, 1866-11-18
THE FOUR q ENRY2.

Tho following strange tale, translated from
the French, contains the account OF rather a
singular reuconttc Of four individuals, who
nade themselves promIpeDt In France dur
Ing the middle and end Of the sixteenth cea-
tury, and Is a. follows:
One stormy evening, ~ the rain fell in tor
rents, an old woman, who lived In mher.
nbie hut in The forests Of 6t. Germalnt and
who Tassed for kind Of witch, hea.d loud
Young man On horseback presented himself
and craved hospitality. .....
BY the dull light ol = lamp which she held
In her hand she perceived him to be young
ncbleman. He appeared to be quite young,
lighted q Gre, and inquired Of the stranger
whether he was hungry and desired food,
The appetite Of youth Of sixteen is like hfs
heart at the same aget craving: and not
cepttd the otter. A norscl OF cheese and
loaf OF black bread from the cupboard was
all the old dame could produce.
II hare noihing mosc," she said to tie
JoErg noblemani that Is all that your
iure to offer traveller; the peasants, too. In
this county, call nc witch and sorceress.
and make that excuse to their conscience for
stealing from NC the little that my poor old
fed pfeduses,' .,,, .u..
I become King Of France ! will suppress the
tA2cs and leach the people better.
God giant II ~ replied The old woman:
At these words The gentleman drew to the
snmc moment fresh knock at the door ar
| rested him.
! Tie old woman opened 1t, and perceived
another hoEBtman drcuc4ed with min, who
| also begged for shelter. The same hosVt-
tality was instantly granted him, and on tho
ttranger'e en- rance thc perceived that the
man was young. and, Judging from his ap-
l p<ArA1ce, of noble descent.
| Mimi Is 1t you, Henry :" cried one.
Yes, Henry. replied the other. Both
The old woman discovered from their con.
versation that they were Of q number Of a
latIe hunting party cordnctcd by the King,
Charles *, which had BEEN dispersed By
"Mother, said the second conner, shave
you nothing better TO offer us!''
"NothinE," d" replied she.
tTAcn," kald be. ave will 50 shares"
The first uenly demurred, but glancing at
the RI eolute eye and strouE frame oi the SC.
coul uenry, sud. In somewhat chagrlncd
"Agrecd; We shall share equally"
Tie dared no. express his secret motive,
but he feared, ifnot sharing equally, his com
Innton would ~ l.F'rcpriate shc whole. They
accordingly tat down on either side OF the
table. and one had already began to cut the
| bread with his dagger, when third knock
was heard at the door, The meeting was
Hgain singular. It was again youth, no
Elcmar and Henry. The old woman look
cd ut II Ill with astonlshmert.
Tie first cuner wished 10 hide the bread
| and cheese. The second replaced them on
The tn,,lc url laid his sword by their side,
The third Htnry smiled.
"You do not wteh, then, th1t should
thure , our suppcr:' tnid he.'' '5Well, car
writ; / have strouC stomach"
"1hc supper" SAID tue first Henry, "be
sThc support said the second, S'bclongi
10 him rho knows best how 10 defend it."
The third Henry became rcd with anger
md said, haughtily-
'.Pcthars Il belongs to him who know
best how to fight for it,
These words were scarcely uttered whel
The first Henry drew hss poignard, the twt
othtrs their swords. As they we're inst be
ginning tho nfIrNy they were startled by
fourth knock ut the cabin door, foustl
ycurE mun, d fourth nublcman. fourtl
Henry WEB introduced. Al the sight Of dsaw,
+ut rds he produced his own, and attachsns
himself to the weakest party, lie Joined
in The combat.
: The old womar, terrified, bid herself, ant
tie veal ons struck everything in thei
! Itnch. The lamp fell down md was ex,in
: gui.hcd, but thry continued TO fight in III
uurkurfs. The noise Of the swords laste'
sulne time, and then gradually became less
and at length ceased altogether. The oil
wnTan venturcd to Issue forth from he
perceived the 1cur young men stretched o.
The ground. each having slight wound
She examined them carefully, and found TIM
fatigue. rather thau loss o: blood, had owe,
, come them.
They arcse from the ground one after til.
? other. and, ash h-med Of what had trAnsp1re
: in The hest Of passion, they began laughin
Z and exclaimed:
i "Come, let u. now sup together withou
!. my more flehtinc."