Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1866-07-11

~.nN sSoS0Su VhOh shCy nhuutu haNo idotCus
3 And SO 1t fell one Christmas Eve, aJa.
When 1t was dark and cold, and late,
A picus knight from Palestine
Came knocking at the Convent gate,
gaI
He rode a steed of eastern blood
His helm was up--his eye was bold;
And round about his neck he wore ,a
A chain of Saracenic gold.
What ho good monks of Boisguilberte,
Your guests am to nigh Il" quoth he.
"Have you stable for my steed?
A supper. and q cell for meI''
The Abbot laughed the friars scoffed:
They fell upon that knight renowned,
And bore him down and tied his arms,
And laid him captive on the ground.
"Sir guest !" cried they, your steed shall be
Into our convent stable led;
And, as we have no cell to spare.
Yourselfmust sleep among the dead -
He marked them with steadfast eye.
He heard them with dauntless face; a
He was too brave to fear to die {:
He was to proud to sue for grave.
They tore the chain from round his ueck,
And then toh brave unhappy knight y
0'er the bleak waters of the pond
Their torches flashed sullen light.
And the great pike that dwell beneath.
All startled by the sudden glare, 500.
Dived down among the water weeds.
And darted blIndly here and there:
And one white owl that made her nest
Up in the befry tower hard by. ....
Flew round and round on swirling wings.
And vanished with ghostly cry.
The Abot stood upon the brink:
He laughed aloud in cruel glee.
He waved his torch;--"quickl fling him In
Ger fish will feast to night" said he.
They flung him in. "Farew ell!' they cried
And crowded round the reedy shore.
He gasping rose-'Till Christmas next I"
He said-then sank to rise no more.
It'll Christmas next'' They stood and stare'
Into each others guilty eyes ,
Then fed within the convent gates
Lest they should see their victim rise.
The fragile bubbles rose and broke;
The wild ming circles died away:
The white owl shrieked again: the pike
Were left to silence and their prey.
e |
A year went by. The stealthy fogs
Crept up the hill with footsteps slow:
And all the woods of Boisguilberte:
Lay hushed and heavy IN the snow.
The sullen sun was red by day;
The nights were black; the winds were kee
And all across the frozen pond
The footprints Of the wolves were seen:
And vauge foreshadowings Of woe
Beset the monks with mortal fear
Strange shadows through the cloister pacet
Strange whispers threatened every ear
Strange writings started forth at dusk
In frey lines along the walls;
Strange spectres round the chapel sat.
At midnight, In the sculptured stalls.
..Oh, father Abbot !" cried the monks.
.Let us repent-Our sins are great
Tomorrow will be Christmas Eve
Tomorrow night will be too late: 10
.And should the drowned dead arise :
The Abbot laughed with might and main
1.-The Ice u" said he, ''is three feet deep
He'd find II hard TO rise again
But when tomorrow night Is come.
Well say q mass 10 rest his soul ~
To.morrow came. and all day long A'n q
The chapelbell was heard to toll.
AT eve they mot TO read the mass tial
Bent low was every shaven crown;
One trembling monk the tapers llt;
One held his missal upside down; Ni
And when their quav'ring voices In
The Dies IRe all united.
! Even the Abbot told his beads
j And fragments Of the Greed recited'
And when . hut bark what SOUNDS
] those s IaimEa 1n'
Is Il the splitting Of the ice
Is Il steel.clad hand that smites
.oa,,st the outer portal thrice