Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-08-18
Under the specious cloak of jealous affec.

ton of large reward, made this second
Judas resolve to sacrifice his honor to his
ambition, and, for the sake of few ducats,
violate the most sacred laws of hospitality,
by betraying his guest. In pursuance OF
that base resolution, he went straight to one
of Christians officers commanding in the
province, and informed him that Gustavus
was his prisoner. Having committed this
treachery, he had not courage to face his
victim and telling the Dane how TO sur
prise the prince who, he said believed hlm-
self to be under the protection of friend
shame to manhood, to dare to confess that
he could betray such a confidence he pro-
posed taking wider circuit home, while
they, apparently, unknown to him, rifled it
of its treasure. 1T will be an easy matter,
said he, 'for not even my wife knows that
it is Gustavus.'
Accordingly, the officers, at the head
of party of well-armed soldiers, marched
directly for the lake. The men invested
the house, while the leader, abruptly en-
tering, found Peterson's wife, according to
the fashion of those days, imployed in Gu
linary preparations. At some distance from
her sat young man, IN rustic garb, lop-
ping off the knots from the broken branch
of tree. The officer went up to her, and
told her he came in king Christians name
to demand the rebel Gustavus, who he
knew was concealed under her roof. The
dauntless woman never changed color; she
Immediately guessed the man whom her
husband had introduced as miners son,
to be the Swedish hero. The door was
blocked up by soldiers. In an instant she
replied, without once glancing at Gustavus,
who sat motionless with surprise: Ifyou
mean the melancholy gentleman my hus-
band has here these few days, he has just
walked out into the wood on the other side
of the hill. Some of those soldiers may
readily seize HIM, as he has no arms with
him.
"The officer did not suspect the easy
simplicity of her manner, and ordered part
of the men to 90 in quest of him. AT that
moment suddenly turning her eyes on
Gustavus, she flew up to him, and, catch
ing the stick out of his hand, exclaimed, in
an angry voice 'Unmannerly wretch! What!
sit before your betters3 Don't you see the
kings officers IN the room. Get out ofmy
sight, or some of them shall give you drub-
bingr As she spoke she struck him blow
in the back with all her strength and o.
pening a sldc-door There get into the
scullery,' cried she 'it is the fttest place
for such companyp and giving him anoth-
er knock, she flung the stick after him, and
shut the door. Sure added she, in great
heat, never woman was plagued with such
lout of slave !
"The officer begged she would not dis
turb herself on his account; but she, affect
ing great reverence for the king, and re-
ssect for his representative, prayed him to
enter her parlor while she brought some re-
freshment. The Dane civilly complied
perhaps glad enough to get from the side
of shrew; and she Immediately fastened
to Gustavus, whom she had bolted in and,
by means of back-passage, conducted him
in moment to certain little apartment,
which projected from the side of the house
close to the bank of the lake where the fish.
er's boats lay; she lowered him down the
convenient aperture in the seat, and giving
him direction to an honest curate across
the lake, committed him TO Providence
After making this narrow escape, Gusta-
vus was not long in efecting the lndepend-
ance of Sweden He took the opport'ni-
ty of festival, at which the peasants of
the canton assembled, and appeared in the
midst of them. His noble and confident
air, his mlsfortunes, and the general hatred
against Christian, all lent an irresistible
power to his words. The people rushed to
arms; and, emboldened by his success, the
Dalecarlians-who may be called the High
landers of Sweden-hocked together under
the banners Of the conqueror. From this
moment, Gustavus entered upon career
of victory. At the head Of self-raised ar
my, he advanced rapidly, and completed
the expulsion of the enemy. The Estates
first conferred upon him the title of admin.
istrator, and afterwards proclaimed him as
king. Gustavus. however, was not amblti-
Gus of sovereignty, and would rather have
remained an elective president, notwith-
standing his claims of birth. 1t was not
without sufficient reason that he hesitat-
ed to accept the office ofking. At this pc
riod (1522) Europe was torn with religious
dissensions, and the reigning monarchs had
an extremely delicate and Difficult! task in
preserving balance betwixt the advocates
Of the reformed doctrines and their adver-
series. The behavior of Gustavus upon
this occasion is acknowledged to be exceed
ingly prudent. He effected the establish
ment of reformed usages to the satisfaction
of all parties. After performing this import
ant duty, he perfected the legislation form
ed by his taste and judgment, Industry and
learning, and extended commerce. After
glorious rel ign of thirty-seven years, he
died in 1860, at the mature age of seventy.
What became of Sweden after the death
of this extraordinary man, is question
which may be asked. 1t continued mon
archy under his descendants till 1909, when
the reigning monarh, Gustavus w., was
expelled from the kingly office for repeated
acts of folly and bad government. A COL
lateral branch of the family ascended the
throne; but death carrying off the crown
prince, in 1910, the Estates made choice
of Bernadotte, one of Bonaparte's generals,
as sovereign, and this eminent individual
became king of Sweden-which is now u
nited with Norway-under the title of
Charles XIV. His son is now the reign
ing monarch. In the meanwhile, the ex-
PEELED imbecile, Gustavus w., became an
eccentric religious fanatic, and for some
years furnished amusement to the country
circles of the continent. His son, we be-
lieve, is lieutenant-colonel in the Austri-
an service, and takes the name OF Gustav
son.
Hot SuMMER.-ln IT'S it did not rain
or IL al,