The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1882-10-26

Eierce and bitter was the struggle,
But the strife az length was Ger.
q And the joyful news went ringing.
Ended is the cruel war.
Proudly homeward rode his lordship,
Bold Sir Guy Of Athelderc;
Flashed his eyes with pride aud triumph
As his priliseS filled the air.
Every heart was fun OF gIadaesS
Said ], every hcartg All, mol
Here, amidst this joyful people,
One heart nc he'd with speeehless WOO:
Twas the little captive stranger.
Claude, the Vanquished Normans SON
Taken prls )ner. brought trophy
Of the victory they had won
BraveIy- fought he for his freedom,
And, when taken. smiled disdain
As his captors sto III itround him,
Smiled defiance wheu they told him
That Sir Guy his life would spare,
Should he serve and swe9r allegiance
To the house of Atheldare-
Spurned their offer, while his dark eyes
Spoke the scorn he could not tell,
As ne followed, without murmur, ..-.. .
10 his drealy prison-ceH
Then they left him, and his young heart
Bowed beneath its weight of pain
For moment. But he rose up,
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 her3
Like cloud the golden hair
Glanced and ripped in the sunlight,
Framing in her face 50 fair.
And the little Highland Princess
AS if by magic spell,
Seemed to feel her eyes drawn upward
To the dreary prison-ceH;
And tho sad, pale face she saw thero
Caused the ready tears TO start
While a womans gentlest pity
Filled the tender, childish heart.
Then firm resolve rose in her
Lit the troubled little face. M e. tr -
Not moment to be wasted,
Breafhfoss, hurrying from the place
On an errand fraught with mercy,
Straight she to her father sped;
Humbly kneeiing down before him, sfa
Lowly bowed the dainty head,
While the sweet lips, red aud quIvoring,
Fal erred out hor anxious plea,
Told her Tfty for. the captiye,
begged Sir Guy, to set him free. r
But he answered, sternly gazing
On the downcBst faco 50 fair -
" Can our daughter doubt the Justice
OF the house of Atheldare2 afitu
/" But we pardon this, ana tell you
OF our wise and just decree. masl.r
If this captive swear to serve us,
We will spare and set him free"
Thenup rose the little maiden ..I-- e.
Dauntlessly, without fear.
I" Would You have a traitor serve usF
Bang her voice out, sweet ami clear r.r
Aud Sir Guy, paused fora moment,
All his angeTtrom him fed
AS he watched her, flushed and eager,
While her cause she brayely plead. a--
Gravely smiled he as she ended,
Drew her gently on his l1nee; nA
=" lou have conquered, little pleader-
ou have gained the victory.
g But your Prince must earn his freedom:
Not with bow or spear in hand
We are weary of the bloodshed
spread 50 long throug ghout the land.
Let him ask our court n riddles E
? Six days grace to him we give,
And the court three days to guess It;
IF it fail, he then may live FL araa H8
Once more in the pleasant courtyard fs7
Tfa aad4 I 44sn Ia 4olfd In rleu
Surely he could ind u riddle
That would save and set him free.
But five long days and Ave. nights passed,
And the Prince no riddle gave;
To h brain, all dazed with sorrow,
Came no thought his life TO save
And the little blue-eyed Princess
Pondered sadly what to do
or herold nhrse, tried and true.
Co." her nurse said as she finished,
GO, and search the green fields over, 81
Never stopping for an instant
TIL you find four-lcaf clover. a1r
=. Take aud put IL in a riosegay,
In the center, full in sight,
Throw it to the little captives
All promise will c Duae right"
Out into the merry sunshine,
While her feet scarce touched the ground,
Went the Princess, never stopping
Till the treasure she had found.
Threw it, with the pretty nosegay,
In the window, barred and grated.
Then, and only then, she paused
i
Through the window. barred and grated,
IN the dFeary prson-cen,
Like n ray OF happy sunshine
At his feet the nOsegny fell.
As he raised and held It gently,
While the burning tears brimmed over,
Through the mist he caught glimpse
OF the little four-ie # clover
Thoughts went d9shing through his brain,
And before the evening dew
Kissed the howers of the land,
All the court this riddle knew:
" Fourteen letters am / made Of
Over countries fair and bright,
Under many different heavens,
Raise we flags, both red aud 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'or to lind me out,
Luck I'd surely bring 20 you.
Often of me have you heard,
Very often seen me, too:
Ere you turn away from me,
Read me well-my name you II see.
Three days passed, unguessed the riddle,
And the sun rose joyfully,
Turned the prison bars all golden,
Told tho captive be was free.
Life had never looked so radiant,
Il nth had never seemed so fair;
Sang the birds and played the fountain,
Sweetest fragrance hlIed the air.
But the day wore slowly on,
Sank the sun from out the sky
Ere the waited sutnnfons came,
And he stood before Sir Guy.
II the stately council there
Knet he down. with peerless grRces
T Not a tinge Of doubt or fear
In the proud patrician face.
y To him, then, began Sir Guy:
" You have earned your fre9dOm well,
And, we pray you. speak the answer
That our court has tailed 10 feu-
Then up rose the iittlo captive aEaf
While Bis eyes with fun danced over:
- If you read its letters 1wffwnTd,
You win find a four-leaf clover ra
Aud Sir Guy laughed long and loud
As he read the riddle through,
y hat the court had failed to guess
With the answer in full view sraz
So the little Prince was saved,
And ere many days were DER,
Happily he sailed away H mH
Toward bfs longcd-for home once more.
But he carried back memory "a ra.e
aa OF courtyard fresh and fair,
Where there walked little Princess
Rsldiant with her golden ,hair. Ill q t.. .
so my story almost hnshed,
And The end need ttell=z +a
For or course It's In the ringing
y OF Joyful Wedding-Dell.
-st. Nicholas.