The weekly Butte record., 1866-11-10
THE FOUR HENRYs.

liz AOAiOH cti tdlSs
ed from the French, contains the ac-
count Of rather singular renconter Of
four individuals who made themselves
prominent in France during the middle
and end of the sixteenth century, and
is as follows:
One stormy evening, as the rain fell
in torrents, an old woman who lived in
miserable hut in the forest of St.
German, and who passed in the sur
rounding country as sort of witch,
heard loud knocking at her door,
She opened it, and young man on
horseback presented himself and crayed
hospitality.
By the dull light of a lamp which
she held in her hand, she perceived
him to be young nobleman. He ap-
peared to be quite young and his dress
denoted rank. The old woman lighted
a FIRE, and inquired of the stranger
whether he was hungry and desired
food. The appetite Of youth of six
teen is like his heart at the same age,
craving. and not difficult to please, and
he Immediately accepted her offer. A
morsel of cheese and a loaf of black
bread from the cupboard was all the
old dame could produce.
81 have nothing more," said she to
the young nobleman, this is all that
your grinding tithes and taxes leave a
poor creature to offer a traveller; the
peasants, too, in this country, call me a
witch and a sosceress, and make that
excuse to their conscience for stealing
from me the little that my poor old field
produces"
"Ma fol-" said the young man, eff
ever l become king of France, | will
suppress the taxes and teach people
better"
''God grant it" replied the old wo-
man.
At these words the gentleman drew
to the table to commence his repast,
but at the same moment fresh knock
at the door arrested him.
The old woman opened it, and per-
ceived another horseman, drenched with
rain, who also begged for shelter. The
same hospitality was instantly gyanted
him, and, on the strangers entrance,
the perceived that the man was young,
and, Judging from his appearance, of
noble descent.
"What! is it you, Henry - cried
one.
eyes, Henry" replied the other
Both were named Henry.
The old woman discovered from their
conversation that they were of the num-
Der of large hunting party, conducted
by the king, Charles TX, which had
been dispersed by the storm.
Mother" said the second conner,
shave you nothing better to offer US -
Nothing" replied she.
"Then," said he, ''we will go
shares.
The first Henry demurred, but CLAN
cling at the resolute eye and strong
frame of the second Henry, said, in
somewhat of chargrined tone:
agreed, we shall share equally
He dared not express his secret mo-
tive, but he feared, if not sharing equal
ly, his companion would appropriate the
whole. They accordingly sat down on
either side of the table, and one had
already begun to cut the bread with his
dagger, when third knock was heard
at the door. The meeting was indeed
singular. 1t was again youth, no
bleman and Henry. The old woman
looked at him with astonishment.-
The first conner wished to hide the
bread and cheese. The second replac-
ed them on the table, and laid his sword
by his side The third Henry smiled.
''You do not wish, then, that | should
share your supper :" said he. ''Well,
l can wait; have strong stomach"
"The SUPPER" said the first Henry,
"belongs, by right, to the first conner"
''The SUPPER said the second, ''be-
longs to him who knows best how to de-
fend it."
The third Henry became red with
anger, and said, haughtily.
''Perhaps it belongs to him who knows
best how to fight for it,"
These words were scarcely uttered
when the first Henry drew his poignard;
the two others their swords. As they
were first beginning the atfray, they
were startled by fourth knock at the
cabin door; fourth young man, a
fourth nobleman, fourth Henry, was
introduced. At the sight Of drawn
swords he produced his own, and at
tached himself to the weakest party,
he joined in the combat.
The old woman, terrified, hid herself.
and the weapons struck everything in
their reach. The lamp fell down and
was extinguished, but they continued
to fight in the darkness. The noise of
the swords lasted some time. then grad
ually became less, and at length ceased
altogether. The old woman ventured
to issue forth from her hiding place,
II. Y 7