Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1867-11-19
THE FOUR HENRYS.

|
lated from the French, contains tn,
account of rather singular rem
counter of four individuals, who mad,
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 surrounding country for a kind
of witch, heard a loud knocking at
her door. She opened it, and a young
man on horseback presented himself
and craved hospitality.
By the dull light OF lamp which
SHE held in her hand, she perceived
him to be a young nobleman. He
appeared to be quite young, and his
dress denoted rank. The old woman
lighted fire, and inquired of the
stranger whether he was hungry and
desired food. The appetite of youth
OF sixteen is like his heart at the
same age, craving and not difficult to
please, and he Immediately accepted
the offer A morsel of cheese and a
loaf of black bread from the cupboard
was all that the old dame could
produce
81 have nothing more,' she said
to the young nobleman; "this is all
that your grinding tithes and taxes
leave poor creature to offer a trav-
eler; the peasants, too, in this coun-
try, call me a witch and soceress,
and make that excuse to their con
science for ealing from lne the little
that my poor old field produces
"Ala fol p said the young man;
elf ever | become King of France, |
will suppress the taxes and teach
people better
"God grant it !" replied the old
woman.
At these words the gentleman
drew to the table to commence his
repast; but at the same moment a
fresh knock at the door arrested him.
The old woman opened it, and per-
ceived another horseman drenched
with rain, who also begged for shell
ter. The same hospitality was in
stantly granted him, and on the
entrance, she perceived
that the man was young, and, judg-
ing from his appearance, of noble
descent
"What! is it you, Henry % cried
one:
Eyes, Henry" replied the other.
Both We're named Henry.
The old woman discovered from
their conversation that they were of
a number of large hunting party,
by the King, Charles IN,
which had been dispersed by the
storm.
"Mother,' said the second conner,
''have you nothing better to offer us 2"
"Nothing," replied she.
Then said he, "we will go
shares
The first Henry demurred, bat
glanclng at the resolute eye and
strong frame Of the second Henry,
said, in somewhat chagrined tone
agreed; We shall share equally"
He dared not express his secret
motive, but he feared, if not sharing
Aqually, his companion would appro-
pirate the whole. They accordingly |
sat down on either side of the table,
and one had already begun to eat the
bread with his dagger, when a third
knock was heard at the door. The
meeting was indeed singular. 1t
was again a youth, nobleman and
A Henry. The old woman looked at
hem with establishment.
The first conner wished to hide the
bread and cheese. The second re-
placed them on the table and laid
lis sword by their side. The third
Henry smiled.
you do not wish, then, that |
should share your supper. said he.
wv ell, | can wait; [ have strong
"I'he supper" said the first Henry,
belongs by right, to the first
conner"
"The supper said the second
belongs to him who knows best
low to defend it |"
b The third Henry became red with
niger, and said, haughtily:
perhaps it belongs to him who
Knows best how to fight for it"
There words were scarcely uttered
When the first Henry drew his poig-