National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-08-08
A LEGEND OF THE RHINE.

The beautiful river Rhine, in some o
lis wlndlngs, Is not uuhke that portion
HIour Hudson which hows through tn,
Ia ghlands. But it differs vastly from
{ latter, IN that the grand old hills
and immense roch, lying on either side
are covered witt, ruins of what wer,
once massive towers, castles, and strong.
holds. These irowning battlements.
perched npon jagged rocks and steer
mountain pass es, We're the homes OF
warllke krigh Is and barons of olden
time, whose II yes seemed spent in war
ring against each other. To all these
ancient ruin ; throughout Germany.
as well as % the Rhine, are attached
some story romance woven from his
tory and tra' litioI. A charming Ger
man alt!ior has gathered into n little
volume maTyof these legends. One of
the most deli shtful of the legends is
connecte d with Richard I, King of
England. called Richard "Cnur-d de-
Lion because OF his idomitable cour-
age and. bravery.
Rich ard Was born in Oxford, and in
llS9 ,ncceeded his father, Henry H.
1t is said that his naughty spirit and
uno ending will fastened the death of
th', old king. Partly from remorse for
? ,st misconduct, partly from martial
.aste, which early in life distinguished
him, soon after his accession to the
throne he leagued with Philip of France
for second crusade in Palestine against
the famous Saladin, Emperor of Egypt
and Syria. Saladin had wrested Jeru-
salem from the hands of the Christian
Knight, Reginald de Chatillon. and
slain many of his followers News of
this disaster reaching England, Richard
determined 10 regain possession of the
molly city. The key to Syria was the
fortress of st. Jean ID Acre, which en-
dured siege of two years before WELD
ing to the combined forces of England
and Franco. However, before the lion
hearted monarch had time to regain
possession of Jerusalem, news reached
him Of var at home. He concluded a
truca with Saladin, and quickly en-
ba fked to quell the revolt in his own
BIngdom. On the coast of Italy he
was shipwrecked Nothing daunted by
this new misfortune, he disguised him
self as n pilgrim, hoping to pass through
Germany unseen. BY some means,
however, he became known to Leopold,
Duke Of Austria, who, to crafty per-
sonal prejudice, caused him to be ar
rested and secretly imprisoned The
fame of this great monarch had been
spread far and near by pilgrims to the
Holy Land by the songs of trobadours,
and the plaudits of those who had
fought under him. His own knights
worshiped him, and number of them
banded together, determined. if he
were stu living, to find his hiding
place and deliver him.
On lovely summer morning troop
OF horsemen weri passing through the
country i'll which lay portion of the
Hartz Mountain Three noble-looking
men rode forward, evidently the leaders
of the troop which followed. The mid
die horseman was dressed as n minstrel
and on his face was an expression OF
deep pain and anxiety. Suddenly he
stopped his horse, to catch the notes of
a shepherd, singing in the far-off field.
No sooner was the song finished, than
he dashed towards the astonished
singer.
my boy, sing that again See,
have gold for you!
"'Tis a song | love - said the boy,
as he took the gold and recommended
his music.
Now, tell me, lad" said the nm
strel, "who taught you that song"
Il dare not tell p replied the boy, |
as he glanced with suspicion at the |
knight.
Aye! Bat you must tell me! No |
harm shall come to you! See here is
more gold for you"
have heard it sung in the castle of
IIrlefels, near which l often feed my
sheep"
"Oh, God p exclaimed the minstrel,
purStlng into tears us he knelt on the
ground, How wondrous are thy
ways =!
his companions approached him
with amazement, to hear him exclaim
We have found him On to Trie-
fels p
After the excitement of their sup
posed discovery had abated, they de-
clded, first, to get view of the fortress,
and then mature their plans for getting
within it, The shepherd boy, who was
70 guide them thither, told them no
strangers were allowed to cross the
urawbridge, and the keeper was imperl-
Gus and unsociable Soon the towers
0, Trlefels glittered in the sun, and
after graceful survey of its surround
iiinigs, they moved away for further de-
liberation.
y friends" said the knight, in
my mlnstrers dress 1 must try alone to {
gam admission to the castle. Mean
.ilme, this boy will find you lodgings in l
.he hamlet below. If our noble king {
Is Imprisoned here we must release '
mus saying, and with one servant to
pear his shield and harp, he rode to the
spridge and demanded food and shelter {
ior himself and servant. After much !
pariey, he was received but very un-
graciously. However, within these {
areary walls he found beautiful {
woman, the keepers niece, whose smile ]
day. e "' on " "''
After dinner the minstrel sung to the I
'o"'y uncle and the charming niece. I