St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1859-12-01
Romantit sksttb.
The Fisherman's Love.

A long time ago-so long that his.
tory, like a fairy tale, vergcs back to
the time Of romance--therc rcgued
in Sicily monarch by the name OF
Ferdinand. 1t was in those happy
days when subject, no matter how
poor in purse, or lowly in birth, if he
exCelled i'll deeds of arms, or other ac-
complishmcnts, was received with equal
favor at the court of the king, as the
greatest lord of the soil.
A high stage of civilization has OBJ
liberated these old landmarks, and no.
ble birth and gold are now the only
roads that lead to kingly favor, where
once virtue and merit took the prize.
How strange it seems to us, when
we read of the Guel phs and Planta-
genets, that in those good old times a
monarch's daughter did not think the
service menial when she washed the
feet of her fathers guests, as did Co-
tarie, for her future husband, Chilperic,
at the gates OF Paris.
The King we write of was one Of
the noblest and best of men. Under
his mild sway the island fourished
bravely. The strong did not opprcss
the weak, nor the rich grind the face
of the poor. He was liberal patron
Of the arts and sciences, for he was a
scholar himself, and many of the no.
BILE and talented of other lands were
attracted to the genial cline and sun
ny skies, where they were sure of pro-
lection and patronage from the gen.
erous Ferdinand.
The monarch was a widowcr, but
be had one fair daughter, SO beautiful
that poets had written epics concern
ing her charms, and many titled
lord had sued for the hand of the
charming ROsaiie, but sued in vain.
! Ferdinand, who was far advanced
in years, often wondered that his
daughter did not choose a mate from
the rich and noble-born of the court
But fair Rosalle preserved her secret,
! and the monarch did not dictate to her
as to her choice. She had given her
! heart to one far beneath her, 50 far
that even in that romantic age she
had never dared to breathe her secret
10 her fathers car.
Some two years previous to the
episode of our story, on a beautiful
autumn day. fair Rosalic bantcrec
with her maids of honor to take /
bath in the sea. They aequicsced
and as the troop Of young maidcns
were expert swimmers, they had a
Joyous time, each challenging the 9th,
cr to dive in the depths of the tcpid
waters or, with merry laugh, and
the challenge, follow my leaders, "
breasting the pillows far out from tue
main laud.
In the gay pastime Resale outstrip.
ped her competitors, sporting like a
naiad, on the blue bosom of the bill
lows, while her auburn hair flashed in
the sunlight Ike banner OF gold
spangied with Diamonds, and anon
disappearing from sight, as a syrcn
who had sought her coral arbor below
Very tame seemed the skill of the
other maidens, compared with the
kings fair daughtcr-and SO thought
one Nicolo Pcsk, young fisherman,
who, PCcrlng from behind friendly
rock, had long watched the damsels
sporting i'll the waters, when, sudden
! ly, the Princess, who, in her mad eE-
thusiasm to excel all her companions,
had vcntured Il long way from shore,
suddenly cried out: Help, or | per-
ish !" and disappeared from their
view. Her companions were para yzed,
but not SO with Nicolo who was ac-
counted 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 few moments he was on the
spot where Rosalic went down.
Then he, too, disappeared from their
view, and remained so long a time
beneath the waters that all conjectured
both the youth and maiden lost, when
he suddenly arose at Il distant point,
aud was seen bearing his precious
burden aloft, with one arm, while he
struck out mantully for the shore with
the other.
They gained the land in safety, and
when Rosalie was recovered to con-
sciousncss by the care of her attend
ants, she explained, that, being sud
denly seized with cramp, she would
inevitably have been lost, if it had
not been for the daring and skill of
young Nlcolo.
She insisted on conducting the gal
liant stranger to her fathers court, in
which he finally ac luiesced and when
King Ferdinand heard the great SER
vice that the young fisherman had
done his daughter, he felt SO grateful
that he sworc to grant Nicolo any
boon that he might ask, if it was pos
sible and in his power.
The young fisherman, though clad
in his coarse garments suited to his
calling, had line, manly figure, and
a bearing that would have done honor
to a lord and, when his dark blue
eye fastened for a moment on the love
| ly form Of Rosalie, the courtiers
trowued and the monarch trembled TO
think he had made So rash promise,
for he also saw that a blush did man
tie Rosalic's fair check, beneath young
Nicolo's gaze.
But he again thought of the fisher
mans great service, and spoke out
kindly -
Choose a.lordship, purse of gold,
or-what you will"
Your Majesty" said Nicolo, Il
would not barter the good deed I've
done to-day for all the gold that Sicily
contains. l would not sell single
smile that wreaths the ruby lips of
her | saved from death, to be pro-
claimed the monarch of kingdom
twice the size of this !"
What dost thou ask, then ?"
The hand and heart of the Prin-
cess Rosalie," said Nicolo, in Il firm
! but defcrential tone