The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1882-11-23
For Young Readers.
THE YOUNG PRINCES RIDDLE

L
Fierce and bitter was the struggle, ..E.
But the strife at length was DER,
And the joyful news went ringing,
Ended is the cruel war
Proudly homeward rode his lOrdshp,
Bold Sir Guy of Atheldare;
Flashed his eyes with pride and triumph
AS his praises filed the air. ....' -
Every heart was full of gladness
Said j, every heart? All, moi
Here, amidst this joyful people,
One heart ached with speechless woe:
Twas the little captive stranger.
Claude, the vanquished Norman's son
Taken prisoner, brought trophy
OF the victory they had won. I"-s..f..
Bravely fought he for his freedom,
And, when taken, smiled disdain
AS his captOrs stood around him, .ss..r,...
Bound his arms with gyve and chain;
Smiled defiance when they told him - s.
That Sir Guy his life would spare, .r.
Should he serve and swear allegiance
To the house of Atheldare- ..,,r-Es-3
Spurned their offer, while his dark eyes
Spoke the scorn he could not tell,
As he followed, without murmur,
TO his dreaIy prison-cell.
Then they left him, and his young heart
Bowed beneath its weight of pain
For moment. But he rose up, .r,..
Calm and cold and proud again.
From without the grated window,
In the pleasant court below,
He could see the little Princess
As she wandered to and fro.
Long and eagerly he watched her;
Like cloud the golden hair
Glanced and rippled in the sunlight,
Framing in her face so fair. ..-
And the little Highland Princess,
AS ii by magic spell,
Seemed to feel her eyes drawn upward
To the dreary prison-ceI; -lr
And the sad, pale face she saw there
Caused the ready tears to start,
While a woman's gentlest pity
Filled the tender, childish heart
Then firm resolve rose in her
Lit the troubled little face.
Not moment to be wasted;
Breathless, hurrying from the place
On an errand fraught with mercy, ~
Straight she to her father sped; r..#
Humbly kneeling down before him,
LOwly bowed the dainty head,
While the sweet lips, red and quivering
Fal cred out her anxious plea, .rf "a
Told her pity for the captive, ~,
Begged Sir Guy to set him free. e
But he answered, sternly gazing
On the downcast face SO fair: Va ''.. Vi"
- Can our daughter doubt the Justice
OF the house of Atheidare?
s. But we pardon this, and tell you
OF our wise and just decree:
II this captive swear to serve us,
We will spare and set him free"
Then up rose the little maiden
. Dauntlessly, without a fear.
- you'd you have traitor serve us?'
Rang her voice out, sweet and clear.
And Sir Guy paused for a moment. ;
All his anger from him fed,
As he watched her, flushed and eager,
Whlle her cause she bravely plead.
Grayely smiled he as she ended, I
. Drew her gently on his knee:
: GU have conquered, little pleader-
gu have gained the victory.
But your Prince must earn his freedom:
NOT with bow or spear in hand .-
We are weary of the bloOdshed
Spread 80 long throughout the land
Let him ask our court riddle;
SIX days grace TO him we give, .r-
And the court three days to guess it:
Ii it fail, he then may live"
Once more in the pleasant courtyard ;H
Danced the little maid in glee; ..
Surely he could find a riddle
That would save and set him free. a4'asa
But five long days and five nights passed,
And the Prince no riddle gave; = NJ
To his brain. all dazed with sorrow,
Came no thought his life to save,
And the little blue-eyed Princess
Pondered sadly what to do, .-.-... e.
I'LL at last she sought the counsel
VI her old nurse, tried and true
90, her nurse said, as she finished, "a
60, and search the green fields over.
Never stopping for an instant
I'LL you find a fOur-leaf clover.
Take and put it in nosegay.
In the center, full in sight
Throw 1t to the little captive:
All promise will come right
Out into the merry sunshine,
Wnlle her feet scarce touched the ground
Went the Princess, never stopping
I'LL the treasure she had found.
Threw it, with the pretty nosegay.
In the window barred and prafed
Then. and only then, she paused-.....
Paused, and hoped. and feared and waited
through the window, barred and grated.
In the dreary prison-cell, &
Like ray OF happy sunshine
AT his feet the nOSegay fell. ID. Do =
As he raised and held it gently. ss3t1
While the burning tears brimmed over. f.
through the mist he caught glimpse
vi the little fOur-leaf clover.
Thoughts went dashing through his brain.
And, before the evening dew
Kissed the flowers of the land, s 3
All the court this riddle knew:
Fourteen letters am made of.
Over countries fair and bright, @
Under many different heavens,
Raise we flags, both rod and white
Living with my many brothers,
Ever in the long. sweet grass. =.
AS we play. the happy zephyrs
Fan us gently as they pass,
Glanced yOu e'er to find me out