The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-09-11
Brutus and His sons.

Brutus ana HIS sons.
Tarquin the Proud, King of Rome,
was in sore perplexity. A dreadful
pestilence had broken out within the
city, and the people were dying in great
numbers. To add to the general gloom,
a serpent was seen to glide cautiously
from one of the pillars of the palace and
disappear.
The news of this unusual occurrence
spread rapidly, and created great alarm.
Even the King was dismayed His SUI
perstitious fears were excited. He re-
garded the strange appearance of the
serpent as an Ill omen. What did it
foreshow? His death, or the dissolu-
ton of the monarchy? 1t was prob
lem which could not be solved. After
much specializing, it was decided that
his two sons, Aruns and Titus, should
consult the oracle of Delphi, and seek
an explanation of the mystery. The
young princes were thirsting for advent
ure, and ioyfuly undertook the jour
ney into Greece.
A man named Lucius Junius Brutus
had accompanied them. His father had
fallen a victim to the cruelty of Tarquin,
and to secure safety, he affected men
tai imbecility. Aruns and Titus hadno
suspicion that he was other than he
seemed. They did not expect that he
would share the perils they must ell
counter. His apparent idiocy made
them think it impossible for him to un-
derstand the great issue at stake but
he could jest, and amuse the party with
his tricks. He went simply as buffoon.
Upon reaching the temple of Delphi,
an Offering was presented to the god.
1t was piece of gold, inclosed in a
rod of carmel-wood consecreated to re-
ceive it. In this way, it was hoped TO
appease the wrath of the deity.
The princes then inquired with great
anxiety, "Who shall reign in Rome
hereafter?"
The reply was, :" He shall be king,
who shall first kiss his mother"
Aruns and Titus were surprised.
They agreed to conceal the words of
the oracle from their elder brother
Lestus, and TO hasten back to embrace
their mother the queen, and to reign
jointly.
Brutus had also heard the answer of
the god. He affixed a very different
meaning to it. The earth, he thought,
was the common mother of mankind.
Pretender to fall, he devoutly kissed
the ground and arose, cherisLing Sc
cret hope of becoming future ruler.
He returned with the princes to
Rome. The mask of idiocy he had
worn to conceal deep purposes was now
boldly thrown off.
He was burning to revenge the muir
der Of his father, and personal injuries.
Lucretia, the wife of Collatinus, had
been cruelty wronged by Lestus Tar
quinn. She, was a relative of Brutus,
and his hatred of Tarquin and his fami-
ly now became intense. Every energy
was employed in the work of overthrow
ing the regal power.
He became public agitator. He
boldly set forth the oppressive acts of
1arquin, and the advantages of sim
pier form Of government. The people
listened and believed An instruction
speedily followed, and the king and
princes were forced to leave Rome.
By single powerful stroke, Lucius
Junius Brutus had put an end to the
monarchy, after it had existed forty.
three years.
The Romans were now called upon
to decide how they would be governed
After much debate, it was determined
that the supreme authority should be
vested In two persons. Brutus and
Collatinus were elected consuls. They
were surrounded with all the ensigns oil
power, and the kingdom was changed
to a republic.
The most rigid laws were made. The
new consuls sought by leveling rank
and allowing fortune to command NJ
respect, to obliterate all traces of til,
monarchy.
In time this despotic exercise O
power made the republican government
unpopular. The young patricians
reared in luxury and addicted to pleas
ure, groaned under the arbitrary swa,
OF the consuls. sympathy for the de
posed King and Princes condemned t,
exile began to be felt. The forme
gayeties were remembered, and man
earnestly longed to have them revived
Opposition to Brutus and Collatinu
arose and spread widely.
Tarquin soon became aware of tn
disaffection. He sent his emissaries I
Rome, who found means to excite tn
young men into spirit of rebellion
A plot was matured in secret, to restor
the monarchy. The noblest youths i
Rome engaged in it. The two sons G