Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1846-05-16
The iast Hours OF st. Lou,s of France.

The Iest Hours OF st. Lou,s OF France.
On the sixteenth Of March, 1910, he left Pa. |
ris for the sea shore; on the lst July he sailed
from France. The sad, sad story Of this his las,
earthly doing need not be here repeated. Led,
we scarce know why, to sail to Tunis with.
out wishing it, involved in an unjust and cruel
war with the Moors delayed by the tardiness
of his able but abomiDable brother, Charles Of
Anjou and seeing daily his army melt away
beneath the heat of the climate, thirst, hunger
pestilence, and the Moorish arrows; it was too
certain that the last of the crusaders was draw
ing near his end. From his resting place, the
castle of Carthage, Louis could look out upon
the burning sands of the shore, the molten sea,
the sky of FURNISHED brass; he could watch
the southern winds sweep the sharp dust ofthe
desert into the camp his followers; could be-
hold the African horsemen lowering around his
devoted troops. destroying every s,raggler.
Leaning with his thin. feeble hands upon the
battements, he looked toward the bay were
floatcd the ship in which his favorite son lay
sick, s,riken by the plague which was consum.
ing 60 many: which even then had fastened u.
pom the kings own blood With fearful. an
xious, ye, patient and confiding eyes, he watch.
ed the vessel just moving in the roll of the bay
under that August sun, and prayed TO God and
Jesus tha, his son might live, and his brother
| quickly come. His prayer was not granted;
on the third of August the Count of Nevers
| IL 81 oil IL Ipa usosf Toll IN
| his father: on tho morning Of the 25th the
feet OF Charles of Aniou had not yet appeared
Meanwhile, the poison in the veins of the mo-
march had through twenty.one days been work.
or die. From his sick.bed he had sent mes
ssgcs Of comfort and resignation TO the sick a.
round him on his bed OF weakness and pain
he had fuished those advices to his successor
which should be engraved in adamant, and Civ
en- TO every king and kings son to grow better
by. Hold to justice,' such are some OF his
words; be iniiexible and true, turning neither
to the right hand nor the left, and sustain the
cause of the poor until Justice be done him. II
any ont has to do with thee, be for him and
against lhyself Beware of beginning war,
and if it be begun, spare the Church
and the innocent. Appease all quartels that
thou cansl Procure good officers, and see thu,
they DO their duty. Keep thy expenses with
in bounds
$50 passed the closing hours of the French
king. During the night Of the twenty. fourth
OF August, he asked to be taken from his bed
and laid, unworthy sinner as he was, ona bed
OF ashes. His request was complied with; ant
so he lay, his hands crossed, his eyes fixed II
pom the suffering form of his Saviour, unit
: some three hours after the next midday. Those
who sat by and saw how hs breath faie'
, him, drew the curtains of the window to admi
the slph. breeze that curled the waters Of tn
? bay, and looked out. carelessly, into the Angus
$ afternoon. Aar of, feet was just coming il
+. sight, the long expected fleet of Anjou. Wit
beating hearts they kneit and told the royal in
valid on his couch of ashes but his ear wa
4 deaf, his eye li'cess, his jaw fallen Max
( ready your spices to emba'm his body, poor
, threadbare garment that il is and issue you
! bulls to embalin his memory as saint for a
i. such already his name is aromatic in the mouth
, Of en.'-Norh Ame, lean Reliew.