making hasty preparations to leave home.
Soon he was ready to set off, and taking with him an ass laden with
bread, a bottle of wine and a young kid, which were Jesse's present to
Saul, on he journeyed over the hills and through the valleys until he
reached the court of the King, and presently stood in the presence of
Saul, who almost as soon as he had looked at the lad with his fair,
bright face and sturdy figure, took a great fancy to him, and commanded
him to become one of his household and to come and play to him whenever
he should be summoned, and also sent this message back to Jesse:

"Let David, I pray thee, stand before me, for he hath found favour in
my sight."

So David stayed at the King's court, and whenever Saul gave way to an
attack of anger or depression, the young minstrel would hasten to him,
and play melodies grave and gay, sweet and brilliant, playing with such
skill that before he knew it, Saul would be in good humour again, or
drop into a deep, refreshing sleep, and little did he dream that the
lad who had such power to soothe and amuse him had been anointed by
Samuel to rule over Israel in his place. That David thought often and
earnestly about this, would be only natural to suppose, and we can but
fancy that in those days amid surroundings such as he had never had
before, the young lad learned much of the manners and customs of a
king's life, and learned too, from the weakness that he saw in Saul's
nature what a king ought to be and do. Probably much of David's tact in
dealing with men and circumstances at a later day came from his
observations in those early days when he was but a minstrel at the
court of Saul.

How long he remained there, we do not know, but until Saul's attacks of
passion and melancholy had been entirely overcome. Then, in the same
spirit of unquestioning obedience as he showed before to the call of
circumstances, as soon as he was no longer needed by Saul, David went
back again to his home in Bethlehem and again tended his father's
flocks in the Judean pasture-lands.

The Israelites and the Philistines were still at war, and the two
armies were now encamped against each other on opposite ridges that
overhung a valley, called the valley of the Terebinth, about sixteen
miles from Bethlehem.

Battles in those days were sometimes merely encounters between two
champions chosen by the opposing armies to fight for them; but the
Philistines had given no hint to the Israelites that this was to be
their plan of action, when suddenly, out from their camp there burst
forth Goliath, the last and mightiest of the giants of Gath, and
shouted out a challenge to the Israelites, saying:

"Why are ye come out to set your battles in array? Am not I a
Philistine and ye servants to Saul? Choose you a man for you and let
him come down to me. If he be able to fight with me and kill me, then
will we be your servants, but if I prevail against him, then shall ye
be our servants and serve us!" And he added in a mighty voice that rang
through the valley:

"I defy the armies of Israel this day! Give me a man that we may fight
together!"

Colossal and terrifying, the great monster stood, like a glittering
mountain of power as the rays of the sun fell upon him, for he was over
ten feet tall, and his coat of mail was as heavy as bags of gold would
be, and shone like a mirror, and on his head was a huge helmet of
brass, and even his mighty limbs were covered with shining metal. He
carried a brass spear with a head heavier than that of ten ordinary
spears, and the staff of it was as huge as a young birch tree, while
before him walked the bearer of his shield, glittering too in the rays
of the sun. A mighty monster, he, Goliath, the giant of Gath, as he
faced the army of the Israelites and thundered forth his challenge to
them to find a warrior bold enough to fight with him, and the
Israelites were filled with fear as they saw him, and Saul's heart was
heavy with terror, and he at once offered great riches and the hand of
his daughter to any warrior who would accept Goliath's challenge. But
for forty days not a man answered the challenge or attempted to win the
reward offered by Saul.

Then David, who was still tending his father's flocks, but whose three
elder brothers were with the army of the Israelites, was sent by his
father to carry supplies of food to them. Of course, David had heard
much at home that interested him deeply in the armies and their
manoeuvres, and now he could scarcely restrain his joy at the thought
of seeing the encampments for himself, and he got up early the next
morning and leaving his sheep with a keeper, set out gleefully, even
though what he had to carry was a heavy burden, for he was taking a
large quantity of parched corn and ten loaves of bread to his brothers,
as well as ten cheeses to the captain of their division of the army.
But he was so happy at the change in his monotonous life that he did
not mind the length of the journey nor the weight of his burden.

And when he saw the tents of the encampments lying before him, he
thrilled with the courage and the desire of a born warrior, and quickly
leaving his provisions with the keeper of supplies, he ran forward to
the division of the camp where his brothers were, and eagerly greeted
them, but they seemed not at all glad to see him, even though he had
come to bring them sorely needed food.

Jealousy is one of the worst faults a person can have, and it is to be
feared that David's family all felt it and showed it for this youngest
brother, who though a mere boy of seventeen, had received honours, and
shown ability far beyond their own, instead of rejoicing in his good
fortune, as they should have done.

But David was evidently accustomed to their manner, and was unconscious
then of everything but his keen desire to know what the plans of the
two armies were, and poured out question after question, without
heeding the impatience of his brothers' answers.

And as he stood talking, there suddenly stood before him the glittering
monster Goliath, and again his challenge rang through the valley; and
as always when Goliath was seen or heard, the men of Israel turned away
and fled in terror. But not so David. He was thrilled at the sight of
the mighty giant and asked the men who stood by him:

"What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine and taketh
away the reproach of Israel? For who is this Philistine that he should
defy the armies of the living God?"

And the men answered him that Saul had promised riches and honour and
his daughter's hand in marriage to him who should kill Goliath.

And Eliab, David's oldest brother, listened while David questioned the
men, and being very angry at David's presence, said bitterly:

"Why camest thou down hither, and with whom hast thou left those few
sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride and the naughtiness of thy
heart, for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle."

But David, instead of showing anger at such an unkind speech, merely
answered:

"What have I _now_ done? Is there not a cause," and paying no further
attention to Eliab, turned away, asking every man he met the same
question he had asked before, until finally his persistency attracted
so much attention, that Saul was told about this lad who was showing
such unusual interest in the rewards to be given for facing Goliath in
battle, and Saul at once sent for David, who by this time was flushed
with excitement, and with the contagious enthusiasm of the battlefield,
and he answered Saul like an old and mighty soldier.

"Let no man's heart fail because of him. Thy servant will go and fight
with this Philistine."

Think of it, a slender inexperienced young shepherd lad taking up a
challenge like that of Goliath!

Saul was astonished at David's words, and exclaimed, "Thou art not able
to go against this Philistine and fight him, for thou art but a youth,
and he a man of war from his youth."

Throwing his shoulders back, and standing with head held high and eyes
bright with determination, David answered proudly:

"I kept my father's sheep, and there came a lion and a bear and took a
lamb out of the flock, and I went out after him, and delivered it out
of his mouth, and when he rose against me, I caught him by the beard
and smote him and slew him. The Lord that delivered me out of the paw
of the lion and the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this
Philistine."

For a moment Saul looked in silent awe at this brave young
warrior--then in a voice trembling with admiration and with emotion, he
said with solemn emphasis:

"Go, and the Lord be with thee."

And then roused by the contagion of David's fearless enthusiasm, and by
the excitement of trusting a mere boy to give battle to the great
Goliath, Saul, with his own hand, dressed David in his own suit of
armour for the encounter, giving him his heavy coat of mail, his
glittering brass helmet, and even bound his own sword at David's side.
At first David's delight was great that he was wearing the armour of a
real warrior. But when he tried to walk or run, the heavy coat of mail
hindered him and the weight of the sword and helmet made him feel like
a captive in chains, and at last he cast them off, saying to Saul:

"I cannot go with these."

And although Saul showed his consternation at this young champion of
the Israelites against Goliath, going to battle without armour or
sword, he made no attempt to persuade David into doing other than as he
desired. And David stood before him again, this time, wearing his
simple shepherd's dress, and feeling both free and happy again. Then
taking up his staff, he went to a near-by brook and from its bed picked
out five smooth white stones,--notice how careful he was to choose
smooth stones. These he put in a bag which hung at his side, and then
with only his sling in his hand, he advanced towards the giant, who
having heard that David had accepted his challenge, had advanced to
meet him in all his power and show of glittering armour and weapons.

Now Goliath had not heard of David's youth, and when he saw that his
adversary was only a fair strong boy, the giant grew scornful, and
seeing David's staff and sling, he shouted contemptuously in a voice
that rang from ridge to ridge, across the great valley:

"Am I a _dog_ that thou comest to me with stones?" adding:

"Come with me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and
to the beasts of the fields."

But David paid no heed to the scorn, but sturdy and strong he stood and
faced Goliath, answering:

"Thou comest to me with a sword and with a spear and with a shield, but
_I_ come to thee in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of the
armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the Lord deliver
thee with my hand and take thine head from thee, and I will give the
carcasses of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air and the
wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a
God in Israel, and all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth
not with sword and spear, for the battle is the Lord's and he will give
you into our hands."

A pretty long speech and a pretty decided statement to be made by a
shepherd-boy--was it not? David's positive assurance that he could kill
Goliath, and that God was with the army of Israel, showed the boy to be
no ordinary boy, carried away by warlike enthusiasm.

Goliath heard with mighty contempt and anger, the retort of David and
his taunt, and advanced in all his power and glory towards him, while
David, never taking his eyes off the giant's face, quietly put his hand
in his bag, slowly took out one of the stones he had so carefully
selected, and slung it with the unerring aim for which he was famous.

With fatal accuracy it struck Goliath between the eyes. The mighty
giant groaned, and fell--slain by the hand of David, who, as he had no
sword of his own, hastily knelt on Goliath's body, drew his sword from
its sheath, and with it cut off the giant's head, and stripped him of
his valuable armour, to carry to Bethlehem as a trophy.

[Illustration: _David and Goliath_]

David, so young, so inexperienced in the art of war, had killed the
champion of the enemy. It seemed incredible. Through the ranks of both
armies the news spread like wildfire, and when the Philistines realised
what had happened, they were so terrified for fear of what might
follow, that they fled, with the victorious Israelites in hot pursuit,
who with cheers and shouts and great slaughter pursued them to the
nearest city, and then returned to despoil the tents of the vanquished
enemy, singing loud songs of triumph.

And then David, flushed with victory, came before Saul carrying with
him the head of the giant. It is easy to picture Saul's absolute
astonishment when he realised that the conquering hero of his army was
this mere youth, so unlike his other warriors.

But he talked long and eagerly with David, asking all sorts of
questions about his manner of slaying Goliath, and while they talked,
Jonathan, Saul's son, stood near them, listening and watching, and as
he heard David's stirring tale of victory, he was filled with
admiration for the boy who had done such a mighty deed; and, in that
instant, as the Bible says, "the soul of Jonathan was knit with the
soul of David," and the friendship of David and Jonathan was begun.
David's eyes flashed back an answering glance of interest to the King's
son, and there was a quick response of each to the other. And that
being so, you can imagine the joy of both the youths when Saul told
David that he was to go no more home to his father's house to tend his
flocks, but was to be thereafter his armour-bearer, or the member of
his household who came into the closest relation with the king. On
hearing this great piece of news, David glanced proudly at Jonathan,
and Jonathan at once led David away and took from him his shepherd's
dress, and clothed him in his own garments, giving him even his girdle
and his sword, which was the greatest honour he could have conferred on
David, the sign that he felt David had, by his courageous act, proved
himself more worthy to be the heir to a throne, than he, the king's own
son, was. And, too, he felt such a thrill of affection for this new
friend, David, that he could not help doing something to show it. And
then and always, Jonathan's friendship for David was absolutely free
from all taint of jealousy, and he always stood aside, that honours
might be heaped upon his friend, even those which by the rights of
inheritance, should have been his own.

And so David began his new life at the court of Saul, with Jonathan,
his new friend, and the first happy days passed only too quickly. David
went out wherever Saul sent him, doing the King's bidding so well and
so wisely that Saul set him in command over his men of war, who all
gladly obeyed David. Although he was so young, he ruled so tactfully
that all the people, and even Saul's ministers grew more and more fond
of the youth who had killed Goliath, while Jonathan rejoiced in every
honour paid to his friend, and had not one bit of envy in his heart,
that David was so popular and so powerful. But Saul was less noble in
nature than Jonathan his son was, and when one day, not long after
David had killed Goliath, the men, women and children from all the
cities of Israel, trooped out to meet King Saul, singing and dancing
and playing musical instruments in celebration of David's victory, and
the women sang--

"Saul hath slain his thousands and David his ten thousands."

This made Saul very angry and very jealous, for it was a revelation of
the strength of the national feeling against him, and as he heard the
shrill chant he exclaimed with fierce jealousy:

"They have ascribed unto David his ten thousands and to me they have
ascribed but thousands, and what can _he_ have more but the kingdom?"

From that moment, Saul was never fond of David, but always bitterly
envious of him, and watched to see how and when he could do the lad an
injury.

The violence of his rage and jealousy threw him into one of his old
paroxysms, and as of old, David was called to soothe him by the music
of his harp. But the sight of David threw Saul into a still worse fever
of madness, and in anger he hurled his spear, the symbol of his
royalty, at David, crying:

"I will smite David even to the wall with it," but David was quick
enough to avoid it, and when at another time Saul attempted the same
thing, David again slipped aside, and the spear simply struck the wall.
This agility of David's made Saul even more angry than before, and
increased his fear of the wonderful youth, whom Saul felt had the
blessing of God, which had been taken from him. So strong was Saul's
dislike of David now, that finally he sent him away from the house,
giving him a position where he would have less influence than formerly,
for he would be only captain over a thousand men, but the new position
only increased David's popularity. He ruled those under him with such
wisdom that all the people loved him, and Saul was, of course, more
jealous and angry than before, and yet afraid of him too, and he began
to think of another way to rid himself of the troublesome rival.

When David had fought Goliath, he was promised the hand of Saul's
eldest daughter in marriage, if he should be victorious, which promise
had not been kept as yet, and now Saul remembered this, and offered to
redeem the promise by giving David his daughter, Merab, as wife, hoping
that in this way, he would not only rouse David's gratitude, but make
him feel in honour bound to fight the Philistines again, for his wife's
sake, and Saul hoped that they might kill him.

Although in our day, David would have been far too young to think of
being married, in those days such things were different, and David
accepted the hand of Merab, but at the last moment, through some new
caprice of Saul's, the promise was broken and Merab became another
man's wife. But Saul's younger daughter, Michal, who had admired
David's behaviour ever since he had been her father's armour-bearer,
was as fond of him as her brother, Jonathan was, and when she told her
father this, he was greatly pleased and said to himself that she should
marry David, who would then fight the Philistines for her sake and be
killed by them. And when David objected to marrying her, saying that it
was no easy matter for a poor man to marry the daughter of a king,
Saul's messengers answered:

"The King requireth no dowry from him, only that he kill a hundred
Philistines."

This pleased David, for he was a born warrior, and he did not know that
the King's purpose in this agreement was to have him fall by the sword
of the enemy. So even before the marriage took place, he was so eager
to fulfil the king's request that he and his men went out and killed
twice as many Philistines as Saul demanded, and came home unhurt, and
although Saul was angry at this, he was obliged to give him Michal in
marriage, but from that moment, Saul hated David more fiercely than
ever, and was determined to kill him, especially when he saw that the
people loved David more and more deeply for his wisdom and bravery.
Intent on this purpose, Saul even called his ministers and servants
together and told them that they must kill David, and he told Jonathan
this too, and Jonathan, loving David as he did, was filled with fear
that his father's wishes would be carried out, and so he hurried to
David with the news of his father's command, and begged David to hide
until the next day, saying that meanwhile he would go to his father and
try to alter his feelings.

When David heard Saul's command, it did not frighten him as much as it
did Jonathan, for he was almost fearless by nature, but he listened to
Jonathan intently, and promised to do what he asked, and as soon as
Jonathan had left him and gone to Saul, David fled to a secret place
and hid there, while Jonathan, having sought his father, began to say
good things about David, even though he saw there was danger of
arousing his father's fierce anger by what he said.

But he spoke boldly, because of his love for David, saying: "Let not
the King sin against David, because he hath not sinned against thee,
and because his works have been to thee very good. For he did put his
life in his hand and slew the Philistines, and the Lord wrought a great
salvation for all Israel. Thou sawest it and did rejoice, wherefore
then, wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a
cause."

It was a brave thing for Jonathan to speak so frankly to his father,
and he would have been more frightened in doing it, had not his love of
David given him courage. And he had his reward, for not only did Saul
listen attentively to him, but was touched by his plea, and when he
finished speaking, swore solemnly:

"As the Lord liveth, he shall _not_ be slain."

Jonathan scarcely waited to hear the words, before he hurried from his
father's presence and ran as fast as he could run to David's
hiding-place to tell him the good news, that he was not to be killed.
And then he insisted that David should go back with him to the king's
court, which David did, and when Saul saw him, old memories stirred in
his heart and he welcomed David affectionately as he had done in times
past.

For a while David remained with Saul and Jonathan and as all went on
peacefully, he and Jonathan had many happy hours together. Then there
was war again with the Philistines, and David was sent out to fight
them, and was again victorious over them, slaying them with such a
great slaughter that those who remained alive fled from him, in fear
and dismay. And although Saul was glad of David's victory over the
enemies of Israel, the old jealousy of his young and powerful rival
again overcame him and he had or pretended to have one of his old
attacks of rage, and as in old times, David was called to soothe his
inflamed spirit. But while he was playing, Saul was filled with jealous
fury, and again hurled his spear at the young musician, and again David
slipped aside and escaped it, and the spear hit the wall instead of his
body--then he fled to his own house, more worried than he had ever been
before; for now he saw clearly that Saul would never give up his
purpose to kill him.

This he told his wife, Michal, who knew her father's cruel, jealous
disposition, even better than Saul did, and was much alarmed for her
husband's safety.

That night, Saul, following out his determination, to rid himself of
David, sent watchers to guard David's house and make sure that he did
not escape in the night, and though they did not go into the house to
kill him at once, because of an old Oriental superstition that only
evil would come to those who entered a home by night, they planned to
enter at daybreak and arrest him.

Michal, with a woman's keen instinct, when she saw the messengers
outside, guessed their purpose and at once she said to David:

"If thou save not thy life to-night, to-morrow, thou shalt be slain,"
and then she told David of her plan to save him, which he thought was a
good one. After a hasty farewell, she assisted her husband to escape
through a window on the opposite side of the house from where the
king's messengers were crouched, and David under cover of the darkness
crept stealthily away and escaped once more from Saul's hand. When she
had seen him creep away in the darkness, Michal went back into the
house and dressing up an image, as if it were a man, she laid it in
David's bed, and covered it, head and all, with a long thick coverlet,
and at dawn when Saul's messengers forced an entrance, demanding David,
Michal answered:

"He is sick."

The men went away and told Saul this, but he did not believe it, and
sent them back to bring David to the palace in his bed, if they found
him too sick to walk, and it must have been a moment of triumph for
Michal, who had worked so hard to save her husband's life, and who knew
that he was, even then, far away, when she led Saul's messengers to the
bed, where they found, not their victim, but only an image.

When Saul heard of this, his rage was almost beyond bounds, but Michal
did not care, for she knew that David was safe now, and her answers to
her father's reproaches at her conduct in helping David to escape were
as fearless as possible.

All this took time, and meanwhile, David, now an outcast from his home,
had hurried to Ramah, a city on a height about three miles west of
Gibeah, where he found Samuel at the School of Prophets, and when he
told Samuel all that Saul had done to him, Samuel felt sorely against
Saul, and went with David to Naioth, hoping that they might in that way
escape Saul's messengers, who David knew would surely discover and
follow him. And he was right. No sooner had David reached Ramah than
Saul did find it out, and sent soldiers to arrest him, but three
different bands which he sent, one after another, when they came to the
School of Prophets became filled with religious excitement, and
neglected their errand. Then Saul himself was frenzied with impatience
and started out for Ramah, but before he reached the city, he, too, was
overcome by the spirit of religious excitement, and for a day and a
night forgot his own errand. So David had time to escape, and went
straight back to Saul's court, the place where he had been in such high
favour only a short time before. He went to find Jonathan, his friend,
who had been eagerly waiting for news of him. The meeting of the youths
was a glad one, but there was no time for discussing anything except
what David had come to get advice about. At once he asked Jonathan:

"What have I done? What is my sin before your father, that he seeketh
my life?"

And Jonathan loved him with a great love and was deeply troubled for
his safety, and he answered David:

"God forbid. Thou shalt not die. Behold my father will do nothing
either great or small, but he will show it to me, and why should he
hide this thing from me? It is not so."

But David knew the truth and he answered:

"Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found favour in thine eyes,
and he said 'Let not Jonathan know this lest he be grieved' but truly,
as the Lord liveth and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between
me and death."

A solemn thing for a young man, so strong, so full of the joy of life,
to believe and to say, and as he said it, his voice trembled, and
Jonathan's cheeks were white with fear. Only for a moment was Jonathan
silent, then looking straight into David's eyes, he said:

"Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee."

Could there be any better proof of friendship than that?

Then David, who had been thinking what was wisest to do, told Jonathan
of the plan which must be carried out in order to find out Saul's
intentions with regard to him. There was to be a great festival on the
following day, to which Saul had invited David, just as if he and David
were on the best of terms, and David told Jonathan that instead of
going to the feast, he would hide in a field near by, while Jonathan
must go to the feast and see how his absence affected Saul, and also
draw him on in every way, to show his feelings for David. Then, as soon
as Jonathan had found out his father's feeling towards David, he was to
go to the field where David was hiding and shoot three arrows as if
shooting at a mark, and send a boy to pick them up. If he should shoot
on this side of David's hiding-place, it would mean that David could
come out in peace and safety, but if the arrows were shot beyond the
place where David was, it would be a sign that he must again flee, for
his life would be in danger if he remained.

And so David hid himself in the field and Jonathan went to the feast,
as they had planned that he should do, and at first Saul did not notice
David's absence, then presently, he asked Jonathan where David was, and
Jonathan answered as David had told him to, that David had gone to
Bethlehem to attend a family festival there. Then Saul was very angry
at both David and Jonathan, and exclaimed:

"Thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion. Surely as
long as he liveth, thou shalt not be established in the kingdom.
Wherefore, now send for him that he may die."

Although Jonathan was perfectly conscious of his father's bribe of the
kingdom should he bring David to be killed, and of the cleverness of
Saul's appeal to his desire for power, he had no thought for himself,
but only anger that his father could be so hard at heart. But he
controlled his temper and merely said:

"Wherefore shall he be slain? What hath he done?"

At this Saul's fury knew no bounds; that he, King of Israel should lose
not only his sovereignty, but the loyalty of his own son, because of
this lad of Bethlehem, was more than he could bear. With the rage of a
frenzied animal, Saul hurled his spear at Jonathan to kill him, but as
David had done, Jonathan dodged the deadly weapon, and left the feast,
refusing to sit any longer at the table with a father who was so cruel
and capricious.

And as soon as possible, Jonathan hastened to David's hiding-place,
taking with him his bow and arrows, and a lad to fetch his arrows for
him.

And he said to the lad:

"Run, find out the arrows which I shoot!----" and as the lad ran, he
shot an arrow beyond him.

And when the lad found the arrow that Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried
after him:

"Is not that the arrow behind thee? Make speed--haste--stay not."

And Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows and brought them to his
master, and he knew nothing about the meaning of that which he had
done. Only Jonathan and David knew that, and then because he was eager
to be alone with David, Jonathan gave the lad his bow and arrows and
bade him take them to the city.

As soon as the lad was out of sight and hearing, David who had heard
all that had passed between Jonathan and the boy, came from his
hiding-place, and as there was no one to see or hear them, those lads
of Israel in that far off land, sat together and talked as lads of
to-day might talk, while the sun was sinking low in the west, although
by doing so, they took a very great risk should they be found together.
But both of them were forgetful of all but the joy of being together.
Then with slow step and arm linked in arm, they walked together to the
spot where David had been in hiding, and with a quick realisation of
the danger ever shadowing David's life, both boys were overcome by the
depth of their affection for each other, and by the fear that something
was going to part them, and in the custom of the Orient at that time,
they clasped hands and made a solemn covenant, or vow, of eternal
friendship and mutual help, to extend after the death of either to
their descendants.

It was indeed a solemn moment, and the deepest feeling in the boyish
hearts was stirred when they made their vow under the wide blue sky,
and looked long and sadly into each other's eyes. Then Jonathan said to
David:

"Go in peace because we have sworn, both of us, in the name of the
Lord, saying, 'The Lord be between me and thee, and between my seed and
thy seed for ever;' and then, with a lingering good-bye, Jonathan went
back to his home, with a heart aching, not only with loneliness for
David, but full of fear of what he would have to suffer and bear in the
coming days, and of regret for that weakness of character which he knew
his father had allowed to go beyond his own control. And David went to
Nob, a city north of Jerusalem, where there was at that time the chief
place of worship of the Israelites, and where David naturally turned
his steps for instructions and also for food. The story of his flight
had not reached the little town among the hills, and he was received
with the honour due to the King's son-in-law, although Ahimeleck, the
chief priest, was astonished that he came without an armour-bearer or a
retinue of attendants. Seeing his surprise, David pretended to have
come on urgent, secret business for Saul, and begged for food. The
priest, believing this, felt that he must treat him with all possible
honour, and as there was no other food ready, gave him the bread which
was for use on the altar. Meanwhile, David's quick eye had caught a
glimpse of a face staring at him through the cracks in the simple
forest building. It was Doeg, the Edomite, Saul's savage herdsman, who
David felt sure had recognised him. A chill of foreboding crept over
David and made him at once demand arms from the peaceful priest. There
were none to give except Goliath's sword, which David had taken from
the giant when he killed him, and which had been there at Nob, wrapped
in a cloth, ever since. With eager joy, David exclaimed:

"There is none like _that_, give it to me!" and seizing the matchless
weapon, he fled with it, knowing that Doeg was even then hastening to
Saul with news of his whereabouts, and that soon Saul's messengers
would be in hot pursuit of him. His next move was a bold one. Leaving
Nob, he and his few followers struck across the country in a southwesterly
direction, keeping well within the dense forests, until they looked
down on the city of Gath. David's condition was desperate now and he
resorted to desperate measures. The nearest Philistine city was Gath;
the glen where he had killed the giant was close beside him. It was a
dangerous thing to trust himself in Gath with Goliath's sword dangling
in his belt but David was nothing if not courageous. Danger in some
form he must face, the Israelites were behind, the Philistines before
him, and he made the plunge and took refuge in Gath. But the move was a
fatal one, his identity was at once discovered, to have his life he
resorted to the least heroic trick of his whole life. Pretending to be
a madman, he raved and stormed and twisted about with horrible
contortions, pounded upon the gates of the city, let the spittle run
down on his beard, and acted his insane part so perfectly that he
completely deceived the King, who laughed at the report that this was
David, the Israelite, and ordered him sent from the city, saying that
there were enough madmen in it for all practical uses.

David's hasty flight ends this episode and we can fancy his sigh of
relief when he had once again escaped so narrowly from danger.

Once more a fugitive, and a real outlaw now, he took refuge in the cave
of Adullam, where as soon as it became known that he had taken up an
outlaw's life, he was at once joined by a number of men who for some
reason were either discontented with their position at court, or
fugitives from justice, and had trust in David's ability to achieve
victories over enemies and circumstances. Even his own brothers, who
had hated and envied him in his earlier days, and his parents, who were
now old and feeble, came to join his band of followers, and soon he was
the chief of a band numbering about four hundred outlaws, among them
some famous warriors who later became noted captains in his army, after
he became King of Israel.

Although the wild, free life of the forest was what exactly suited
David's own youth and vigour, he felt that his parents were too infirm
to bear it, and with characteristic thoughtfulness, he went at once to
the King of Moab and begged him to give a home to the old people until
he should have a safer place of shelter for them. David's grand-mother
was Ruth the Moabitess, which according to the rule of Eastern
hospitality, entitled all her relations to whatever aid they needed
from any of the tribe of Moab, and so the King of Moab cordially
assented to David's request, and received Jesse and his wife as inmates
of his home.

Among David's first followers were some clever warriors of the tribe of
Gad, men fierce in war, and strong and swift of foot. With him also was
the prophet Gad himself, and there were even some men from the tribe of
Benjamin, the tribe to which King Saul belonged, who joined David's
company. It seems to have been a peculiarity of the Benjamites that
they could use either hand with equal skill, and those who joined David
were armed with bows, and were very valuable allies because they could
use both the right hand and the left at once in hurling stones, and
shooting arrows, and never miss their aim. At first David feared
treachery from these Benjamites, but when he asked them frankly what
their intentions were, they said:

"We are thine, David, peace be unto thee and thy helpers, for thy God
helpeth thee." Then David received them, and made them captains of his
army, and they became enthusiastic admirers of their young leader, as
were all David's band.

One incident shows what passionate affection his men felt for him.
Saul's army in losing David had lost the one captain who could keep the
Philistines in check, and they were over-running the country in
numerous bands, having their headquarters in the valley of Rephaim,
near Jerusalem. One night, in a moment of fond recollection of a
happier past, David cried out in an intense longing for a drink of
water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem by which he had often
driven his sheep in his younger days. At once, three of his men,
without telling him what they were going to do, forced a passage
through the Philistine lines and brought him the water for which he
longed. Touched by the act, but always modest, David refused to allow
men to risk their lives simply for his gratification and poured out the
water as a sacrifice to God, according to the religious ceremony of
that time, for it was as good as blood, David said, and the three men
who brought it to him were afterwards counted among the mightiest of
his heroes.

Besides these men, all the others of his little band were devoted to
him, seeing his courage and his unconditional dependence on God under
all circumstances. The wild, rough life brought out all the manhood
there was in his little band of outlaw warriors who were occupied
mainly in guerilla warfare with marauding tribes and in eluding the
pursuit of Saul, and in this way several years passed, during which
time, David's life was full of stirring events, but many a night as he
wandered underneath the stars, his thoughts turned in passionate
longing to Jonathan, for whom his heart cried out--for Jonathan, whose
life was as different from David's, for he had all the comforts of
luxurious living, and all the elegance and pomp which were the natural
surroundings of a King's son. And yet he was far from happy, for he too
longed for David, and he was obliged to spend a large part of his time
in watching over his father, whose weakness of character he understood
perfectly, and to keep the King from dangerous acts and damaging
outbursts of temper, required all of young Jonathan's tact, and most of
his time and strength.

Meanwhile, the prophet Gad whose advice was supposed to be divinely
inspired, told David that it was no longer safe to remain in the cave
of Adullam, so the little band of outlaws left the place where they had
been for so long encamped and as outlaws have always done, they took
refuge in a forest, somewhere among the hills of Judah.

It was now the end of harvest time in May, and news was brought to
David that the town of Keilah was being harassed by plundering bands of
Philistines. As the town evidently did not belong to Judah at this
time, Saul did not move a finger to protect it, although the enemy had
shut up the citizens within their own walls and were robbing the loaded
threshing floors outside. David deliberated long and prayerfully,
together with the priest Abiathar, who was one of his followers,
deciding whether he might successfully attack the bands who were
robbing Keilah. His men were rather fearful of the enterprise, but when
Abiathar decided in favour of it, David's band at once marched over the
highlands of Judah, and surprised and defeated the Philistines with
great loss, and took much booty. David even established himself in the
town, but when Saul discovered that fact, he called out all the forces
of Israel, and prepared to besiege David, full of fiendish joy that the
prey he had so long sought was in his hands at last, for the capture of
four hundred men in a fortress however strong, could only be for his
large army, a question of time. All this became known to David, who was
warned by Abiathar that the inhabitants of Keilah would be compelled
for their own safety to give him up to Saul, and his four hundred men
only saved themselves by a hasty flight breaking up into detachments,
and fleeing wherever they could go, while David with only a handful of
his army, made his way once again into the hospitable wilderness which
stretches from the hills of Judah to the shores of the Dead Sea, and
there he hid in secret places among the crags and tangled brush, while
with fiendish perseverance, Saul sought him every day. But every day
God saved him from capture, yet as the days passed he became weary and
discouraged in heart. Then in a lonely hour there came a rare joy to
David--Jonathan, his friend, stood beside him with outstretched hands
and beaming eyes, joy expressed on every line of his sensitive,
delicate face.

David has no words ready for such a joyous moment--he is no longer the
brave warrior--leader of men. He throws his arms about Jonathan's neck,
and tears come,--yes, tears,--and Jonathan too, is unnerved, but there
is no time to lose, they may be discovered any moment and that will
mean death for at least one of them. Jonathan is the first to speak,
clasping David's hand closely.

"Fear not," he says in a clear, calm voice, "the hand of Saul, my
father, shall not find thee, and thou shalt be King over Israel, and I
shall be next unto thee, and that also my father knoweth."

So spoke Jonathan, and the words came from his heart, for knowing as he
did of all the courageous acts of David, and of all the diplomacy he
had used to help others as well as himself, Jonathan's heart told him
that his friend was truly worthy to be King of Israel rather than he,
the rightful heir to the throne, and with deepest love and admiration
in his eyes and voice, and at peril of his life, should he be found
with David, he told David this, and David's eyes shone with joy and
pride in his friend's appreciation, and his hand-clasp grew firmer, and
there was deep, intense silence while the two friends thought of past
and future, and looked into each other's eyes as comrades look who
trust and understand.

Then, Jonathan renewed his covenant of friendship for David, and of
loyalty to his descendants for ever, and David began to give his
answering promise, but he could not finish the words because of a great
sob which burst from him. And Jonathan could say no words of comfort,
for his soul was full of misery too, because he must so soon part from
David. Then David who was quick to see and feel Jonathan's pain, turned
away, and hastily, with a mighty effort controlled his misery, that his
friend might not see sorrow on his face, and with one last look
Jonathan turned and silently went from the forest, out into the larger
world and back into the less free life that was his at the Court of his
father. Back to his own duty which he never shirked, went Jonathan, and
to David remained only the fulfilling of that renewed covenant of
comradeship. And fulfil it he did.

In the following months Saul still sought daily to kill him, but daily
failed to do so, and instead David had an opportunity to capture and
kill Saul, when he came upon him by night sleeping, with his spear
stuck in the ground at his head, and surrounded by Abner and his people
who were sleeping too. Think what a temptation that was for David to
resist! But even though it would have freed his life of a dangerous
enemy and raised him to the throne, David would not yield to it, for he
said:

"Who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord's anointed and be
guiltless? The Lord shall smite him, or his day will come to die, or he
will descend into the battle and perish, but God forbid that I should
stretch my hand against him."

And never did he raise his hand against Saul, though still Saul pursued
him with relentless hatred, but still David escaped from his hand, and
he and his band of followers became daily more famous for their deeds
of valour, and for the brave warfare they waged against their enemies.

War again broke out between the Israelites and the Philistines. David
and his men who were not now with either army, but who had just
captured the Amalekites and taken from them large booty, were rejoicing
over this victory, when joy was turned to sorrow. News was brought to
David that both Saul and Jonathan had fallen in battle against the
Philistines at Gilboa.

Jonathan gone from him! Jonathan, his friend, gone beyond his sight for
ever! David refused to believe this until he who brought the sad
tidings had again and again given proof of its truth. Then David gave
way to his grief, and he and all his men who sorrowed with him, wept
and mourned and fasted until evening, for Saul, the king, and for
Jonathan, his son, and David mourned as one who cannot be comforted.

Although David had known only too well the truth about Saul's great
weakness, and had feared him as his most dangerous enemy, still to him
was Saul always the King of Israel, mighty in strength of character,
and in all the pomp and power of a nation's ruler; still the king of a
shepherd boy's dreams and also he was the father of Jonathan, and
because of David's childhood's ideal of Saul, the king, and because of
his great grief for Jonathan his friend, David, who was now the King of
Israel, expressed his true feelings in this wonderful poem in memory of
Saul, and of Jonathan his friend:

    The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places
    How are the mighty fallen!
    Tell it not in Gath
    Publish it not in the streets of Askelon,
    Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice
    Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph,
    Ye mountains of Gelboa, let there be no dew,
    Neither let there be rain upon you!
    For there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away,
    The shield of Saul, the anointed of the Lord.
    From the blood of the slain,
    From the fat of the mighty,
    The bow of Jonathan turned not back
    And the sword of Saul returned not empty,
    Jonathan and Saul
    Were lovely and pleasant in their lives
    And in their deaths they were not divided;
    They were swifter than eagles,
    They were stronger than lions,
    Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
    Who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights,
    Who put on ornaments of gold on your apparel,
    How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle!
    O Jonathan, thou wast slain
    I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan!
    Very pleasant hast thou been unto me,
    Thy love to me was wonderful,
    Passing the love of women,
    How are the mighty fallen,
    And the weapons of war perished!




LOUIS SEVENTEENTH:

The Boy King Who Never Reigned


It was the early morning of a bright June day, and the famous gardens
surrounding the palace at Versailles were gay with bloom and heavy with
scents as rare as was the morning. King Louis Sixteenth of France
looked from a window out over the terraces in their vari-coloured
beauty, and saw among the blossoms, a little figure busy with spade and
rake, and although the King's heart was heavy with sorrow because of
the death of his elder son, the Dauphin, as the eldest son of the King
of France, and heir to the throne, was always called, yet he was filled
too with pride as he looked out at the little Louis Charles, to whom
only three short hours before had descended the titles and honours
which had belonged to his brother.

The King's long and earnest glance at the little Dauphin attracted the
child's attention, and dropping his tools, he waved frantically towards
the window, crying out:

"Papa, see the beautiful flowers. I am pleased with myself. I shall
deserve mamma's first kiss to-day, I shall have a bouquet for her
dressing-table. May I come and show it to you?"

The king bowed his head in answer and smiled a sad smile as he turned
to the queen, Marie Antoinette, who even then stood beside him, weeping
bitterly for the other son who had gone from her for ever.

So absorbed was King Louis in his attempt to comfort her, that he
forgot the new little Dauphin, until the door opened softly, and he saw
the small figure standing just inside the door, holding tightly in his
hand a bouquet of violets and roses. Charming in his childish grace and
beauty was little Louis as he stood there, watching his father and then
his mother, with grave concern at their evident sadness, and quickly he
held up his flowers to his mother and said with sweet grace:

"Mamma, I have picked you some flowers from my garden."

Still Marie Antoinette could not speak, but the king caught the child
up in his arms, saying:

"Marie, he too is our son. He is the Dauphin of France."

Slowly Marie Antoinette turned, clasped his bright, lovely face in her
two hands, and stooping, kissed him tenderly on his forehead.

"I had forgotten," she said. "God bless and protect you, Dauphin of
France. I only pray that the storm clouds which now darken our sky may
be long past, when you ascend the throne of your fathers!"

Little Louis' forehead was wrinkled with perplexity.

"But, mamma," he asked timidly--"why is it you all call me Dauphin
to-day, when I am just your little Louis, who is called the Duke of
Normandy?"

"My son," said the King, solemnly, "each day differs from the last, and
this new day has brought you a new name and a new position. Your poor
dear brother has left us for ever. He has gone to God, and you are now
in his place, the Dauphin of France."

"And is that why mamma is crying, and will Louis never come back?"

"No, dear, he will never come back, and so your mamma is grieving."

Quickly little Louis' arms went around her neck.

"Oh," he cried, "poor, dear mamma! I don't see how anyone can leave
you, and not come back? _I_ will never leave you, never, never!"

"God grant it!" sighed the queen, pressing him tenderly to her. "May He
grant it--oh, my precious child!" and then with his face close to hers,
and a little hand held tight in the big one of his father, whose arm
was around them both, Louis continued:

"If it is mine now, please tell me what it means--that name, the
Dauphin."

The king answered:

"My son, this is what it means. You are now the eldest son of the King
of France, and some day you will be the king, and to you belong now the
titles and honours that were your brother's. Do you understand?"

Instead of showing appreciation, Louis' blue eyes looked entreatingly
at the Queen, and his lips quivered.

"Mamma," he whispered, "I like being Duke of Normandy best. Will you
love me any better if I am called the Dauphin?"

"No, dear child," answered the Queen tenderly, "I shall not love you
better, but you are no longer the Duke of Normandy. You are the Dauphin
now, the future King of France!" A sob choked the words as Marie
Antoinette turned hastily away to hide her grief, and in doing so, she
put her foot on the flowers which little Louis had brought her. His
face clouded as he saw this, then with a bright smile he looked into
the Queen's face, saying quickly:

"Mamma, I wish you always walked on flowers I picked for you."

Without a word Marie Antoinette turned, and clasping him in her arms,
was comforted. Then, reminded of state duties to be done, she was about
to release him when he whispered:

"Did my poor dear brother only leave me his title? Oh, mamma, I do not
want it. But there is something of his that I _do_ want to have very,
very much now that I am the Dauphin."

The King looked bewildered, but the Queen smiled through her tears.

"I think I can guess what it is," she said, "see if I can, little
Louis," and putting him down, she softly left the room, and when she
came back there ran and frisked about her, jumping for joy of
comradeship, a tiny black dog who rushed up to Louis, and jumped on him
over and over again, and the child clasped it in his arms, while the
dog put its paws on Louis' shoulders and licked his rosy cheeks with
frantic affection.

"Now, my Louis," asked the Queen, "did I guess right? Wasn't that what
you wanted so much?"

"Oh, yes it was! It was!" exclaimed the boy, his eyes shining with joy.
"Is he really mine now? Does he belong to my inheritance?"

The Queen could not answer, but the King spoke sadly.

"Yes, my son, he belongs to your inheritance."

The Dauphin shouted with joy.

"He is mine! He is mine!" and as he held the little dog close to him,
the picture was a pretty one, the boy with his round rosy face, dimpled
chin and deep blue eyes shaded by long, dark lashes, with his high
forehead, and heavy golden hair, all the delicacy of his colouring and
features thrown into relief by the dark blue velvet of his suit, all
the charm of his expressive face shone in his joy over the new treasure
which he was clasping tight. What to the little Dauphin was the silver
star embroidered on his left shoulder, which showed his princely rank
and removed him from the rank and file of other boys? What was a crown,
a title--even the throne itself? They were less than nothing to him in
comparison with the little dog nestling in his arms and licking his
face, and while the King and Queen watched the pretty picture they
sighed for the simple joys of childhood, and Marie Antoinette, looking
into her husband's face murmured:

"God keep him in His care!"

Although the little Louis' new title was of such small value to him,
yet the possession of it changed the whole of his life, and as soon as
he became the Dauphin, his education and training were of the gravest
importance, for he would some day rule in his father's place.

Accordingly, every possible advantage that could be given him was
secured, and while his father saw to it that he should have enough
out-of-door exercise to keep him sturdy and strong, his mother
superintended his lessons, as well as those of his sister, Therese.
Although Marie Antoinette was young and pleasure-loving and was often
called frivolous because of the spontaneous gaiety into which her
nature often led her, yet she was a devoted mother, and every morning
at ten o'clock, Therese, the Dauphin, and their teachers went to the
queen's rooms, and there learned and recited lessons.

The little Dauphin was a brilliant scholar and said such bright things
that all the courtiers took great pleasure in asking him questions,
that they might hear his answers. One day while saying his lessons, he
began to hiss loudly, for which his mother reproved him.

"I was only hissing at myself," he said, "because I just said my lesson
so badly."

On the evening before the queen's birthday the king told the Dauphin
that he would buy him a handsome bouquet to give his mother for a
birthday present, but that he wanted him to write a letter of
congratulation to go with it. To his surprise the Dauphin did not show
as much pleasure as he expected at this and finally on questioning him
he discovered the truth.

"I have got a beautiful everlasting in my garden," Louis said, "I want
to give it to her, please, papa, it will be my bouquet and my letter
all together, for when I give it to mamma I shall say, 'I hope mamma,
that you will be like this flower.'"

The idea was so pretty and the boy so eager, that he had his way, and
King Louis' pride in this clever child was great.

He was no prig, no saintly child, this little King Louis Seventeenth to
be, he was just a sensitive, affectionate boy, whose winning manner and
charm of person attracted all to him, and made him an especial pet of
the older people from whose conversation he gathered much information
which they never thought he understood.

One day when playing in the garden, full of excited vigour, he was just
going to rush through a hedge of roses, when an attendant stopped him
and warned him, saying:

"Monseigneur, one of those thorns might blind you or tear your face."

But the Dauphin persisted, and when halfway through the hedge, called
back:

"Thorny paths lead to glory"--a phrase so ominous of the poor little
Dauphin's future that it has ever been remembered as one of the most
remarkable of his sayings.

For some time, the Dauphin who was quick to respond to joy or sadness
in those around him noticed many signs of distress, not only in the
faces of his father and mother, but in those of others whom he saw
daily, and many an hour when no one knew it, his childish mind spent in
wondering about the situation, trying to understand the heated words he
heard, the tears he saw, and sometimes he would creep up to Marie
Antoinette and pat her smooth cheek reassuringly, and kiss her
lovingly, and though this comforted, it added to the pain of the Queen,
who feared for the happiness of the future King of France.

The Reign of Terror was at hand. The Revolutionists, fierce and strong
in their murderous frenzy had risen, risen to kill monarchs and
monarchy. Louis Sixteenth was on the throne--therefore Louis Sixteenth
must go; Marie Antoinette was his wife; she had danced, and spent money
like water while they, the people had needed bread, so they said--and
Marie Antoinette must go. Little Louis was heir to the throne--that
throne whose power must be overthrown, and so Louis the Dauphin must
go.

The rulers of France had for generations proved so false to their trust
and to their kingly responsibility that the love of the people had at
last been changed into hate. Louis Fourteenth and Louis Fifteenth had
sinned so deeply against those whom their oath of office bound them to
protect, that now at last there was no feeling but revenge and hatred
in the hearts of the subjects of the King of France, and on the heads
of the reigning sovereigns, Louis Sixteenth and Marie Antoinette fell
the horrors of the Reign of Terror, which was now reaching a point
where only torture and bloodshed could appease the fiends who were
rapidly becoming all-powerful. It was claimed that the taxes collected
from the people for the expenses of war and government were being
misused for the extravagances and frivolities of the royal family. It
was even claimed that the people were starving for bread while the King
and Queen were living in luxury, and this because the fiends of the
revolution had caused all bake-shops to stop baking bread, so that the
cry of starvation might be raised among the people, who could then be
incited to storm the palace and demand bread of the royal family.

The very scum of civilisation, the dregs of the population of France,
were roused in fierce and unjust revolt against the royal family; yes,
in revolt and in power, and on a day of early October, 1789, a howling
mob of frenzied men, women and children swept up the peaceful avenues
of Versailles, shrieking their fiendish cries for vengeance on the
royal family, and then they invaded and took possession of the royal
apartments. Aghast at the outrages committed in the name of the French
people, the King and Queen tried in every way to restore the mob to
peace, but in vain. The leaders of the rebellion demanded the immediate
appearance in Paris, which was the seat of the revolution, of King
Louis and his family, where they could be closely watched by their
enemies, describing in alarming terms, the danger to his majesty if he
did not comply with the request. Accordingly, after hours of
indescribable horrors and humiliation and anguish, the king was obliged
to give his consent to the plan, and the royal family made ready for
their departure from Versailles. During their seven hours' journey to
Paris, they were followed by a rabble of such human fiends as had
invaded the palace at Versailles, and although throughout the whole
terrible trip, Marie Antoinette and the King bore themselves with sad
and dignified composure, yet the strain on them both was almost too
great to be borne. Through all the agony and excitement, the Dauphin
frightened though he was, seeing his mother's tears, tried to smile
courageously into her face, and to keep back words of complaint, and
the sight of his courage almost broke his mother's heart. What would
this all mean to him, the future king of France? Alas, poor little
Dauphin!

At last they reached the Tuileries, the royal palace in Paris, where no
French King had lived since Louis Fifteenth was a young man. There had
been no preparations made for the coming of the royal family. The
palace, so long uninhabited was in a state of dilapidation, and there
were no comforts in it, and very few necessities. But the travellers
were too much exhausted to heed anything but that they had reached a
temporary shelter and were relieved that death, which the day before
had seemed so imminent, had been, for the present, put aside.

Exhausted to the breaking point, Marie Antoinette slept soundly that
night, and on the next morning as she sipped her chocolate in a room
which had been hastily transformed into a sitting-room for her, she was
thinking sadly of life and its changes when the door opened and the
Dauphin ran in and flung himself into her arms.

"Oh, mamma," he cried, "please let us go back to our beautiful palace
at home. This big house frightens me with its shadows. Why have we come
here, mamma, when we have such a lovely palace and garden of our own?"

The queen sighed.

"My son," she said, "this palace belongs to us too, as well as
Versailles, and it is considered a beautiful palace. It is where the
great Louis Fourteenth lived, you know."

"Well, I don't like it at all and I wish we could go away," whispered
the Dauphin, casting a homesick look around the great bare room,
furnished so meagrely with faded furniture.

"I wish so too." The queen scarcely breathed the words, but the
sensitive child's ears caught them, and he answered eagerly.

"Then why do we have to stay? I thought a queen could always do what
she wanted to do."

In answer the poor, sore-hearted queen burst into tears, whereupon the
Dauphin's tutor tried to take the child from her, saying severely:

"My prince, you see you trouble the queen, and her majesty sorely needs
a rest. Come with me for a walk."

But Marie Antoinette shook her head and clung to the child whose hand
was now gently stroking her cheek, and whose tears were mingled with
her own.

Then from the street came the dreaded sound of loud shouts and cries
and threats, and the Dauphin clung more tightly to his mother, both
shivering with dread but both brave.

"Mamma," asked the Dauphin, "is to-day going to be just like
yesterday?"

His question was answered by the king himself, who entered the room
just then and flung himself into a chair, telling the queen that those
who had aided the mob in their violent acts were about to be brought to
trial for them, and he added his request that the queen should receive
the committee who had come to judge the people for their violence.

In stately dignity, Marie Antoinette then left the room to receive
other subjects, who still considered her the queen of France, and after
her going, King Louis and his little son were left alone.

The king, exhausted in body and mind, closed his eyes and lay back in
his chair, ready to sink into a light doze, when he was roused by a
gentle touch on his arm.

Beside him stood the Dauphin, his great blue eyes full of grave
thoughtfulness. When he saw the King's eyes open, he spoke.

"Papa," he said, hesitatingly, "I should like to ask you
something--something really serious!"

"Something really serious!" replied the King, smiling in spite of
himself. "Well, what is it? Let me hear."

"Papa," answered the Dauphin, with an air of one who has thought deeply
on a subject. "My governess has always told me I must love the people
of France and treat them kindly, because they love you and mama so
much. But if they do, papa, then why do the people act so badly to you?
And oh, papa, I have been told that your people owe you obedience and
respect, but they were not obedient nor respectful yesterday and they
said dreadful things I never heard before. What does it mean, papa?"

The king drew the child on to his knee and put an arm around the grave
little questioner, telling him that he would explain it to him, but
that he would have to listen carefully if he wished to understand such
grave matters.

"Oh, I will, I will," answered the Dauphin eagerly. "I know that I am
one of your subjects, and that as your son and a subject too, I must
give a good example to the French people of loving and obeying the
king. But it seems that my example has not done any good at all yet.
How does that happen, papa?"

In answer, the King told him that wicked men had said to the people
that he did not love them, that they had listened and believed this,
that France had had great wars, and wars cost a great deal. And so,
because he was the King, he had asked money of his subjects, just as
had always been done by other Kings.

"Oh, but papa," cried the Dauphin, "why did you do that? Why did you
not take my purse and pay out of that? You know that I receive every
day my purse filled with bright new francs and I could have helped you
easily. And, oh papa, do your people have more money than you have
yourself?"

King Louis answered that a king receives all his money from the people,
but gives it all back to them again, that he governs those people, and
they owe him respect and obedience and have to pay taxes to him, and so
if he needs money he raises it by laying extra taxes upon them. Then he
asked, "do you understand that, little Louis?"

"Oh, yes, indeed!" The Dauphin was breathless with interest now, "I
have been told about that, but I don't like it. It seems to me that if
a man is the king, he ought to have all the money and give it to the
people when they need it. They ought to ask him for it, not he ask
them."

To this the king agreed, but added with a sigh, that kings had so
misused their power and authority that the people no longer trusted
them, and that now a king could not pay out money unless the people
knew what it was to be used for, and were willing.

"Have you used people's money, papa, without asking their leave?" cried
Louis eagerly. "Was that why they came to Versailles yesterday and were
so wicked to us? For those bad men and women were the people, weren't
they?"

King Louis shook his head. "No, my son," he said. "The people can not
come to me in such great masses. They have to send representatives.
Those representatives I called to me at Versailles and asked of them
money for the outlays I had to make, but they asked things in return,
of me which I could not grant, either for my own sake or for yours, my
son, who are some day to be my successor. Then the people were led to
believe that I did not love them, but I am determined to show them that
I do love them and am ready to share everything with them. That is why
we have left lovely Versailles and come to live here, where we have to
do without so much that we enjoy. And we must try to be contented here
and share all the disagreeable things that the people have to bear,
which is what a true King should do."

The Dauphin had sat like an old man, listening, and now as his father
stopped speaking, the boy laid a hand on his breast, saying solemnly:

"Papa, I have understood everything, and I am very much ashamed that I
complained at all. And I promise you I will take pains to give
everybody a good example. I will be happy and contented here."

And the Dauphin kept his word; he took pains to be contented, and never
said another word about Versailles, but tried to get all the pleasure
he could from the dreary old palace and its garden, so different from
that at Versailles, where the Dauphin had so much ground in which to
work. Here in the garden, there was only one small corner set aside for
the use of the royal family. This was surrounded by iron palings,
through which faces full of hate and malice would often peer at the
little Dauphin while he was busy gardening. One day he heard such words
and saw such threatening faces that he shrank back and ran to his
mother, who comforted him as best she could and said that he must be
brave and strong, or she would cry too, and that she must not do this
because it was exactly what the men who were trying to hurt their
feelings, wanted to see her do.

The boy's eyes flashed.

"I will never complain again," he cried, "and they shall never again
have the pleasure of seeing you or me cry if I can help it. But, mamma,
tell me--are there no good men in the world?"

"Yes, Louis," answered the queen. "You must believe that all men are
good and treat them courteously, until you have proved the contrary. If
they refuse your friendly kindness, it will not be your fault, and you
will have done what is right, no matter what others do."

A shadow passed over the child's lovely face.

"But, mamma," he said, "all men are not good. The men who abused and
cursed us so were not good, and I could never be friendly to them,
never!"

"We will hope that we shall never see them again," said the queen, "and
I wish you to be so kind and polite to everyone who comes here, that
all men may admire and respect their future king, even though he is
still a child."

"I will be," cried the boy with spirit, "so that you may be satisfied
with me, mamma. Just for that I will be so!"

As Marie Antoinette was kissing the pretty boy who was her comforter,
the mayor of Paris and General Lafayette were announced, and the
Dauphin whispered to his mother:

"That general was at Versailles with the bad men. I can _never_ be
kind to him."

"Hush," whispered the Queen--"For God's sake, do not let anybody hear
that. No--no--he does not belong to our enemies. He wishes us well.
Treat him kindly, my child."

And then Marie Antoinette took her son by the hand, and together they
met their distinguished guests, who had come with the unwelcome news
that, according to the old custom of the days of Henry the Fourth, the
people wished to have free access to the gardens of the Tuileries,
which freedom had been denied them since the coming of King Louis and
his family.

The queen was bitterly opposed to this, for it meant that, for her own
comfort and protection, she must only walk in the garden at certain
times and under escort, and she was speaking with proud and angry
fearlessness to the general about the matter, when the Dauphin left her
side and running forward, extended his hand to Lafayette, crying:

"General, I should like to salute you. Mamma told me I must be polite
and kind to all who are good to us, and she said that you wish us well.
Let me, therefore, greet you kindly, and give you my hand."

As he spoke, he raised his blue eyes and looked smilingly and
trustingly into those of the general and then at his mother; and his
hearer, whose heart had just kindled with anger against Marie
Antoinette and her rebellious words, felt anger melt into admiration,
together with reverence and astonishment at the words of the manly
little Dauphin. Bending his knee, in stately grace, he pressed the
Dauphin's small hand to his lips and said gravely as to a comrade:

"My prince, you have spoken as with the tongue of an angel, and I swear
to you and to your royal mother that I will never forget this moment.
The kiss I have impressed upon the hand of my future king is at once
the seal of a solemn vow and the oath of unchangeable fidelity and
devotion to my king and the royal family. Dauphin of France, you have
to-day gained a soldier for your throne who is prepared to shed his
last drop of blood for you and your house, and on whose loyalty you may
always count."

General Lafayette had tears in his eyes, and his noble face glowed with
emotion, while the child before him looked at him with wistful eyes and
a happy smile. Close by stood Marie Antoinette, her air of proud
defiance turned to one of gentle sweetness. She knew what that moment
meant in the history of France, and her heart thrilled with pride in
her little son, the Dauphin. Stooping, she kissed his golden hair, and
then, without an attempt to conceal the emotion, she finished her
conversation with the general and mayor, and then, making her adieus to
them beckoned to the Dauphin to go with her from the pavilion in which
the interview had taken place, and to return to the palace.

Instead of walking beside her, the Dauphin paused and asked:

"Mamma, please let me walk alone. I want the people to see I am not
afraid, as they may think if I let you lead me. I want to be like the
Chevalier Bayard, that the Abbe talked to me about the other day. I
want to be _sans peur et sans reproche_--like Bayard."

The queen smiled through tears.

"Very well, my chevalier," she said. "You shall walk alone."

"And before you, please. The knights always walk in advance of the
ladies, to protect them from danger. I am your knight, mamma, and I
want to be, as long as I live." And he added with a pretty, playful
bow, "Will you allow it, my royal lady?"

"I allow it! So go in front, chevalier, little Louis. We will take the
same way we came."

The Dauphin sprang along the path for quite a distance, when he stopped
suddenly and turned round to the queen, who with her two footmen was
walking quietly behind him.

"Well, Chevalier Bayard, what are you stopping for?" asked the queen
with a smile.

"I am waiting for you," he said gravely, "because this is where my
knightly service commences, for it is here that danger begins."

"It is true," said the Queen, and even as she spoke, there came to her
ears a sound of shouting as loud as the booming of cannon. "Oh, my
child," cried Marie Antoinette, "the sound is like the thundering of a
storm at sea! But such storms lie in God's hand and He protects those
who trust Him. Think of that, little Louis, and do not be afraid!"

"Oh, I am not afraid!" cried Louis, running happily on. And yet,
outside the fence behind which they were walking, was a dense mass of
angry people muttering curses on the queen and the Dauphin.

All at once, the mother's heart almost stopped beating from fright and
horror. A man had extended his bare, powerful arm through the paling of
the fence, to bar the Dauphin's way when he should try to pass it.

The boy saw the arm, hesitated a little, then went bravely forward. The
queen hurried that she might be near him when he reached the danger
point. On walked the Dauphin in proud courage. On hurried the queen and
as she reached him, she cried:

"Come here, my son. Give me your hand."

But instead of responding to her cry, the little prince sprang forward
and stood directly in front of the outstretched arm, and reaching out
his small white hand, laid it on the brown clenched fist that had been
ready to clutch him as in a vise, while a chorus of cheers at his
courage went up from outside the wall.

"Good-day sir," he said in a loud voice, "Good-day!" As he spoke he
took hold of the great rough hand and shook it.

"Little fool," roared the man, "what do you mean, and how dare you lay
your puny paw in the claws of a lion?"

The Dauphin smiled. "Sir, I thought you were stretching out your hand
to reach me with it, and so I give you mine and say good-day, sir!"

"And if I wanted, I could crush your fingers with my fist," cried the
man, still holding the little hand firmly.

But from a hundred throats outside the fence came the cry "You shall
not do it, Simon. You shall not hurt the boy!"

"Who can hinder me if I choose to do it?" asked the cobbler, whose name
was Simon, with a coarse laugh. "See, I hold the hand of the future
King of France, and I can break it if I choose, and make it so it can
never lift the sceptre of France. The little monkey thought he would
take hold of my hand and make me draw it back, but now my hand has got
hold of his, and holds it fast. And mark this, boy, the time is past
when kings seized us and trod us down, now we seize them, and do not
let them go unless we will."

"But, Mr. Simon," said Louis, "you see very plainly that I do not want
to do any harm, and I know you do not want to do me any harm, and I ask
you to be so good as to take away your arm, that my mamma can go on
with her walk."

"But suppose I do not do as you want me to?" asked the man defiantly.
"I suppose then your mamma would dictate to me, and perhaps call some
soldiers and order them to shoot the dreadful people?"

"You know, Master Simon, that I give no such commands and never gave
such," said the queen quickly. "The king and I love our people and
never would give our soldiers orders to fire on them, and now, sir--the
Queen of France and her son will no longer be detained!" With a quick
movement she struck back the arm of the cobbler, Simon, snatched the
Dauphin away like lightning and passed by before Simon had time to put
his arm back.

The crowd watching were filled with enthusiasm by the courage of the
queen. They applauded, laughed and shouted, while the cries, "Long live
the Queen! Long live the Dauphin!" passed like wildfire among the
throng behind the fence, and although in the eyes of Simon whose evil
design had been frustrated by a little child, there still shone hatred,
Marie Antoinette, who was now hand in hand with the Dauphin, reached in
safety the little garden reserved for the use of the royal family. Once
within its iron gate, decorated with the arms of the kings of France,
she felt as if all power had gone from her, and she could no longer
hide her fear and grief, but, no, she must be cheerful for her son's
sake, and her servants must not see her brow clouded, and so, with head
erect and flashing eyes, she walked on.

"Mamma," cried the Dauphin, interrupting her thoughts. "There comes the
king, my father. He will be glad to hear I was so courageous."

The queen quickly stooped and kissed him. "Yes, truly my little Bayard,"
she said, "you have done honour to your great example and been really a
little chevalier '_sans peur et sans reproche_,' but remember, Louis,
true bravery does not glory in its great deeds and does not wish
others to admire them, but keeps silent and leaves others to talk of
them!"

"Yes, and I will be silent too," cried Louis, with sparkling eyes. "You
will see that I can be silent too," and child though he was, he showed
from that moment a quick understanding and appreciation of the humility
necessary to real greatness.

That winter in the Tuileries was a dismal one indeed, for the royal
family had none of the gaiety and freedom which had been part of the
happy life at Versailles, and even when the King wished to go to his
summer palace at St. Cloud for rest and change, this was not allowed.
At last, weary of the insults and restraints heaped upon them, the
royal family attempted to escape secretly from Paris, but the plot was
discovered, their carriages stopped, and they were escorted back to the
Tuileries by a shouting shrieking mob of men and women who were
fiendishly glad of their capture. After that the King and Queen and the
Dauphin were always treated as prisoners in their own palace, with
guards set over them to watch their every movement, and the poor little
Dauphin could not go out nor play freely and happily as could the
poorest peasant child in France. After some months had passed, however,
the fury of the people grew somewhat less, and they were allowed to
close the doors of their rooms when they wished, and to walk out in the
gardens once more. It even seemed for some time as if what King Louis
had done to win back the trust of his people had been successful, and
that the throne of France might regain its dignity and power before
that time when Louis the Dauphin, should come into his inheritance.

He, meanwhile, was filling this period of calm with such affairs as
interested and amused him, and his greatest joy was that he was again
allowed to work in his garden. Although it was so small in comparison
to that at Versailles, it was yet a bit of paradise to him, and as soon
as his study hours were over, he always hurried out to dig his ground,
and water and pick his blossoms, and it was the great delight of those
subjects who loved the manly little fellow, to stand outside the fence
and watch him as he worked. The Dauphin was generally accompanied, when
he went outside the palace, by several soldiers from the detachment of
the National Guard, who were on duty at the Tuileries, and the boy
himself, who was now having military drills, generally wore the uniform
of the National Guard, and so charming and so manly was this little
National Guardsman of six years, that he became the idol of Paris. Fans
and lockets were decorated with his picture, which society women wore,
and everywhere the beauty and wit of the little fellow were talked of.

The boys of Paris shared the enthusiasm of their elders, and formed
themselves into a regiment, which was called the Regiment of the
Dauphin, which, with the king's permission, marched to the Tuileries to
parade before the Dauphin. As usual, he was found in his garden, and
was anxious to show his treasures to them even before he answered their
request that he become Colonel of their regiment. When he accepted the
honour urged upon him, one of the officers said:

"But that will mean giving up gathering flowers for your mamma."

"Oh, no," said the Dauphin, quickly, "that will not prevent me from
taking care of my flowers. Many of these gentlemen tell me that they,
too, have little gardens, and if they love the queen as much as their
colonel loves her, mamma will have whole regiments of bouquets every
day."

A cheer showed the boys' appreciation of their little colonel's
sentiment, and the regiment of the Dauphin became one of the most
popular organisations in Paris. Their uniform was a miniature copy of
the French guards, with their three-cornered hats and white jackets,
and whenever they marched through the Place de la Carousel, the people
crowded to see the army of sturdy boys with their handsome little
colonel.

So great was the boys' love for the Dauphin that the officers of the
regiment came to the palace one day to make him a present, in the name
of the whole regiment, and they were enthusiastically received by their
colonel.

"Welcome, my comrades," he cried. "My mamma tells me you have brought
me a present. But it gives me such pleasure to see you that nothing
more is needed."

"But Colonel, you will not refuse our gift?" said a little officer
named Palloy, and he added proudly:

"We bring you a set of dominoes made entirely out of the ruins of the
Bastile."[1]

      [1] The Bastile was the national prison, which had been entirely
      destroyed by the Revolutionists.

Taking the wrapper from the white marble box, bound with gold, he gave
it to the Dauphin, at the same time reciting the following lines:

    "Those glowing walls that once woke our fear
    Are changed into the toy we offer here
    And when with joyful face the gift you view
    Think what the people's love can do."

Joyfully the Dauphin received the beautiful present and listened
eagerly to the explanation of how to play the new game. On the back of
each domino, in the black marble, was a gold letter, and when the whole
set of dominoes was arranged in regular order, they formed this
sentence, Vive le Roi, Vive la Reine, et Vive le Dauphin (Long live the
King, the Queen and the Dauphin). The marble of the box was taken from
the altar-slab in the chapel of the Bastile, and in the middle, in gold
relief, was a picture of King Louis.

"That is my papa!" cried Louis joyfully, when he saw it.

"Yes," said Palloy. "Every one of us bears him in his heart. And like
the King, you will live for the happiness of all, and like him, you
will be the idol of France. We who shall one day be French soldiers and
citizens, bring to you, who will then be our commander-in-chief and
king, our homage as the future supporters of the throne which is
destined for you and which the wisdom of your father has placed under
the unshakable power of law. The gift which we offer you is small, but
each one of us adds his heart to it."

"And I give you all of my heart in return for it," cried the Dauphin,
joyfully, "and I shall take great pains to do my lessons well so I may
be allowed to amuse myself playing dominoes."

The delight of the Dauphin was so evident that his comrades who had
brought him the present felt a keener affection even than before for
their little Colonel, and the Queen who had been present during the
whole scene spoke in friendly words of thanks to the boys, who then
withdrew, escorted by the king and the Dauphin, who had no knowledge,
child of destiny that he was, of the omen contained in that present.
But Marie Antoinette knew only too well, and her heart was heavy when
she saw the present made from the stones of the Bastile. But of this
she gave no sign, and from that day attempted more than ever to endear
herself and her son to the people who had so little trust in her. One
day when a crowd of fiendish women behind the fence called out cruel
things about the Queen, the Dauphin could be no longer silent.

"You lie, oh, you lie!" he cried angrily. "My mamma is _not_ a wicked
woman, and she does not hate the people. She is good. She is so good
that--that----" tears choked him, and ashamed to show such signs of
weakness, he dashed out of the garden into the palace, but as he
reached the queen's apartments he choked back the tears, saying, "I
will not cry any more, for that will only trouble mamma and I can see
she has trouble enough without that. I will laugh and sing and jump
about, and then she may smile a little instead of crying, as I often
find her doing."

His tutor, the Abbe Davout, heartily approved of this, and the Dauphin
sprang into his mother's presence with a merry smile which gladdened
the queen's heart and made her forget her sorrows for awhile. This
pleased the Dauphin greatly, and he re-doubled his efforts to be merry,
making the little dog stand on its hind legs, while Louis put on its
black head a paper cap which he had made, painted with red stripes,
like those worn by the Jacobins or Revolutionists and cried:

"Monsieur Jacobi, behave respectfully. Make your salutations to her
majesty, the Queen!"

He was rewarded by a hug and a kiss from the Queen and then ran off
with the dog barking at his heels.

Little Louis was, as we have seen, an eager and brilliant scholar and
one day he begged the Abbe to give him lessons in grammar which he had
begun to learn some time before.

"Gladly," answered the Abbe, "your last lesson, if I remember rightly,
was upon the three degrees of comparison--the positive, the comparative
and the superlative. But you must have forgotten all that."

"You are mistaken," answered the Dauphin, "and I will prove it to you.
Listen:--the positive is when I say, 'my Abbe is a kind Abbe'; the
comparative is when I say 'my Abbe is kinder than another Abbe,' and
the superlative," he continued, looking at the Queen who was
listening--"is when I say, 'mamma is the kindest and most amiable of
all mammas!'"

The retort was so clever, the manner of saying it so charming, that the
Abbe and Marie Antoinette exchanged glances of amusement and pride, but
the little prince was unconscious of having said or done anything
unusual.

Besides grammar, Louis studied Italian, which he could speak and read
fluently; he also studied Latin, and some of the sentences he
translated have been preserved, such as "True friends are useful to
princes." "I know a prince who easily flies into a passion."
"Flatterers are very dangerous to princes." From these sentences it is
evident that the Abbe was trying to teach his clever little scholar
more than one thing at a time. Louis was also taught arithmetic,
geometry and geography, this last by means of a huge hollow globe lit
by a lantern, which had been invented for the special use of the
Dauphin, by a celebrated professor in the University of Paris. Louis
also was trained in all sorts of athletic sports and when he was seven
years old was sturdy of body and far more mature of mind than many
older boys. At seven, according to the court custom of France, he was
obliged to be given into the care of a governor. The people wished to
choose this governor and named several candidates who were utterly
unworthy of the position, but they were obliged to set aside their
wishes and accept a man named by the king, who also himself continued
to superintend his son's education.

At this time the clouds of political disaster were again hanging over
the palace, and even the Dauphin could see and feel the uneasiness that
surrounded him.

On June 20, 1792, King Louis refused to sign two decrees which the
people wished him to sign, and with his refusal the storm of riot and
revolution burst forth again. An immense mob of shrieking, howling
people stormed the Tuileries, where no measures had been taken in
defence, and the king gave orders that the doors of the palace be flung
open and the people be allowed to pass in unhindered. In a few minutes
every inch of space in rooms and corridors and halls was filled with
the dense crowd. Only one room was locked, and in that room were the
king and queen, the Dauphin and his sister, Therese with a few loyal
friends. Therese was terrified and would have screamed with fright, but
the manly little Dauphin watching her, held back his own tears and kept
her terror under control by his words and manner, acting with the
dignity of a grown-up guardian.

Breathlessly, the little company gathered there listened to the sound
of an axe, doors were being battered down, the door of the royal
apartment was opened, and an officer of the National Guard knelt before
the King, beseeching him to show himself to the frenzied mob. The
expression on all faces, the sounds from without were too much for the
Dauphin's self-control. He burst into sobs and begged the queen to take
him to his room, and while Marie Antoinette was comforting him as best
she could, the king went out and stood in the middle of the hall,
surrounded by the rabble, speaking in quiet words, of his love for his
people. The crowd was delighted at this, but in the meantime, the still
greater crowd outside the palace surged through the hall and into the
room where the queen and her children were. The National Guards quickly
rolled a table up between the queen and the mob, and stood at either
side, ready to defend them. Only a table now separated the queen from
her enemies, but she was calm and courageous and stood proudly erect
with a child on either side of her, wide-eyed at the sights they saw.
Suddenly, the queen trembled with a deathly fear. Before her stood the
man whose brawny arm had reached through the paling to grasp the
Dauphin. Simon, the cobbler, stood there, hatred and desire for revenge
on his face, and Marie Antoinette knew with a quick instinct that this
man would bring no good to her child. Then the cries of the Jacobins
rent the air and they surged into the room with the fury of wild beasts
sure of their prey.

The queen lifted the Dauphin up and set him on a table and whispered to
him that he must not grieve or fear or cry, but be a man now, and the
child smiled and kissed her hand. Just then a drunken woman flung a red
cap--the cap worn by the Jacobins--on the table, and commanded the
queen, on pain of death, to put it on.

Calmly, the queen turned to a general standing beside her and told him
to place it on her head.

The general, pale with rage at the insult, obeyed in silence and the
woman howled with pleasure. But in a moment, the general took the cap
off the queen's hair and laid it on the table.

Ever since the King had vetoed the bills, the people had called the
King, Monsieur Veto; Marie Antoinette, Madame Veto, and the Dauphin,
Little Veto, and now from all sides burst forth the cry, "The red cap
for the Dauphin! The tri-colour for little Veto!"

"If you love the nation," cried the woman to the Queen, "put the red
cap on your son."

The Queen motioned to one of the ladies to put the red cap on the
child, and he, not understanding whether it was a joke or not, stood
there in easy grace, as handsome a little prince as ever a nation had.

One of the revolutionary leaders, who had looked complacently at the
scene, now stood near the queen, and as her eyes met his in calm
defiance, he felt a thrill of pity for her and for the little Dauphin,
and when he saw the perspiration rolling down the boy's forehead from
under the thick woollen cap, he called out roughly:

"Take that cap off the child--don't you see how he sweats?"

The queen's gratified glance thanked him, as she took the cap herself
from the Dauphin's head. While this was occurring, the Mayor of Paris
had entered the outer hall and was quieting the mob, bidding them
disband and leave the palace at once, which they did.

The King sank into a chair, exhausted and agonised, and cried out:

"Where is the queen? Where are the children?" and in a moment the royal
victims were together.

The Dauphin's spirits were never long cast down and now he was bubbling
over with joy.

"Papa," he cried. "Give me a kiss! I deserve it, for I was truly brave
and did not cry or even speak when the people put the red cap on my
head."

The king stooped with a dignity which was almost reverent, kissed the
boy's broad forehead and pushed back his thick golden hair, then turned
to answer a question put by one of the representatives of the people;
several of whom were in the room. And all at once these men gathered
around the little Dauphin, of whose brilliant mind they had heard so
much, and began to question him eagerly on all kinds of subjects,
especially about the boundaries of France, and its division into
departments and districts, and every question he answered quickly.
After each answer he glanced up at his mother inquiringly, and when her
face showed that he had answered correctly, his face beamed with
pleasure, and he enjoyed seeing the astonishment on those faces
crowding around him. One of those present asked:

"Do you sing, too, Prince?"

The Dauphin glanced again at the queen.

"Mamma," he asked, "shall I sing the prayer I sang this morning?"

Marie Antoinette nodded assent and the Dauphin knelt beside her, and
folding his hands and looking up with a sweet look of reverence in his
blue eyes, sang in a clear voice:

    "Oh heaven, accept the prayer
        I offer here,
    Unto his subjects spare
        My father dear."

There was absolute silence in the room, while those faces, before so
hard and stern, softened. Then with a single glance at the lovely boy,
who was still kneeling, with a look on his face as if in a happy dream,
one by one, those revolutionists silently left the room.

But even the prayer and the faith of the Dauphin could not longer save
the royal family from their fate.

The people, inflamed to fury by every desire of which the
revolutionists could make use, now demanded the dethronement of the
King, and the giving of the crown to the Dauphin, in whose name, as he
was not yet of age, they intended to govern by means of a committee
chosen by themselves. To this the King naturally would not give his
consent, and amid scenes and sounds terrible beyond all description,
the royal family were declared prisoners of the people, and told that
they were to thereafter live in the Temple, which was now the royal
prison. As the Tuileries had already been pillaged by the mob, the
royal family found themselves without food or clothing, except what
they wore. The Dauphin was entirely destitute, but fortunately the
Duchess of Sutherland had a small son the age of the Dauphin, and she
sent the young prince what he needed in the way of clothing for their
departure. On August 13, 1792, the sad procession of royalty left the
Tuileries in the late afternoon and were escorted by a great mob of
frenzied men and women who acted more like wild beasts than like human
beings. At night-fall the carriage reached the Temple and the royal
prisoners were taken to that part of the building called "the palace,"
where they found no comforts or necessities of any kind, and torn
sheets even had to be used on the Dauphin's bed. Later while the furies
who had the prisoners in their power, were converting the principal
tower of the building, not only into a prison, but into the worst one
imaginable, the king and his family continued to remain in the palace
during the day time, but at night, they were all shut up in the small
tower--in four cells whose doors were guarded by soldiers. Two men who
had been for years in the service of the king, were allowed to remain
with him, and they and their sovereigns passed the time in such
occupations as were possible. The King found his principal pleasure
in superintending the Dauphin's education, giving him lessons every
morning, then at one o'clock if the weather was fine, the royal
family would all go into the garden, and the Dauphin would play ball
or quoits or run races, as was suitable for his age and activity of
body. At two o'clock dinner was served, and afterwards, the Dauphin
again had a play hour while the king enjoyed a nap. As soon as he
awoke, Clery, who had been with the Dauphin for several years, would
give him writing and arithmetic lessons, and then he would play ball
or battledore-and-shuttlecock for awhile, and then there would be
reading aloud until it was time for the Dauphin's supper, after
which the king would amuse his children with all sorts of riddles
and puzzles and games, and then the Dauphin went to bed.

Little Louis was seven and a half years old when he was first shut up
in the Temple, and in those months the king taught him to recite
poetry, to draw maps and to make use of arithmetic, but his lessons in
arithmetic had to be discontinued because an ignorant guard noticed the
multiplication tables that the Prince was learning and reported that he
was being taught to speak and write in cipher. One of the king's men
was removed from the Temple because it was said that he had used
hieroglyphics in order to make secret correspondence between the king
and queen easier, and even his explanation that the figures he had made
use of were only arithmetic tables which he laid by the Dauphin's
bedside every night before retiring, that the young prince might
prepare his lesson before breakfast, did not pacify his accusers. So
little Louis Charles was taught no more arithmetic, but he continued to
learn eagerly all that was offered his quick retentive mind to
assimilate. His playfulness and mischievous pranks were a great comfort
to the failing spirits of the king and queen, and the tact he showed in
his manner and words were nothing less than wonderful in so young a
boy. He never mentioned Versailles or the Tuileries or anything which
would rouse sad memories in the minds of his parents, but seemed to be
constantly on his guard to protect them both from any hints of sorrow
which he could prevent.

The royal prisoners were soon removed to the principal tower of the
Temple, where the Dauphin occupied a room with the king, until after
Louis was taken away for trial, when the Dauphin was placed in his
mother's care, and after that time he saw his father only once. The
king was condemned to death. Having foreseen it, calmly he had accepted
the decree, asking only that he might see his family once to say
farewell. This privilege was granted and during the scene which lasted
almost two hours, little Louis, born to inherit not glory but
misfortune, held his father in his arms and kissed and comforted him in
the fashion of a strong man rather than a little child. He did not
understand causes, but he saw effects, and he was brave because mamma
and papa needed someone beside them, who smiled, and so he held tears
back until the time when they were a natural consequence of the final
parting with his loved father.

And now little Louis was no longer the Dauphin, but rightful King of
France--King of France, only think of it, and scarcely eight years old!
Marie Antoinette, from the hour of separation from her husband devoted
her entire strength and time to the education of her child, the little
King. She felt she had no time to lose, and every moment of the day was
made to serve some useful end. Even the games he played had each a
purpose. It was a touching sight to see him leaning his elbows on a
tiny table, absorbed in reading the history of France, then eagerly
telling what he had read, and commenting on it. The queen made a
special point of talking to the little King of his royal office, told
him of his father's gentleness and mercy to his enemies, and made him
promise to be as merciful if he should ever reign, and he soon was made
to feel that greatness comes not with titles, but with character, and
once in his sleep was heard to murmur:

"I will be good and kind; for I am king." Poor little Louis!

At this time there were wars and rumours of wars outside the walls of
the Temple. Plots to liberate the queen and her son and to restore
little Louis to the throne were set on foot by friends of the royal
family, and though one and all failed of execution, they vitally
affected the young king's life. When the plots were discovered by which
Louis was to be abducted and publicly declared king, the revolutionists
became so fearful that the plan might be really carried out, that they
decided it was unwise to let him remain with his mother any longer, and
the decree went forth that the son of Louis Sixteenth was to be taken
from his mother and sister, and given into the care of a tutor to be
chosen by the committee representing the people.

The queen was driven almost to madness by this unexpected decree, and
when men came to take Louis away from her and carry him to another part
of the Tower, she frantically placed herself in front of his bed, and
insisted that he should not be taken, but power and force were on the
wrong side, and at last, the officers tore the child from his mother's
arms and carried him dazed and trembling with fright to his new
apartment.

King of France was little Louis in title, but the most lonely, most
frightened of all children in the land. For two days and two nights he
refused food and held out his arms to his so-called tutor, constantly
pleading to be taken back to his mother and sister. And who was his
"tutor"? No other than Simon, the cobbler, he whose brawny arms had
once stopped the Dauphin's way in the garden of the Tuileries. Simon
and his wife had been chosen to guard and care for the little King of
France, because they were staunch revolutionists who could be relied on
to protect the interests of their party. Historians differ in their
accounts of the treatment of the young King by this rough couple, but
it seems pretty sure now that during their stay in the Temple they were
not altogether cruel to little Louis. He was allowed to play both in
his rooms and in the garden, had a billiard table, and a case of
mechanical birds for his amusement, and when he grieved for his
sister's companionship, another little companion of his own age was
found to play with him, and it is also known that during his two
sicknesses, Simon and his wife cared for him with as much devotion as
if he had been their own child. Whether this was because of the fine
salary attached to the position, or from some native kindness
underneath his coarse rough exterior, we do not know, but be this as it
may, Simon evidently gave only such measure of cruelty to his charge as
was insisted on by those who employed him, and it was doubtless, they
who forced Simon to do what he did to destroy the child's mental and
bodily faculties. Louis was made to share their political opinions, to
imitate their coarse manners and even to sing their revolutionary
songs, while in place of the mourning he had worn for his father, he
now wore the coarsest garments and the red cap of the Jacobins, and was
often made to drink and eat far more than was good for him, until at
last he was in a condition of body and mind such as his tormentors
desired, when he could be made a tool to suit their own ends, because
of his weakened and abnormal condition.

No page of history is written in so black an ink nor with so many blots
as that on which is recorded the imprisonment and torture of little
Louis Seventeenth, the King who never reigned, and no page of history
offers a more bewildering puzzle for solution, from the moment of his
being taken from his mother's care--a puzzle to which there have been
more answers, and about which as much mystery hangs, as about any other
incident on the pages of history, and no page has been oftener read and
re-read than this which offers for solution the problem of the ending
of this little King who never reigned.

We see him last as a prisoner; thin, haggard, sick unto death, with no
sparkle in his lustreless eyes, no motion in his swollen joints, no
pretty retort on his lips as of old, and with a sigh we turn from the
ghastly sight to the pages of French history where we again read in
detail the accounts of his life and death, and then it is for us to
decide upon our answer to this riddle which offers more than one
solution.

Louis Seventeenth of France, in his ninth year, was imprisoned by the
revolutionists and subjected to every kind of torture that a human
being could be made to suffer. As a result of that treatment, and of
loneliness and cruelty, did he pine and sicken and die a natural death
as some accounts say?

Did he, as some say, deliberately resist all the attempts made by his
persecutors to enter into conversation with him, by maintaining a
complete silence of fifteen months; or had a dumb child been put in his
place by friends who had secretly rescued the real little king from his
prison, and hidden him in a garret room of the Temple until they could
safely liberate him? Then finding the dumb child too healthy to suit
their plans, did they, as it is said, replace him by a very sick child,
who died in the room where the little king was supposed to be
imprisoned, and announce his death to the French nation as that of
Louis Seventeenth, the royal prisoner? While the poor little substitute
was lying in what was supposedly the coffin of little Louis, had the
real King been given a strong dose of opium, and hurriedly placed in
the coffin, instead of the substitute, as has been said?

Was the dead substitute carried hastily to the room in the Tower where
the little King had been hidden, while Louis himself, alive and well,
was being carried in the coffin to the cemetery? It has been said that
the carriage in which the coffin was carried had been especially
arranged for this scheme, and that while being driven to the cemetery,
Louis was taken from the coffin, and placed in a box under the seat of
the carriage, while the coffin was filled with papers that it might not
seem too light when the bearers carried it to its final resting-place.

Is it true, do you think, that when the young King awoke from the
effects of the drug he had been given, he found himself in a strange
place, in a bed in a clear bright room, alone with a faithful woman who
knew and loved him? And the plot to rescue him having been immediately
discovered, was he hastily sent out of Paris in disguise, while to put
his enemies on the wrong trail, another little boy was sent with his
parents under the name of Louis, in another direction?

And in spite of the terrible sickness he had, as the consequence of all
he had endured, did Louis Seventeenth of France, actually live and
escape, to grow up a free citizen in a free country where were neither
kings, queens nor tyranny, but liberty, equality and fraternity, not in
word but in truth? Who can say positively when so much has been
affirmed on all sides of the much argued question?

Difficult, indeed, it is to decide whether little Louis Seventeenth,
the Dauphin of France, the king who never reigned, died in the Temple,
a victim of the Reign of Terror, or escaped to new lands and a new
life.

As we turn the pages of history and read the thrilling story, let each
decide for himself the fate of the courageous, charming little
sovereign. Each must study out the mystery, and solve the riddle if he
can. And whatever one may read or decide, there in the church of the
Madeleine in Paris, may be found this memorial to the little King who
never reigned.

                  IN MEMORY
                     of
                 LOUIS XVII
                     WHO
     AFTER HAVING BEHELD HIS ILLUSTRIOUS
                   PARENTS
            SWEPT AWAY BY A DEATH
       WHICH SORROW REFUSES TO RECOUNT
       AND AFTER HAVING DRAINED TO THE
                  VERY DREGS
             THE CUP OF ADVERSITY
            WAS, WHILE STILL YOUNG
        AND ALMOST ON LIFE'S THRESHOLD
       CUT DOWN BY THE SCYTHE OF DEATH
      HE DIED JUNE VIII--M. DCC. LXXXXV.
    HE LIVED X YEARS, II MONTHS & XII DAYS




EDWARD THE BLACK PRINCE:

The Boy Warrior


Many of you who have visited Queens College, Oxford, will have seen
there, hanging in the gallery above the hall, an old engraving of a
quaint vaulted room, where it is said the greatest soldier of his age
lived while a student in the college.

This afterwards famous student, who was then about twelve years old was
Edward Plantagenet, Prince of Wales, later called the Black Prince. He
was also sometimes called the Prince of Woodstock, doubtless, from the
fact that he was born in the old palace at Woodstock, in 1330.

He was the son of Edward Third and Queen Philippa, and was one of those
rare persons who combine in their characters qualities of both his
father and mother. Everyone knows the story of the siege of Calais,
when the sternness of King Edward and the gentleness of Queen Philippa
were so strikingly shown, and it was the union of those two qualities
which gave their son, Edward, that high place which he justly occupies,
not only among our English princes, but in the history of all Europe.

He was undoubtedly sent to Queens College, not only because it was the
most famous college of that day, but also because it took its name from
his mother, Queen Philippa, having been founded by her chaplain.

There, at Queens College, we first see the young prince, and although
six hundred years have gone by since then, many of the customs of
to-day were those of young Edward's time as well. The students then
were called to dinner by the blast of a trumpet as they are to-day, and
then, as now, the Fellows (or post graduates) all sat on one side of
the table, with the Head of the college in their midst, in imitation of
the pictures of the Last Supper.

The prince must have seen, too, some customs which we know prevailed in
his day, but do not see in ours. Thirteen lame, deaf, blind and maimed
beggars came each morning into the college hall to receive their
portion of food for the day. The porter of the college made his rounds
early every morning, to shave the beards and wash the heads of the
Fellows, but these and many other quaint customs have perished long ago
and still the picture of the Black Prince hangs on the college wall.
Tradition tells us that while the proud young prince was receiving such
education as befitted his rank in life, a poor boy in the shabbiest of
clothes and forgetful of everything except the books and study he
loved, was at Queens College too. The characters and lives of John
Wycliff, the great reformer, and Edward the Black Prince, were indeed
opposite, but it is interesting to feel that they were educated in the
same place, that possibly once in youth, their lives touched, although
in later days, one was great in the making of peace and one in the
making of war.

The young prince may have been studious, but he also doubtless took
advantage of all such diversions as Oxford life offered, and it is
natural to picture him in drill and hunt and sports such as were best
fitted to his manly vigour, and foreshadowed his enthusiasm in later
days for the strenuous game of war.

A mere lad at Queens, we see him first--then a youth, out in the great
world watching with keenest interest the doings of courtiers and king,
and then we find him a young knight, following the king, his father, in
his first great campaign, and a fine young warrior he was both in looks
and character, fearless and strong in his black armour which threw into
sharp contrast the fairness of his complexion. A brave, handsome young
knight was he, Edward Plantagenet, at the time when the English people
under King Edward became inspired with a passion for continental
dominion.

The Normans had conquered England and now the English were eager to go
out and themselves become conquerors, and to further that ambition King
Edward and his army set out and ravaged Normandy, pillaging and
plundering their way almost to the gates of Paris, and their march was
perfectly consistent with the feudal manner of waging war, which was to
desolate the country through which they passed, to burn any town that
resisted invasion, and to plunder its inhabitants even though they
peacefully submitted to the invaders. In this way, King Edward and his
army, which included the young Prince Edward and many other noblemen,
passed through Normandy, burning and devastating land and property as
they went, and they advanced up the left bank of the Seine--their
object being, to cross the river at Rouen and then march on to Calais,
where they were to be joined by an army of Flemish archers. But their
plans received a sudden checkmate.

Philip, the King of France, was at Rouen before them, and had not only
encamped on the right bank of the river, but had destroyed the bridges
and set guards over all the fords of which the English might make use
in crossing.

The English were in a very dangerous position, whether they retreated
or went forward. They were separated from the Flemish allies by not
only the Seine, but the Somme River, and Philip with his army, which
was daily increasing in numbers, was marching towards Calais on the
right bank of the Seine, as were Edward and his army on the left bank.

Edward was as firm in his purpose to meet and defeat the enemy, as was
Philip in his, and Edward determined to press on at all odds and face
and conquer the French forces, and fortune favoured him.

With extreme difficulty, finally, at low tide, he was able to cross the
Somme whither Philip was eager to follow, but before Philip's forces
were ready to cross the river, the tide had turned, and he was obliged
to wait till morning, while Edward now already on the other side of the
river, was pressing forward into the country of Ponthieu, which had
been part of the marriage portion of his mother, Isabella of France. It
was for this special reason, some historians say, that King Edward
encamped there, in the forest of Crecy, fifteen miles from Abbeville,
saying:

"Let us take here some plot of ground, for we will go no further till
we have seen our enemies."

He also added:

"I am on the right heritage of Madam, my mother, which was given her in
dowry. I will defend it against my adversary, Philip of Valois."

We do not, of course, know his motives positively, but we may be pretty
sure that he would not have been so eager to defend his mother's
possessions, had he not felt sure that it would be to his advantage to
do so. Accordingly he and his forces encamped in the little village of
Crecy, behind which the ground rises into a broad ridge and from here
could be seen the surrounding country through which the French army
must advance, and the young prince eagerly strained his eyes in search
of the advancing enemy, so eager was he to take part in a real battle.

At midnight, when all the army had been cared for and suitably arranged
in their tents, King Edward lay down for a much needed rest, but was up
again at dawn, when he and the young prince, not only heard mass but
also received the sacrament, and we can fancy how that solemn preface
to a day which proved so momentous to the Black Prince, must have
lingered long in his memory as a sacred recollection.

It was Saturday, the 26th of August, 1346 when King Edward drew his men
up in three divisions--one commanded by the prince, assisted by the
Earls of Warwick and Oxford, which division consisted of eight hundred
men at arms, two thousand archers and one thousand Welsh-men. The
second division under Lords Arundel and Northampton had only eight
hundred men at arms, twelve hundred archers

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