The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1865-04-07

as ne nung IL uoWn again, wv ould to h0a-
ven that they were both hanging from it
together
On the following day, he philosophical
ly reviewed his case. 81 have been unrea.
sonahle," he said f; "why should | grieve
because | have been betrayed by a knave,
and Tilted by girl with golden hair? l
have wide dominions, full treasury, a
mighty army, laughing whey ards, verdant
meadows, people who pay taxes as if
they loved me, and Gods free air to
breathe in. may be happy yet" added
he, advancing to the window nay,
am y and be reached his hand to the
rope. He was on the very poiut of ring
ing it with good will, when he saw a sight
without aud voice within, which made
him pause.
A messenger was at his feet. ooh,
sire y exclaimed the bringer of bad It'd
lngs, "thou seest the dust, the fires, and
the CLEAN of arms without. The foe has
broken in upon the land, aud terror is be-
fore and devastation behind him /"
"Now, curse upon king,hip, that
brings wretched monarch evils like
these ! cried the king who wanted to be
happy. The courier limited something
about the miseries of the people. "By
that Lady of Hate, whose church is IN
Brittany" cried the Prince, "thou art
right! | thought to pull Justify at the
bell, but [ will as Justly pull at my sword
III the sheath, and see if there be but one
virtue 10 that. How came in the foe, and
who commands them 7"
The answer to this double query told
him that the enemy could not have enter
ed had not his dispatches been betrayed
to the invadr; that the van of the army
was under the command of prince, whose
name was no ssouer uttered to the king,
than tn" latter turLed red with fury, and
exclaimed, 'Ha. then | snail ring the
bell yet. | will have his life and the
lady,
He said no more, but went out, fought
like man, cleared the land of the foe,
hung the traitor with all his orders on
him, manned the young leader of the hos
tile vanguard past sympathy from Cupid,
and returned to his capital in triumph
lie had so mu,h to employ him after his
return, so much to acc omplish for the res
toration of the fortunes of his people, s,
much to mediate upon for future accom-
pllshment, that when at night he laid
down upon his couch, and wear ness upon
his brow, but shade Of honest joy upon
his neck, he had fairly forgotten the sill
yer bell in his turr.t, and the ropes which
depended from 1t Aud so he grew grey
and infrm, never turning from his work
till the Inevitable Angel looked smiling
in his face, and began to beckon him away.
He was sitting upright in his easy chair
pale as death, but still at his ministry,
till bis eyes grew dim, his head sank upon
his breast, and there was heard without
sound of wailing. "What voices are
those 7" asked he softly, "what is there
yet for me to do p
His chancellor stopped over him as he
now lay on his couch, and whispered, -
"Olr father is departing from among us,
and his children are at the threshold in
tears"
"Let them come in let them come in"
h 'arsely cried the king. "God do they
really love me ?"
eff there were life to be purchased
here, 0 worthy Sire, they would purchase
thine with their blood Z"
The crowd streamed silently in, to look
once more upon the good old king, and to
mourn at his departure. He stretched
his hand toward them, and asked, olive
[ won your love p Oae universal affir-
NATIVE reply, given from the heart, though
with soft expression, seemed to bestow
on the dying monarch new lite He rails
ed himself on the couch, 10 'ked like an
inspired saint, and tried to speak, but fail
ed in the attempt, None the ess happy,
he looked up to God, glanced at the tur-
ret where hung the bell, extended bis
hand to the rope, gave one pull, and died
with smile on his lips, as he rung his