Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-03-22
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The Legend Of Saint Christopher.

The Legend Of Saint Christopher.
Offerus was a soldier-a heathen--who
| lived on the land of Canaan. He had a body
| twelve ellis long. He did not like to obey,
4 but to command. He did not care what
| harm he did to Others, but lived wild life,
attacking and plundering all who came in
| his way He only wished for one thing-to
sell his services to the mighties; and as he
heard that the Emperor was, in those days,
the head of ChristendOm, he said:
'Lord Emperor, will you have me? To
none less will sell my hearts blood"
The Emperor looked ut his Samson
strength, his giant chest and mighty fists,
| and he said: G..ry o .rrr
IF thou will serve me forever, Offerus, !
will accept thee"
Immediately the giant answered: "To
serve Jorerer is not SO easily promised; but
as long as L am your soldier none in the
east or west shall trouble you"
Thercupon he went with the EmperoH
| through all the land, and the Emperor was
delighted with him. All the soldiers, in the
combat as in the wine cup, were miserable,
helpless creatures compared with Oflerus.
| Now the Emperor had a harper who
| sang from morning till bedtime; and
whenever the Emperor was weary with the
| march, this minstrel had totouch his harp
strings.
Once, at cventide, they pitched the tents
near forest The Emperor ate and drank
| luStily--the minstrel sang merry song;
| but as in his song he spoke of the evil one,
the Emperor signed the cross in the fore
| head.
Said Offerus aloud to his comrades, "What
is this? What jest is the Prince making
now?
Then the Emperor said, "Onerus, listen.
4 4. "a 81,
who is said often to haunt this forest with
great rage and fury" ....-
That seemed marvellous to Offerus, and
he said, scornfully, to the Emperor: Il
have fancy for wild boars and deer. Let
us hunt in this forest"
The Emperor said softly, "Offerus, no!
Let alone the chase in this forest, for in fill
ing thy larder thou mightest harm thy
SOUL
Then Oflerus made wry face, and said:
"The grapes are sour; ii your highness
is afraid of the devil, | will enter the SER
vice of the Lord, who is mightier than
you." Thereupon he coolly demanded his
pay, took his departure with no ceremoni-
Gus leave-taking, and strobe off cheerily
into the thickest depths Of the forest. In
wild clearing of the forest he found the
DEVILS altar, built of black cinders; and on
it, in the moonlight, CLEANED the white
| skeletons of men and horses. Offerus was
in no way terrified, but quietly inspected
the sculls and bones; then he called three
times in loud voice on the evil one, and,
seating himself fell asleep, and soon began
to snore. When it was midnight the earth
seemed to crack, and on coal black horse
he saw pitch black rider, who rode at him
turiously, and sought to bind him with
solemn promises. But Otferus said, "We
| ohon thay
through the kingdoms of the world, and
Offerus found him better master than the
Emperor, needed seldom to polish his ar
NOR, but had plenty Of feasting and fun.
However, one day, as they went along
| the high road, three tall crosses stood be-
fore them. Then the Black Prince sudden
ly had q cold and said: "Let us creep round
by the by-road !"
Said Offerus "Methinks you are afraid
of these gallows trees" and, drawing his
bow, he shot an arrow into the middle
cross.
"What bad manners I' said Satan, softly
''do ye not know that he who in his form as
a servant is the son of Mary, now exercises
great power?"
"If that is the case" said Offerus, ~
came to you fettered by no promise; now l
will seek further for the mightiest, whom
only | will serve"
Then Satan went off with mocking
| laugh, and Oiferus went on his way, asking
every traveller he met for the son of Mary;
but, alas few bore him in their hearts, and
no one could tell the giant where the Lord
dwelt, until one evening Offerus found an
old pious hermit who gave him nights
lodging in his cell and sent him the next
morning TO the Carthesian Cloister. Then
the Lord prior listened to Offerus, showed
him plainly the path of faith, and told him
he must fast and pray, as John the Baptist
did of old in the wilderness.
But he replied "Locusts and wild honey,
my Lord, are quite contrary to my nature,
and do not know any prayers. should
lose my strength altogether, and had rather
not 90 to Heaven at all in that way"
''Reckless manr' said the prior. ''How-
ever, you may try another way give your
self up heartily to achieve some good
work."
,"Ah! let me hear" said OHerus; 81 have
strength for that"
''See, there flows mighty river, which
| hinders pilgrims on their way to Rome. 1t
has neither bridge nor ferry. Carry the
faithful over on thy back"
''If can please the Savior in that way,
willingly will carry the travellers to and
fro," replied the giant. And thereupon he
built hut of reeds, and dwelt thenceforth
among the water rats and beavers, on the
borders of the river, carrying the pilgrims
over the river cheerfully, like camel or an
elephant. But if any one offered him ferry
money, he said, 81 labor for eternal life."
And when now after many years Otferus'
hair had grown white, one stormy night
| plaintive little voice called to him, "Dear,
good, tall Offerus, carry me across" Offer
us was tired and sleepy, but he thought
| faithfully of Jesus Christ, and with weary
arms seizing the pine trunk, which was his
staff when the floods swelled high, he wad-
| ed through the water and nearly reached
the opposite bank, but he saw no pilgrim
there, SO he thought II was dreaming" and
went back and lay down to sleep again.
Butscarcely had he fallen asleep, when again
came the little voice, this time very plain-
| tive and touching. "Offerus, dear, good,
great, tall, Offerus, carry me across" Pa
| tiently the old giant crossed the river again,
but neither man nor mouse was to be seen,
and he went back and lay down again, and
was soon fast asleep, when once more came
the little voice, clear and plaintive and inn
ploring, "Good dear, giant Oferus, carry
me across" The third time he seized his
pine stem and went through the cold river.
| This time he found atender, fair little boy,
with golden hair. In his left hand was the
standard OF the Lamb; in his right, the
globe. He looked at the giant with eyes
| full of love and trust, and Offerus lifted
| him up with two fingers: but when he en-
| tered the river the little child weighed on
| him like tun Heavier and heavier grew
the weight, until the water reached his chin
great drops of sweat stood ON his brow, and