Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-01-28

laying waste the entire country, swell
ing the waters of its mighty rivers, an
sometimes overthrowing houses and eve
villages in its deva stating course. Yvo
approached the window. The night ha
tar advanced, and every lamp and tore
being extinguished by the rushing of tha
mighty wind, he ceuld discern no object
In the dark street; but he heard the raj,
laiilng In torrents-the roaring of tn
Scheldt, which, having overhowed it
banks, was forming a track for itsel
through the lower quarter Of the city
and the fearful howl of the tempest, as i
swept through the deserted streets. Du
ring the whole of that long Octobe
night, the fearful hurricane continued; bu
at length it lulled, and the morning
dawned, bright and clear, on the seen,
OF its fury-on the flooded streets, ana
the terrible faces of their panic-stricker
inhabitants. But although, in the sur.
rounding country, hamlets and home
steads had been swept away by the mighty
torrent, little injury, comparatively speak
ing. had been done in the town; and the
citizens, after few words of commiser
alton for the sufferers, repaired as usual
to their daily avocations. 80.
Those, however, who first passed
through the open space in front of the
Cathedral, noticed that the iron cross on
the summit of its steeple had been bent
by the hurricane, and now diverged con-
siderably from its former upright posi-
ton. The intelligence was soon spread
through the town, and crowd assembled
quickly in front of the old church, for
the citizens of Antwerp were Justly proud
OF their magnificent steeple, and of the
gigantic cross which crowned its summit.
In those days, when the love of art
reigned supreme, every considerable Fle-
mish city boasted of some monument
peculiarly its own; and while Ghent dis
played its gigantic belfry, surmounted by
the byzantine Dragon, taken during the
Crusades, Louvain its Gothic town. ball
and Bruges its magnificent market places,
Antwerp justly gleried in its Cathedral,
the pre-eminence of which, as a work of
art, none had ever ventured to dispute.
While the citizens assembled in the
square, and on the Groom Kerckhof, eazed
mournfully on the arrow-like steeple, on
the summit of which stood the bended
cross, and asked each other how it could
be righted-who would be found daring
enough to venture on that narrow
pinnacle, which seemed as if no human
art could reach it-while hardy sailors,
whose lives had been spent in perils, and
to whom storm and sunshine had seemed
alike, while engaged in the arduous du-
ties of their calling, shuddered as they
looked up, and thought of the danger Of
such an enterprise-the sound of trum-
pet was heard, and two mounted heralds
appeared at the entrance of the square.
Silence, having been obtained, they spurred
their horses on to the front of the church,
and one Gf them, reverently uncoyering
his head, read, in loud and sonorous
voice, the following proclamation
''To the good citizens, tradeSmen, and
inhabitants ofthe City of Antwerp-We,
the burgomasters and eschevins of the
same, make known, by this present pro-
clamation, that we have resolved on CIV
ing reward of five hundred golden crowns
to whomsoever, citizen Or otherwise, shall
restore to its former position the iron cross
on the Cathedral tower. Fiue hundred
golden froarns! Citizens and inha bitants !.
should any among you wish to strive for
this magnificent reward, let him present
himself now before the escheyins assem-
bled in the town hall ~
There was pause-for some time no
one answered to the appeal; but just as
the heralds wereabout to leave the square,
in order to repeat the proclamation in
another part of the city, the crowd sud-
denly divided, and a young man, in plain
working-dress, passed through it, and re-
solutely ascended the steps leading to the
town-hall. All eyes were fixed on him
with eager curiosity. A coarse woollen
cap concealed nothing of his extreme but
delicate beauty-the somewhat feminine
expression of his features was redeemed
by the courage and resolution which
beamcd In his dark blue eyes. The citi-
zens thronged towards the steps of the
town-hall, and soon the herals re-appear-
ed, and read second proclamation
''To the good citizens, tradesmen, and
inhabitants of the City of Antwerp-We,
the burgomasters and eschevins of the
same, make known, by this our procla.
nation, that Yvon Burggemaur, working
blacksmith, and free citizen. has bound
himself, before us, this % day of October,
1870, to restore our iron cross to its
former position on the Cathedral tower,
and has engaged to accomplish the task,
with the blessings of God, at noon to-
morrow. We therefore do earnestly en-.
treat and command all citizens and others,
who may be present at that time to re-
frain from troubling the said Yvon Brugge-
maur, by cries, charms, or malicious in
reference of any kind; but on the con-
trary, to give him, as far as in them
lies, every aid and assistance which he
may require in the accomplishment of his
work. In the name of God, and of Our
Lady"
When the appointed time drew near,
Yvon, having donned his best suit, ap.
preached the bed of his mother, and, with
more animation in his countenance than
she had seen there for many months, be-
sought her blessing. Ignorant of what
was going on, she smiled affectionately
on her son, and laid her trembling hand
on his golden hair.
"Whither art thou going, my son 2
Thou art dressed in thy best, and this is
but weekday"
Il gotO SEEK for work, dearest mother, ="
replied he, endeavoring to conceal his
| tots stT fool ,,,,