Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1873-09-11

the maJln chime TO the hour OF noon
A crystal well by the side of the
stream sent it's waters bubbling up, and
into it the heir of hampton cast the
| "worme." a.,
/ ssLie, there, thou ugly tiny elf either
to live or die, he cried, as he threm it
in. 81,
/ A week from that time John Of
hampton came again to the crystal well,
! by the side of the Wear, and he saw to
his wonder that the ''worme" had
! grown a foot and a-half in length its
wings were far stretched, long and
strong, and redder than ever were the
eyes.
From that hour the heir of Lambton
was an altered man. Three times a
day he knelt at prayer in .Brigdford's
holy chapel, and then beyond the; seas
he went to fight for the Saviours tomb
in the Holy Land.
On the PLAINS Of Palestine John of
Lambton gained a mighty name. No
Saracen proud could withstand the
lance of the red cross kni ght. Pure
was his name and unstained his shield;
the friend of the weak, he raised not his
hand 'gainst fallen enemy.
Then Jerusalem fell, and the knights
returned. Once more to his native
land came brave and good Sir John.
But woe met his eyes when he came to
his fathers lands. No cattle were
grazing on the meadows broad; the
grass was unknown and rough; and the
fields untitled and bare. Cold was the
welco ONE of his sire, and pale the cheeks
of his sisters.
A fearful and wonderful story to him
they told. A mighty dragon had
taken up his abode on the domain of
Lambton. Ten cloth yards it was in
length; its hue of the darkest green,
and on its rough and scaly back were
two strong black wings; its head was
long and pointed snout like the
mighty crocodile's, and from the grin
ming jaws its teeth, fang like stood out
On each round and webbed foot were
four sharp and hooked claws, and its
tail was heavy and joined. Two rough
and hairy ears were on the head, and
its eyes shone red like winters SUM-
And then they told how many a knight
had assailed the monster, but though an
ear or a limb had been struck off,
straight again the several limbs united,
strong as iron mail.
And down the throat Of the dragon.
had gone to the .beeves and kline of
Lambton, and ruin and desolation had
come upon the land. Each morning,
at the matin chime, the dragon sought
the lovely Wear, and then, at monday
bell, it took it's stand in the crystal
spring.
Sorrowful then was the red-cross
knight. 49,. .......,
'since my sinful act has on the coun-
try brought this curse, be it mine to set
it Free" he said. Then to his mind
came the memory of his words to Lady
Ellen-"To thee and thy prayers I'll
come for quick relief" :. j.! ;1.,4..
The Lady Ellen he sought within the
sacred pile; her novitiate there she
passed, and in three days more the
VOWS of a nun she would take, and
become the bride of Heaven.
And in answer to the prayers Of that
pure girl, vision there came that night
as she besought the Holy Maid to aid
the: man she loved. -
And when the heir Of Lambton
sought her next morn at the sound of
the matin bell, gladly, unto him she
spoke. ~, 4: .,;=
ssClothe thee in armor bright and
stud thy mail before, behind, with
blade of razors keen and sharp, and
take in thy hand the trusty blade which
thou bore. beyond the sea, and to the
Virgin, thou must VOW lofty chapel"
Right joyously the knight knelt and
kissed the hem on the .'lobe the....lady
wore, and as she looked down upon the
sad and earnest face of the red-cross
warrior, she felt that earth still had
some hold on her. s~s ~,
John of Lambton vent gladly to the
fight, clothed from head to heel in
glittering mail, and with razor blades
all sharp and keen the mail was stud
ded DER, and his good cross hilted
sword he bore in his hand, $40,
! He sought the dragon in. his lair by
the crystal well, and fierce was the
fight as the Christian knight dealt the
fearful beast blows which pierced. hun
| full sore. But at last down went the
heir of Lambton beneath the ssworme'
SO fell, and fast around the body of the
PROSTATE knight the monster wrapped
his scaly length and clasped him close
till his arrnor cracked within the fold,
but, pierced by the. razor blades, fast
the red blood did pour from the dra