The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-01-21
Young Folks.
Legends.
TuE FuuNpING or TnE Cry or AN
IA-CHArELIE.

TuE ForNpINa OF THE Cry OF hiN-
LA-ClIArELLE.
Tho Empcror Charlcmnguc govcrncdi an
n,irg Sunutines III one portion and again
in another, in order that he might make
himself acquainted with all his subjects and
understand their hearts and their necessities
and to this end he was always accessible to
all who desire to see him. At one time he
held his court at Zurich, and had erected
there column upon which was fastened
small bell, and any who wished to see the
Emperor had but to ring it and he would
himself appear. One day the bell was rung,
but when Charlemagne came to the place
| there was no one in sight. Again on the fol-
lowing day the same thing occurred. Then
the Emperor set a servant to watch, and his
surprise cannot be imagined when he saw
an immense serpent issue from a cave near
by and ring the bell. Charlemagne, who
was dining, was told of this, and he immedi-
ately left the table to hasten TO the spot
saying, "Bc il animal or man | will have
justice done to every one who demands it
of me-" Now when the serpent saw the
Emperor it bowed before him three times
and went slowly to its cave. The Emperor
and his suite followed there ALSO and before
the opening of the cave sat a monstrous toad
that stopped the entrance of the serpent. 1t
seemed that the serpent desired its removal;
so Charlemagne ordered that it should be
killed. A few days after as the Emperor
and his guests were about to sit down to dine
the same serpent came into the banqueting
hall and bowed to Charlemagne as before.
1t then crawled up to a drinking cup and
dropped therein splendid jewel of wonder |
ful size and beauty, and retired amidst uni |
versal surprise. The Emperor gave this
jewel to his,wife, and she wore it as an orna-
ment for her hair. 1t proved a magic stone,
and to have the power of fixing the heart of
the Emperor on whoever possessed it. Ever
after the Empress received it, Charlemagne
could not endure to be absent from her, and
his whole life and thought was devoted to
her and her happiness. Now as the Empress
felt the approach of death she feared lest
this treasure should fall into the hands of
some one unworthy of the love of Charlie
magne so she hid it under her tongue
and there it remained. Then was the fond
ness of the Emperor for the dead body of
his wife as great as it had been for herwhile
living and he habit enbalmed and carried
it with him wherever he went. At length
this wonderful devotion excited suspicion
in the mind of Archbishop Turpnus that
there must be something supernatural con-
nected with it, and as he was the constant
of Charemagne, he took an OPP
portunity to examine the dead body, and
soon found the jewel. This he took, and the
owe of of the Emperor was transferred to
himself, and he would not be separated from
lim any more than formerly he would be
rom the Empress. After time thi. became
7ery tircsome to Turpinus and in fit of
mpatience he threw the jewel into some
water they were passing in the western part
If Germany. Then Charlemagne was fac
mated with the country which contained ]
lis jewel for nothing destroyed its magic
influence. So he built here the town of
and the magnificent i
"a thedral there still bears his name. Here v
'e lovod TO stay, and he would sit for hours
md days beside the quiet waters which i,,d
he miraculous gem, andit is believed that S
t is from the wonderful effects of this magic
tone that the baths of fAix-La-Chapelle re-
eive their healing properties, and are SO
enefcal to those who use them