The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-10-08
THE FISHERMAN'S LOVE.
CHATTER !.

| ike larry tale, VeTSts paeh W 'ue t!Ao VI
romance there reigned in Sicily monarch
| by the name Of Ferdinand. ltwas in those
happy days when a subject, no matter how
poor in purse, or lowly in birth, if he ex-
celled in deeds of arms, or other accom-
plishmsnts, was received with equal favor
at the court of the king, as the greatest
lord of the soil.
A high stage of civilization has obliterated
these old landmarks, and noble birth and
gold are now the only roads that lead to
klngly favor, where once virtue and merit
took the prize.
How strange it seems to US, when we read
of the Guelphs and Plantagenets, that in
those good old times, moDarch's daughters
did not think the service menial when they
washed the feet Of her fathers guests, as
did Clotarie. for her future husband, Chill
ppric, at the gates Of Paris.
The King we write Of, was one Of the
noblost and best of men. Under his mild
sway the island foarished bravely. The
strong did not oppress the weak, nor the
I rich grind the face Of the poor. lie was a
! liberal patron OF the arts and sciences. for
! he was Il scholar himself, and many of the
noble and talented of other lands were at
tra.ted to the genial cline and sunny skies,
where they were sure OF protection and
patronage from the generous Ferdinand.
/ The monarch was II widower, but he had
one fair daughter, so beautiful that poets
hal written eplcs concerning her wonderful
charms. and many titled lord had sued for
the hand of the charming Rosalie, but sued
! in vain.
Ferdinand, who was far advanced in years,
often wondered that his daughter did no
chu0sG Il mate from the rich and noble born
uf the court. But fair R0saIle preserved
her secret, and the monarch Gid not dictate
to her as to her choice. She had given her
| heart to one far beneath her, so far that
even in that romantic age she had never
dared to breathe her secret to her father {
ear.
Some two years previous to the episode
IF our story, on a beautiful autumn day,
4 fair Rosale bantered with her maids of
honor to take bath in the sea. They
acquiGscrd, and as the troop Of young
maiIens were expert swimmers, they had a
| iovous time, each challenging the other to
dive in the depths of the tepid waters; or,
with merry laugh, and the challenge,
"foilow my ivader,' DreaAing the pillows
| far out from the mainland.
! In the gay pastime, Resale outstrppsd
her competitors, sporting like nalad, on
the blue bosom of the pillows, while her
auburn hair flashed in the sunlight, like a
banner Of gold spangled with diamonds,
ana anon disappearing from sight, as syreB
who had sought her coral arbor below.
Very tame seemed the skill of the other
muidens, compared to the kings fair
/ duughtcr-a and so thought one Nlcolo Pesk,
young fisherman. who, peering from be-
hind friendly rock, had long watched the
damsels sporting in the waters, when. sud
denly, the Princess, who, in her mad enthu-
-iasm to excel all her companions, had
vrntured 4 long way from the shore, sud
denly cried out :-':Help, or perish - and
! disappeared from their view. Her campan-
ions were paralyzed, but not so with Nicolo
who was accounted the best swimmer Of
any age or cline. In an instant, he dove
into the sea, and bent his breast to the bill
lows with so much skill and celebrity, that in
IL few moments he was on the spot where
! Eo-aiie went down.
Then he too, disappeared from their view,
and remained so long time beneath the
waters, that all conjectured both the youth
and maiden lost, when he suddenly arose at
distant point. and was seen bearing bis
precious burden aioft, with one arm, while
! he struck out mantully for the shore with
thc other.
They gained the land in safety, and when
! Rosuir was recovered to consciousness by
/ the care of her attendants, she explnjned
that. being suddrniy -iezcd with cramp. she
would inevitably have been lost, if 1t had
not been for the daring and skill Of young
Ncolo.
i She insisted on conducting the gallant
stranger to her fathers court, in which be
finally acquiesccd; and, when King Ferdi-
naud heard the great service that the young
fisherman had done his daughter. he felt Sc
grateful that he swore to grant Ncojo any
boon that he might ask, if 1t was possible
amp in his power.
The young fisherman, though clad in the
coarse garments suited to his calling, had 4
fine, manly figure. and bearing that would
have done honor to a lord: and, when bis
dtrk blue eye fastened for Il moment on the
lovely form Of Rosalie, the courticr- frown-
cd. ana thn monarch tremhlei to think h,
had made so rash promise, for he also
saw that a blush did mantle Rosal!e's fan
check, beneath young NicoIo's gaze.
But h. agninIthou.ht Of the fisherman
great Sc.ucr, and spoke ont kindly
"Choose a Iordship. purse Of gold, o.
what YOU win.'
"Iuur muicSty.'' said Njcolo, d" | wouIl
not barter the good deed I've done to-day
for all the gold that Sicily contains. woulC
not sell q single smile that wreathes tht
ruby lip Of her | saved from death, to b'
proclaimed the monarch Of a kingdom twic,
the size of this ~
.:What dost thou ask, then ?"
'.The hand and heart Of the Princess
Rosalic,' said Nicolo, in o firm but defer
cntal tone.
"Thou dost forget thy birth and station.
said the king, firmly. ''My daughter is no
Il mate for such as thou art. \ monarch
pleasure should to sub bjects, seem law.
would be lcnient with thee for the servic
thou has done our house. Pass our rasl
promise hy. and will place thy fortunes "a
beyond thy utmost hopc.'
"Then, ferdinand, miscalled the Just
already breaks his vsw,' said Nicolo, bow
ing coldlr. s'icrcaftcr, let men know tha
truth is not a jewel worn at the courts o
kings"
"father,' said fair Rosalie, imploringly
rs Nicoo was about to take his departure
. be ust-be generous -
''Bv heaven. this is too much ~ exclaim
ed, Ferdinand, now thoroughly angry. an
own daughter sides against me. Dost tho
not know, dear girl, that the eagle mate
not with the falcon? BY our sircs' graves
thou must look loftier thai this low Dor
churl. be his service what it may. Degont
thou base. born hind - be added. address
in. Nicolo, * 'apd never dare to enter her
again, or will have thee scourged from tn
palace gates -
"Father," said fair Rosale, her face ne,
drowned in tears, 81 shall forget am tn
daughter of the good King Ferdinand -
RosaIie, who saw it was useless to appe;
to her fathers honor iu his present III c
rage. took her departure, accompanied /
} her MAIDS Of honor, but she resolved at
future time that she would press the suit [
NJcoto.
Come, lords, hestr thy wits" sal
Ferdinand. when Ro>aie had left the room
"ShOw mr some way to cheat this loft
bra-guIt, whose language far exceeds h
! station. and yet leave such clause that
can still retain my royal word.'
t The king had promised SO much to II
? point, that al! the courtiers were silent.