The Empire County argus., 1856-11-08
The E'cur He nries.


The following tale is translated from the French.
1t contains the account Of rather strange renconter
OF four individuals, who made themselves prominent
in France during the middle and end of the sixteenth
century, and is as follows:
One stormy evening as the rain fell in torrents an
old woman who lived in a miserable hut in the For
est of St. German, and who passed in the surround
ing country for kind of witch, heard loud knock
ing at her door, She opened it, a young man on
horseback presented himself, and craved hospitality.
BY the dull light of lamp which she held in her
hand, she perceived him to be young nobleman.
He appeared to be quite young and his dress denoted
rank. The old woman lighted fire, and inquired of
the stranger whether he hungry and desired food
The appetite of youth of sixteen is like his heart
at the age, craving, and not difficult to please
and he Immediately accepted her offer. A morsel Of
cheese and loaf Of black bread from the cupboard
was all the old dame could propuce.
"l have nothing more" said she to the young no
beman; this is all that your grinding tithes and
taxes leave poor creature to offer traveller; the
peasants, too, in this country, call me witch and
sorceress, and make that excuse to their conscences
for stealing from me the little that my poor old field
produces"
"Ma fol-" said the young man, " if ever become
King of Fronce, will suppress the taxes, and teach
the people BETTER
God grant it !" replied the old woman.
AT these words the gentleman drew to the table to
commence HIS replSU Out at Lne same moment q
fresh knock at the door arrested him.
The old woman opened it, and preceived another
horseman, drenched with rain, who also begged for
shelter The same hospitality was instantly granted
him. and on the strangers entrance she preceved that
he to was young, and Judging from his appearance
of noble descent.
"What is it you. Herry?" cried one.
Yes, Henry" replied the other both were named
Henry
The old woman discovered from their convorco +ion
that they were of the numcer ofa large hunting par
ty, conducted by the King, Charles IX., which had
been dispersed by the storm.
Mother" said the second, officer, have you moth
ing better to offer us 2"
Nothing" replied She
"Then" said he, we will go shares
The first Henry demurred, but glanclng at the res
olute eye and strong frame of the second Henry,
said, in a somewhat chagrned tone
Agreed; we will go shares"
He dared not express his secret motive, but he
feared, if not sharing equally, his companion would
appropriate the whole They accordingly sat down
on opposite sides of the table, and one had already
begun to cut the bread with his dagger when third
knock was heard at the door, The meeting was in
deed singular. 1t was again youth nobleman,
and Henry. The old woman looked at them with
amazement.
The first conner wished to hide the bread and cheese,
the second replaced them on the table, and laid his
sword by the side. The third Henry smiled.
You do not wish then that l should share your
supper" said he. "Well, can wait, have strong
stomach
"The supper" said the first Henry, belongs, by
right to the first conner"
"No," said the second, it belongs to him who can
best defend it,
The third Henry became red with anger, and said
haughty:
Perhaps it belongs to him who knows best how
to fight for it..
These words were scarcely uttered, when the first
Henry drew his poignard, the two Others their
swords. AS they were just beginning the fray, they
were startled by fourth knock at the cabin door.
fourth young man, fourth nobleman, fourth
Henry, is introduced At the sight of drawn swords
he produced his own, and attaching himself to the
weakest party, he joined in the combat.
The old woman, terrified, hid herself and the blades
strike every thing in their reach The lamp fell down
and was extingusned, but they continued to fight in
the darkness The noise of the swords lasted some
tme then gradually became less and at length ceased
altogether. Then the old woman ventured to issue
forth from her hiding place, and reghting the lamp,
she perceived the four young men stretched on the
ground each having a slight wound She examined
them carefully, and found that fatigue, rather than
loss of blood, had overcome them
They rose from the ground one after the other and
ashamed of what had transpired in the heat OF pas
sion, they began laughing and exclaimed:
"Come let US now sup together, without fighting
more"
But when they came to look for their supper, they
found it on the ground all trodden under foot and
stained with blood. Meager it was they regretted
it. In addition to this the cabin was destroyed and
the old WITCH seated in corner, fixed her pale red
eyes on the four young men.
"Why dost thou stare on us thus?" said the first
Harry who war trOuhlpd at her oaza