The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1868-11-04
send succor to their famished brethren.

|
obtained complete success. Probably Il.
Franks had no means of obstructing the pu
sage of the river, so that atconvoy of boas
could easily penetrate into the town, and al
any rate they looked upon GenevieYe Is
something sacred and inspired whom they
burst not touch; probably as one of the bat
tle-maids in whom their own myths taught
them to believe. One account indeed says
that, instead of going alone to obtain help,
Genevieve placed herself at the head Of a
forage party, and that the mere sight of her
| inspired bearing caused them to be allowed
to enter and return in safety; but the boat
| version seems the more probable, since a
single boat on the broad river would more
easily elude the enemy than troop of Gauls
pass through their army.
But city where all the valor resided in
one woman could not long hold out, and in
another inroad, when Genevieve was absent,
Paris was actually seized by the Franks
Their leader, Hilperik was absolutely afraid
of what the mysteriously brave maiden
might do to him, and commanded the gates
of the city to be carefully guarded lest she
should enter:but GeneVieve learnt that some
of the chief citizens were imprisoned, and
that Hiperik intended their death, and
nothing could withhold her from making an
effort in their behalf The Franks had
made up their minds to settle, and not to
destroy. They were not burning and slay-
ing unfortunately, but while despising
Romans, as they called the Gauls, for their
cowardice, they were in awe of their supe-
rior civilization and knowlege of arts. The
country people had free access to the city,
and GenevieVe, in her homsly gown and
veil, passed by Hilperik's guards without
being suspected of being more than any or
binary Gaulish village maid, and thus She
fearlessy made her way, even TO the old
Roman halls, where the long-haird HiIperik
was holding his wild cArousal. Would that
we knew more of that interview, -one of
the most striking that ever took placei We
can only picture to ourselves the Roman
tasselated pavement bestrewn with wine,
bones, and fragments of the barbarous rev.
elry. There were untamed Franks, their
sunburnt hair tied up in knot at the top of
their heads, and falling down like horses
tail, their faces close shaven, except two
huge moustaches, and dressed in tight Ieath-
er garments with swords at their wide belts.
Some slept, some feasted, some CREASED
their long locks, some shouted out their IA
vorite war-songs around the table, which
covered with the spoils of churches, and at
their head sat the wild, long -haird chieftain,
who was few years later driven away by
his own followers for his excesses,-the
whole scene was all that was abhorent to 4
pure, devout, and faithful nature, most full
of terror to woman. Yet there, in her
strength, stood the peasant maiden, her heart
full of trust and pity, her looks full of the
power that is given by fearlessness of them
that can kill the body. What she said we
do not know only know that the bar
barous Hilperik was over-awed; he trembled
before the expostulations of the brave
woman, and granted all she asked,-the
safety of his prisoners, and mercy to the
terrified inhabitants. No wonder that the
people OF Paris have ever since looked back
to Genevieve as their protect. ess, and that
in after ages she has grown to be patron
saint of the city.
She lived TO see the son of Hilperik,
Chlodweh, or, as he was more commonly
called, Clovis, marry christian wife, ClO-
tilda. and after a time become Christian.
She saw the foundation of the Cathedral of
Notre Dame, and of the two famous church.
es of St. Denys and of St. Martin of Tours,
and gave her full share to the first efforts
for bringing the rude and bloodthirsty con-
querors to some knowledge of Christian
faith, MERCY and purity. After a lite of
constant prayer and charity she died, three
months after King Clovis, in the year 512,
the seth of her age.