Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1870-05-06

him that they came from the king, ant
commanded him to follow them.
s.What for p he ASKED.
..To cure the Princes Ada. We hav'
heard Of your skill, and we have come t.
fetch you in the kings name.
The countryman replied that he was onl,
a laborer, and if the king wanted his sew
ces in that capacity. he would be happy t'
devote them to him. But as to medicine
he swore on his htnor that he knew nothing
at all about it. .s~,
| II see," whispered one Of the king
messengers to the other, "that civility vii
not succeed here. He evidently wants to be
beaten"
Saying this he alightcd from his horse
the other followed him, and grasping theii
sticks they commenced beating the coun-
tryman with the hcartiest zest. The help.
less lax orer commenced by roaring at them
for their cowardice-two to one-and then
cruelty but finding them two strong 70,
him. he threw himself upon his knees and
swore to obey them. They thereupon
mounted him upon one Of the white horses
and conducted him thus to the palace Of the
king
The illness of the princess had thrown the
king into state bordering upon distraction.
! The return of the two messengers inspired
him with hope, and he ordered them 10 be
conducted into his presence that he might
learn how successful they had been in their
inquiries Having sounded the praises OF
the wonderful but eccentric doctor, they
then proceeded to narrate how they had
found and the method they had employed to
capture him.
{ II confess" said the king, ''that never
heard of doctor like this before. But since
it is necessary that he should be beaten be-
fore he will cure the princess, let him be
beaten Having ordered the princess to
descend, he babe the conntryman to approach
him. ''My friend,'' he said, "this is the
lady whom you must cure.
The wretched countryman threw himself
upon his knees and begged for mercy, swear
by all that was holy that he knew nothing
whatever of medicine. The only reply of
the king was to signal to two tall sergeants
who were standing by armed with sticks
They made dart at the countryman, and
Selling him by the arms rained upon him
perfect shower of blows.
"Mercy mercy?" he yelled. "I'll cure
her, sire III cure her"
The princess stood before him pale and
dying, indicating her sufferings by pointing
with her finger down her open mouth. Tho
courtryman began to ponder within himself
how he shonld effect this cure. He plainly
saw that there was no backing out Of it, but
that he must either succeed or perish from
fogging.
The bone," he said to himself, sis in
the throat If I could only succeed in ma
king her laugh, the chances are that I might
dislodge it."
Impressed With this notion, he requested
the king to order large fire to be lighted in
the hail. and further desired to be left alone
with the princess. When the hall was de-
serted, he told her to seat herself near the fire,
and commenced tickling her, making all the
time such hideous grimaces that in spite of
her suffering the princess suddenly burst
out into shout of laughter. At the same
instant the bone flew out of her throat and
fell upon the floor. Picking it up, the coun-
tryman flew to the door crying, "Sire sire,
here it is here it u"
II owe you my life !' cried the king in
transport Of joy. And he promised to give
him in reward for his services handsome
presents of gowns and cloaks. It was Gus
tom among the kings and princess of that
period to make pres cnts of cloaks and dress
es at Michaelmas and Chistmas to the nobil-
ity attached to their courts Sometimes the
acceptance Of these presents was interpreted
into willingness to enter into one years
service with the king who offered them. A
Chevalier thus apparelled was called chew
alier Roi. The countryman thanked him.
He declared, however, that he only wanted
permission to return to his home, feigning
that his business greatly needed his pres
ence. In vain the king offered him his
friendship and entreated him to remain He
answered that he was pressed that when
he left there was positively no bread 10 the
house, and that it was imperative that he
should carry wheat to the mill But on a
signal from the king which brought the two
scrgeants about him again, the countryman
cryed for mercy, promising to remain not
only a day but forever, if he were de-
sired. Thereupon they conducted him into
room in which he was washed and shaved
and habited in magnificent scarlet cloak
All this time, however, he was meditating
plan to escape, and comforted himself with
believing that a practical opportunity would
soon be presented.
The cure he had effected achieved for him
in no time great reputation. No sooner
had it been noised abroad than upwards of
eighty sick persons belonging to the town
presented themselves at the gates of the
chateau, and besought the king to put in
good word for them with the doctor The king
having called him. "My friend" said he,
81 recommend these persons to your notice
Cure..them all at once, as | wish to send
them back again to their homes"
Sire replied the countryman, "unless
heaven cures them cannot. There are too
many"
''Let the two scrgeants be brought" ex-
claimed the king
At the approach Of these two formidable
persons the poor wretch, trembling in every
limb, volunteered not only to cure the eigh-
ty sick persons, but the whole world in the
bargain, even to the last man. He begged
the king and all those who we're in good
health to leave the hall as they had done be-
fore. Being left alone with the sick, he
ranged them all round the fire. place, in
which be made tremendous fire.
"My friends he said, addressing them
with great solemnity, sit isIno triAing favor
to accord, that of giving health to so many
people in so short time There is only
one way that know of effecting general
cure amongst you and that is. Of choosing
the one who is most seriously i'll and throw
ing him into the fire When he is consum-