American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1860-03-01
The Thievlsh Raven and the Mischief he
Caused.


The Helvetians remained SO loog in peace
full submission to Rome, that thew lost
their bravery and hardihood; and in the
year ofour Lord 300,great eslamities ver-
took them in consequence. First, savage
German warriors, called the Alletnsnni,
conquered them, burned their cities, and
made them slaves.
Soon afterwards, the Huns overran tie
country, destroying everything they could
find. They were barbarians. and SO hide
Gus in their looks, that they seemed scarce
ly TO be men.
Next folio we'd the Burgahdians. They
also, conquered part of the country
They built fortresses, and founded anew
some Of the cities. They made subjects OF
the Helvetiahs. but did not, give them g.
quail privileges with themselves.
Then catne the Goths. They allowed
the people their old customs, but compel.
led them to labor like slaves.
Finally, the Franks conquered all Hell.
vetis; and after FIVE hundred years Of wal
and change the people united under one
government, as in the time of the Romans
The poor Helvetians we're in sad condi.
tiop. They were locked upon is little
better than cattle, and were given, with
their bouses, farms and all their possession
by the Frankish king, Dierbert, to Ills war.
riors. Ttey could own no property, be
ing tbemselvesthe property Of their lords
Amidst all this sorrow, there were some
CLEANS of light, where, here and there
good men preached the gospel to the igno.
rant multitude. The piety Of that time
was by no means pure. Whoever was bap
tized, and had learned a prayer, attended
church, and made the sign Of the cross
was called q christian. But some wer,
really humble disciples Of the 5aviour.-
Some lords gave their serfs privileges q
value. Schools were established in SOM
Of the converts, and many books were col
ected and copied in them; the art Of print
ing was then unknown.
The most powerful Of the Frankisl
kings was Charlemagne. He was king @
France, Italy. and great part Of Germa
ny, which he combined into a powerful
empire. But after his death, his son
and grandsons did no. agree well together
They divided his kingdom and were con
= tantly at war with each other. In ,thi
confusion, the great officers, such as dukes
counts, would obey no che, bit independ
emily, each over his own province. Eve
, the bishops Kept large bodies Of troops
and fought where and as they pleased. =
Only a common danger united them =
Once a savage people, all on horseback
came from the East. They were Hdngs
rians. They swept over the county Wit
FIRE and sword. They did not attack fort
. resses, becliise they did not tnderstsh
the art Of taking them. So the Emperc
ordered all large villages to be surrounde
by walls and bitches. To these village
the people could fly for safety. Each ma
, was obliged to keep spear, and sword. t
pay taxes and contributions to the Stat
and to have a FIRE. bucket always in b
house. Markets were established in the,
IL villages, which increased in populatic
and became Cities The security they a
= forded led TO greater industry in mani
J. faclures and the mechanic arts.
The mobiles and knights disliked to Sc
. the stiles 50 prosperous, and they endea'
:. ored 10 increase tie numbers Of their ow
d serf and retainers. Those who best unde
= stood their own interests, lighteued Il
burdens Of their people. They divide
the land into farms, furnished materia
for the house. d plough and cart, seeds +
Il sowing, d COW, pig; and some hens; al
required the bohse>holders 10 pay rer
r partly in labor, and partly in the produ
i Of the farm When the father died, 4
ol lord took tho best dress, the best piece
furniture, and the best from the stable.
: The family kept the rest. But the Sci
gained greatly in comforts, and incrSaS
4 in prosperity.
" The mobiles lived in strong castles whi
could not be easily taken, because GU
powder was then unknown. They h
many servants. ind they also kept ban
Of soldiers. Arms and the chase we
their fsvorite occupations, and the swt
and falcon their greatest treasures. The
- hunting feasts we're among their highe
festivities. Magnificent tents we're ptc
". ed for the ladies, from which those mig
"a. aaa tha daetruntion nf tha rarna xvhh "A