Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-04-08

on entered, thou hast grown gray III my
service: but have to ask of thee stron-
ger proof of Loyalty and fidelity than has ev-
er vet been required Thou art at liberty
to decline it,"
81 am your faithful slave unto death, my
lord"
"To thy death-or-another's asked
the king, in a low tone.
Either or BOTH" was the unhesitatng
reply
"Thou dost not falter 2"
The baron knelt at his masters feet, and
took solemn oath to devote himself body
and soul to his service.
"Listen, them" resumed Basilius I" the
boy, mine only son, whom his lost mother
prayed me, with her latest breath, to protect,
cannot cast him off cannot slay him 7"
Clotad gazed in bewildered establishment,
as if he doubted the evidence of his senses.
The king appeared not to notice his emotion.
Yes the infant now so feeble and help
less, is destined-I have read it in the stars
to prove in after years a monster of in
gratitude, scourge to his people, a curse to
the earth !"
The baron started and grew pale, but ven-
tured no answer.
{" All my observations and calculations be-
fore his birth, pointed to the same result
My labors on that fatal night, and the indi-
cations of the time of his birth, but confirm
ed my worst fears. He will grow up a wild
beast rather than man He will trample
on my subjects--he will rebel against his fa-
ther-he will set his foot upon my neckw
Clotald listened in appalled, silence. At
length he said" Is it your pleasure, my
liege, that he be removed 2"
Stay him not" answered the deep voice
of the king. He is yet innocent there
is no stain yet upon his soul. Let as keep
him thus till he is fitted to reign. Many
leagues from hence have castle where
thou and he may dwell in security Some
trusty followers shall go with thee. Depart
to-night-but first have the prince baptized
1t shall be announced to all that he is dead
that thus he may grow up in ignorance of
his birth, and no murmuring be caused a.
mong the people"
The commands of Basiius were obeyed
The baron departed secretly with the prince
and few soldiers, and the whole court and
capital were called upon to mourn the death
of the heir to the crown. The body, as it
was pretended, was laid in the same tomb
with the queen. In those days ofimperfect
civilization there was little communication
between one part of the kingdom and anoth-
er, SO that fraud which would now be inn
possible was then easily accomplished.
Seven days journey from the capital, in a
wild valley enclosed by rocky mountains,
stood an ancient castle, so rudely built that
it seemed rather pile of rocks thrown to-
Gether from the steep monntainsthan a bull
ding shaped by the hand of man. The in
terror was somewhat more seemly, and not
deficient in convenience, though it was no
abode for luxury In this secluded and SOL
itary dwelling the young Prince Sigismund
(that was the name he received at his bap-
tism) spent the years of his childhood, with
his faithful guardian the Baron Clotald, and
the militery men appointed for the security
of the royal captive. The secret of his
birth was not entrusted to them they knew
only that it was their business to guard an
important state prisoner, and that death
would be the penalty of any neglect or vio-
lation of their trust.
The education of the young prince de-
volved entirely upon Clotald, who instructed
him not only in all manly exercises and the
edge-then little cultivated-in which it be-
hoved monarch to be skilled-for the pos
sibility of his inheriting the throne was nev-
er lost sight of by his father or tutor Eve
ny month the baron despatched a trusty
messenger to Basilius with news of his son,
and to report his advancement in his studies.
From these regular accounts the king
learned that his sons improvement in per-
sonal strength and mental accomplishments
was truly remarkable-th his quickness OF
understanding and love of knowledge, with
his courage and independence, justified the
fairest hopes in his preceptor AT the same
time, he learned that the temper of the
young man was wild and headstrong that
his passions outstripped the wind that in
obstinacy and ferocity, when provoked, he
was an object of terror to all who knew not
how to control him. 1t was but too evident,
in short, that they had reason to dread the
fulflment of the destiny predicted by his
horoscope.
Prince Sigismund on his part, had nc
other amusement when his tasks were over
than to watch the driving clouds or follow
the eagles flight, or stand by the stream that
rushed through the depths of the valley
Sometimes he would leave his chamber al
night and go forth into the open air to gaze
at the gittering stars, every one of which
was world peopled by his ardent magma
ton. Sometimes he would murmur at his
fate. "The fish," he would say, "glide un
restrained through the waters; the birds are
not chained as they soar through the air
the stream, the winds are free the lightning
has no master. Am ! not nobler than these
Why then should be fettered? What have
done that / alone must be deprived of lib
erty 2"
The kings heart bled when these words
were repeated to him. But the long sus
pense was to be ended. Sigismund was o
an age suitable for trial, Baslius called to
! gether the members of his council, disclos
ed to them all that he had done, and announ
ced that his son yet lived,
The information was received with enthu
siasm. "Give us our prince p was the gen
eral cry. 4" He only shall be our sovereign
when you, our liege lord, are gathered t.
the tomb %
Basiius answered gravely-"I If my sol
prove worthy to reign over you, the crow
shall be his; if he be unworthy, then m
sisters son, Ivan, Duke of Moskau, and Fla
! niskv Princess If Poland ebaU share A.