The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1866-06-07
III BeautifasE illustration.

line 1olIoWlDS Is from Drllllant lec-
ture recently delivered in New Orleans
by the Hon. Charles Gayarre, on the
subject of " Oaths, Amnesties and Re-
bellion" The moral pointed out is, that
President johnson may trust without
fear those men who fought to the last
for the cause they so loved, and which
claimed their fdelity-may trust the
rebels who come to him with clean hands,
after having deposited the keys to their
loyalty on the dead body of the South
ern Contederacy:
Some centuries ago two kings were
contending for the crown of CASTLE. l
forget their names for the present, but
to facilitate the feeling of my story, l
shall call one Alfonso and the other
John. Alfonzo proclaimed, of course,
that John was usurper and rebel, and
John returned the compliment. Well,
John defeated his rival, horse and foot,
and carried everything triumphantly
before him, with the exception of sin.
gle town, which Alfonso had entrusted
to stout old knight called Aguilar, and
which, after long siege, still remained
impregnable. You hove done enough
for honor" said King John one day tc
the knight; surrender, and you shall
have the most liberal terms. EFF you
had read the history Of your country
answered Aguilar, "you would have
known that none of my race ever ca
pitulated." "I will starve you, PROUD
and obstinate fool !" "Starve the ca
gle, if you can" will put you anc
the whole garrison to the sword.
"Try !" was the laconic response, an,
the siege went on.
One morning as the rising sun wa
!, beginning to gid with its rays the high
I est towers of the beleaguered city,
! parley was sounded from the camp G
the enemy. The old knight appeare
on the wall, and looked down on th
King below.
Surrender !" said John again, {" m
; riva! Alfonso is dead, and the whole {
CASTLE recognizes my sway as that
> its legitimate sovereign"
Sire, l believe you, but I must Sc
+ my dead master " "Go, then, to S
. vile, where his dead body lies; yc
: have my royal WORD that I shall atteml
nothing against you on your way, nC
: against the city in your absence" TT
;, knight came out with banner flying an
! a small escort of grim-visaged warrior
Behind him the gates closed; befo
g him the dense battalions of the enen
u opened their ranks, and as he pf-st
" along, slowly riding his noble war hors
u shouts of admiration burst wide and
y from the whole host who had so off
IT witnessed his deeds of valor, and IL
II echos of the loud and enthusiastic greC
C ing accompanied him until the r.
'e plume which waved over his helm,
u was out of sight. He arrived at Sevil
!" and went straight to the cathedr
- where he found the tomb of his form
- sovereign. He had it opened, and aft
"' gazing awhile with moist eyes at t
" pale face which met his look, he tn
addressed the dead monarch: "Si
= had sworn never to deliver to anybo
- but yourself the keys of the town viii
you had entrusted to my care. He
they are have kept my OATH" a
he deposited them on the breast of Ki
~ Alfonso
9" Then, bestriGiug bis steed, he gall
=" = ed back to his post. AS soon as he
-. ~ preached again, the ranks of the enc
~ ~ opened, and King John confronted h
w,,a, w "Well," said the King, are you sa
me me fed, and DO you now give up the c