Smyrna times., 1879-07-23
Two Little Princes.


but few have heard the even sadder tale of
two other little princes born about the same
time, and living in neighboring country.
Poor little Henri and Francois de Nemours!
-one sickly babe of seven, the other only
eight years old. They were taken from a
loving mother and happy home to see
their fathers head cut off by the cruel king
of France-Louis XI. Side by side, dressed
al in white, the poor children stood beneath
the scatfold, hardly understanding the ter
rible scene. When all was over the little
boys were hurried off to the great prison of
Paris, the Bastile, there to be punished in
their turn. Those were cruel old days, as
you see, but how cruel no happy child of
the nineteenth century can guess.
Not only were these little lads shut up in
prison, but, to add to their sufferings, each
was placed in sort of terrible iron cage,
barred all round, and made of such shape
that they could neither sit nor lie down
nor stand in it properly. To be always un-
comfortable, that was the design of these
wicked inventions, and always uncomforta-
BILE were poor little Henri and Francois.
Their only bit of consolation consisted in
the fact that the cages were hung so close
together that the poor prisoners could see
each other, speak to each other, even clasp
nanuS through the bars.
You would think that such punishment
was sufficiently severe for two little boys
who had done no harm themselves; but
the monster who called himself "Most
Christian King" did not think so, and his
new idea was to order surgeon to go once
week to the prison, and pull out tooth
of each child.
Little Fransois burst into tears of terror
xyh0V1 he haoul - c.I
Henri turned very pale; but it was not
brave boy and dreaded nothing; it was lit
tie Francois he was thinking Of.
Sir" he entreated, "my mother would
die Of grief, if you hurt my little brother.
Take my tooth out if you will, but don't
hurt him."
Fortunately, the doctor was kind man,
and he was touched by the heroism of the
little prisoner.
My boy" he answered gently, were
to grant your request, my own life would
be at stake. am strictly watched; must
show the governor of the Bastile the two
| teeth at the close of every visit
Then take two of mine," said Henri,
without an instant's hesitation, only leave
| Francois alone. lie is such little boy,
and is so often i'll, and am always WE'LL"
The doctor was moved to tears by this
| appeal, and his first idea was to give up the
whole matter, and to tell the governor that
he could not execute SO cruel an order.
| But then he knew that some one else would
be sent in his place, some harder-hearted
creature, who would in no way consider the
poor children. And little Francois was so
pale and sickly that the fright and pain
would surely kill him. So he thought for a
moment and then carried out Henri's
wishes, took out two of his teeth, and left
| little Francois unhurt.
The brave boy never WINGED nor cried,
though poor little Francois did both at the
sight of his brother suffering for him.
Week by week came the doctor, and week
week Henri cneerlully parted with two
teeth, till all were gonel
He did not mind the pain much, and
| Francois was saved. But bad air and want
of exercise and a mothers love, did fol
poor little Henri what actual suffering could
not do-they undermined his health and
brought on slow fever. Not much talking
went on now between the prisoners. Henr
was too weak so cheer his little neighbor a:
he used to do. But the last day the e-' 'e
spirit flickered up and he called to his baby
brother, "Dear, | am going to leave you
Ahl | am sorry not to see our mother be
fore die. My heart tells me you will sooT
see her, and when you do, mind you say
that died loving her better even than
did when lived at home with her."
At these sad words little Francois burs
! into a 1Ouu ut tears uul the elder boy la {
back pale and exhausted, till minu,,
, after he said softly: "G.,e me your hanC
and press mine very tightly"
Poor little man a stronger hand thar
that Of baby of seven should have led hin
gently to the gates of death But all thi
was a piece with the cruelty of Louis x
,, No persuasion would have induced him tc
allow mother or nurse to come nearer tn
wretchsd children.
A poor priest, indeed, was present, q
first doubtless seeming only another jailo
= in the eyes Of the forsaken babes; but b
was a goodman, and had stood beside man
i death.bed in that firm old fortress, learr
y ing from his kind heart what to say to eac
sufferer.
: So to the sinking child no spoke strane
y yet pleasant words of seeing dear fatht
u again in Heaven" and when the poo
orphan smiled at the happy thought,
. told him another Father up in that sam
Heaven, even more kind and loving, WI
y waiting for His tired, tortured little one.
= Even Francois could understand thi
- while Henri lay very still, soothed an
~ comforted. All at once the little he
raised himself, and firm voice exclaime
i Francois, son must take care of my dick
n bird"
=, They were his last words, and with tn
~ innocent expression Of solicitude for his ol
= plaything, the spirit of the little Due
y Nemours passed away beyond the bars
y - the cage, beyond the firm Bastile. IT
20 bird flew from the hand of the dead mast
- to that of the living brother. II had beer
- pet to both, feeding out Of their hands
=, = prison crumbs, and coming at the call
- either.
. Henri was right in thinking that lit
rs Francoisswould be restored to his fami
20 The death of Louis XI. few years later
=; complished this, though the poor little |
,s remained lame and sickly to the end of
% 30 days, owing to his suffering in captivity.
-, At the taking of the Bastile, in 1899, t
~ iron cages were discovered, their sha
;"I identifying them as those constructed
' those unhappy children. They W,
nv broken to pieces by the populace with or
~ of horror. So ends the pitiful tale of
Co. little princes in the Bastile.-& W. Pres
sn teriaH.
- Paradoxical as it may seem, man {
" be too drunk to climb up ladder, yet
4 exot ,ar. okaraa NTH fni1rh aaaa ne