Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1859-04-08
MISCELLANY Y.
Twice welded.
A TRUE STORY.

On the crowded soil of Europe, scarcely
tree or rock but has its story, and many
a little stream far too small for ordinary
maps keeps in its liquid murmur an echo OF
/ joys more brilliant, and of sorrows more
| tragical, than ever were invented by the
most sportive fancy. The rapid Mehaigne
Gembloux and Namur, it crosses district
called Hesbaye, and joins the Meuse above
Huy, at the faubourg Of Static. Its scene
ry is delightful. Picturesque villages, wav-
ing forests, rich meadows, and the rHias Of
chateaux and castles, present succession
of pictures which lnger long in the memo
ry. Among the most interesting of the
latter is that of Moha, single dismantled
tower, standing upon hill which rises alb
ruprly from the valley. Luxuriant ivy
hangs about it in heavy mass, binding 20
gether its tottering stones, defying the winds
with which ii plays, and crowning with its
garlands the home of the youthful chate-
laine, whose history is perhaps the most
touching of all those which illustrate the
course of this dashing river.
About the close Of The twelfth and be-
ginning Of the thirteenth century, Albert,
Count Of Moha, was the most powerful no.
BILE of the Hesbaye. His wife was Ger
trude, daughter of the Count de Looz, and
they had two sons, whom they trained to
all that was chivalrous in body, mind and
heart. Unfortunately, the Count took them
to a grand tournament at Andenne, given
by Baldwin of Flanders before his depart
ure for Palestine. There were gathered
the knighthood Of Flanders, Brabant, Balm
ault and Liege, and the enthusiasm both OF
actors and spectators was reused to the
highest pitch. Day and night the boys
dwelt upon the scene, impatient to initiate
deeds so highly applauded. They were ad-
mirable equestrans, but had never been
permitted to handle any warlike weapons.
Now, however, they were determined to
disobey, and forgetful of even the most or
binary precautions, tilted against each 9TH
er without defensive armor, and with sharp
ened Iances. Skillful in managing their
magnificent steeds, the best in the stables,
they met fairly in mid career, and buried
their lances in each others bosom.
The stricken parents gave themselves up
for inc to devouring grief. They par
occupations had reference to the calamity
which had befallen Them The spot where
| the fatal encounter had taken place was
/ the prettiest on their domains-an amphi-
theatre nearly surrounded by the Mehaigne
whose banks were covered with woods, here
| and there interrupted with some bold rock
| iutting out from amidst the waving foliage
/ Here they erected two stone crosses with
suitable inscriptions These have crum.
bled away, but are replaced by tree
which still marks their site. They alsc
built an abbey, enclosing tomb to the
memory of The adventurous youths.
Hopeless for an heir, the Count looked
about for successor to his estate, and not,
withs'anding the repulsive qualities Of Hen
ry. Duke of Brabant, his sisters son, he
commenced a negotiation with him, which
however failed. He then resolved TO give
his property to the Church, and agreed
with the Prince Bishop of Liege to make
the transfer, provided he would pay tht
sum of fifty thousand marks, and promise
that if child should be born to him, i
should inherit, but holding the province a
a fief of the Church. This cession wa
made at the altar of St. Lambert at Liege
by offering green turf and the bough OF {
iree.
But he regretted his haste shortly after
when an infant Gertrude came to brighter
with her smiles the gloomy castle of Moha
Her mother died soon, aud her father fol
lowed eight years afer. Upon his death
bed he summoned Ferry, Duke of Lor
raine, his kinsman and early friend, an
Hughes de Pierrepoint, Prince Bishop {
Liege; warned them against the arts of lh
cruel and avaricious Brabanter, solemnl
commended his daughter to their care, an
betrothed her to Theobald, the Dukes elC
est son.
The duke Immediately withdrew his war
from the doting domestics who had don
their best to spoil her, and carried her
Metz, that curious old city, like some va;
church. the asylum of the poor, the sorrow
II ful and the prescribed. With its mingle
German and French elements, its hislor
cal relics its memories of Charlemagne an
his son as they appeared at their grand at
tumnal hunts, lis strangely diversified pol
ulation, and its conflicting customs, its stud
would have been full of interest to I'll
child had this been permitted but nothin
so vulgar was possible in the reigning al
bey of Remiremont. To be Dame dc IL
n,iremont, the abbess must have been mob
on both sides for two centuries; and whe
her little charge went abroad, it was amid
such waving of plumes, such futtering
scarfs, and such glittrring of jewels,
frightened into one undistinguishaole fius
of color, the narrow. dingy streets, al
their ambitiously lofty houses. But eveI
accomplishment demanded by the age, WI
impaired 10 her, and her lessons were Sc
dom disturbed by anything but the recu
renee Of feasts and fasts, and some slig
5, penance for loud laugh, an ungracet
,e movement, or an unpracliced song. Som
n times, a faithful vassal begged audience,
,e messenger arrived with complaints and P
D. titions, and now and then the duchess A
10 mes visised her with splendid train. The
= indeed. whispers of the world without az
,a,ad the not unpleasina monotony OF {