The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1875-11-10
CHAPTER XIV.
THE PIGEoNs OF DoRT.

II was, indeed, in itself a great honor
for Cornelius Van Baerle to be confined
in the same prison which had once receiv'
ed the learned master Grotius.
But, on arriving at the prison, he met
with an honor even greater. As chance
would have it, the cell formerly inhabited
Toy the ilustrious Barneveldte happened
20 be vacant, when the clemency of the
Prince ofOrange sent the tulip-fancier
Van Baerls there.
The cell had very bad character at
the castle, since the time wher GrotIus,
by mean. of the device OF his wife, made
escape from thence in that famous book
chest, which the jailers forgot 10 examine.
On the other hand. it seemed to Van
Baerle an suspicious omen that this very
cell was assigned to him; FOR, according
to his ideas, a jailer ought never to
have given to second pigeon the cage
from which the first had go easily flown.
The cell had an historical character,
We will only state here that. with the ex-
ception of an alcove. which was contriy-
Ell there for the use of Madame Grotius,
il differed in no respect from the other
cells of the prison; only, perhaps, it was
little higher. and had a splendid view
from the grated window.
Cornelius felt himself perfectly indiffer-
ent as to the place where he had to lead
an existence which was little more than
vegetation. There were only two things
now for which he cared. and the possess
sion of which was a happiness enjoyed
only In Imagination.
A flower and a woman, both Of them,
as he conceived. lost to him forever
Fortunately the good doctor was mis-
taken. In his prison-cell the most adj
renturous life which ever fell to the lot
Of any tulip-fancier, was reserved for him.
One morning. whilst at his window, in
haling the fresh air which came from the
river. and casting a longing look to the
windmills ofhis dear old city bort, which
were looming in the distance behind
forest Of chimneys. he saw fiocks OF
pigeons coming from that quarter, to
perch 6uttering on the pointed gable ends
of Levertein.
These pigeons, Van Baerle said to him.
sell, are coming from bort, and conse-
quently may return there. By fastening
little note to the wing Of one of these
pigeons, one might have chance TO send
q message there. Then after a few mo-
ments consideration, he exclaimed
81 will do it."
A man grows very patient who is
twenty-eight years OF age, and condemned
TO prison for life, that is to say, to some
thing like twenty-five or twenty-three
thousand days Of captivity.
Van Baerle. from whose thoughts the
three bulbs were never absent, made a
snare for catching the pigeons, batting the
birds with all the resources of his kitchen.
such as it was, for eight slivers (sixpence
EngIish) day; and, after a month of un>
successful attempts, he at last caught a
female bird
il cost him two more menths 10 catch
a male bird; be then shut them 10 to-
gether, and having about the beginning
Of the year 1913 obtained some eggs from
them, he released the female, which, leav.
ing the male bird behind to hatch the
eggs in her stead, flew joyously to bort,
with the note under her wing.
She returned in the evening She had
preserved the note.