New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-24
UNDER THE MISTLETOE.
A BOY AND GIRL IN THE MIDDLE AGES.

"Will you he my lady, to serve ana hght ior Will
am knight T. said the page. o,.
THAT is much TO ask" answered the Lazy 'nriS
II was the heiy Christmastide. and the children
had wandered ont together under the clois;erS OF
the church adjoining the castle. ne snow Jay on
the earth, and every pillar ana do9Trwg , mTc
wreahe with the mystic mlstlet9P: inosa "a
feudal lords were 40 many academies OF honor
TO which came the sons and daughleTS Oh hopioS "
be trained as knights and ladies-the boys
In letters. arms,
Fair MEN, discOurses civil exercises,
And all the blazOn Of gentleman;
the girls to he accomplished in the use of hnmanz-
ing and refining Influences reared to become the type
and symbol of all the gentle charities OF ne; ploS,
LIBERAL courthouse deft with the needle, falnlla,
with the songs Of Ministries. and the romances OF
HIGH deeds; versed in solving the khotly quesIioh'
Of gallanTy and love.
When the page received this somewhat dubious
reply from the lips of the Lady ChriStne, ms heatt
faitered She was thirteen years of age, ana above
him in birth, being the cousin or the queen out
ever since she had come TO court as future knlght
might he had set her blue eye in his hart. 20 ne
the lodestars ruling his destiny. Following me
customs of the day, he had been tanght 10 treat AZ
ladies with Difference like superior beings but ne
had said to himself he would serve ana rove me ne
Lady Christine only and that she and ms guardian
saint would make his career. Since taxing ms III
ward VOW as he learned to guide his horses grace
fully TO use the bow and the sword. and 70 manage
This Christmas was an event'nl season Tor.
before many days, having rcached DIS M leenth yc.
he was TO take the solemn oath before me Disnop 10
defend TO his utteTmOst the oppressed, the Widow
and the orphan; to be careful of all women|slhRie
and married-to let nothing be wanting VI MN u
render travelling safe. and TO destroy tyranny
After this conservation of himself he was 10 ne
raised for further discipline to the rank OF
sqgIe and set forth to serve Gh fe OF pae o AS he
now replied 81 have always said TO myseli
that you would be my lady and that would serve We
no othor and the other day when Acne one 0d s
quTe so that il never turned to smite me with
its senseless hand, | heard Sir Roland say, BY my
head the boy Hugh will make O good knight;
will take him. lit pleaseth the King, to serve me
as NV squire Hearing this, my first thought was
of yGu and that | might appear more worthy
"Ah!" said Lady Christine slowly, ana looking at
him with unflinGhng, earnest eyes, 10 DO my
knight you must not only be the brayest, but You
must also play the harp like minstrel, ana know
Latin and be full of learning as Doctor Gramma-
"if Won will but think OF it. how can ever he
as learned as Doctor Grammarius" replied the page
deectedly. He pores over fo1os oil day long,
Since he was n boy he told me he has pored over
them Certain am. the image Of damsel never
ruled his heart. | cannot think OF Doctor Gram.
marius riding war horse and going In quest OF
Nay, nor can J." cried the Lady Christine, and
both children laughed aloud at the picture OF ne
doctors lean legs astride on a charger and his
learningtired eyes peorng out for robbers and dis
Il shall not set my mind on the learning; but
You must play like q minstrel" persisted Lady
II shall never cease to practise the harm in the
intervals of lighting said the boy more chcerly.
"And as | ride my war horse-It shall be u white
horse with red eyes"
And tail that sweeps the ground put in Lady
Christine. ,,-.--.,.
the Lords name and puuiShing the robbers, ! shall
wear your glove; shall cry aloud, For The peer
less Lady Clrstnes sake, of the blne eyes, 50 that
all the world will know your name
d" That pleaseth me" said The girl
" One day" continued the boy, drawing nearer
" shall come III the deep forest 10 dolorous spot
q cavern, the entrance covered with nONlOus
plants From il will emerge doleiul
plants 1t will seem a fearful place:
my horse will shrink and nem9le as !
draw near il; my faithful h0Gnd will whine; bat
shall lift my crOsshlted sword. given me when
took my vow to st. George and the Archangcl
Michael and shouting the name Christine shall
rush IN" The boy spTang forward TO illustrate his
future action. his glance Frightening, his smooth
forehead aglow with the emotion OF that fray with
evil, when his gallant young heart would be nerycd
by the thou ht of his lady.
'"Ohl go on," cried Christine. caspng her hands
and signing with mingled Satisfaction and interest.
"a lady will be in the cavern" continued the
page. in lower tones, Returning 20 her side, bound
by the wicked enchantments OF wizard. AND
a !oathsome dragon wi! he guarding Der. On! IT
. . But | shall he :hc victor. 1 shall release the
lady. Perhaps / shall be sore wounded; then she
viii lead me hCme TO her castle. Aud perhaps
as Elaine loved Launccot she will love me, and ask
me to wed her. But | shall make answer, No!
only one lady l loye and serve, Christine OF the
Blue Eyes -. To her belongs the victory give
her the praise And l shall ride away and leave
II take You for my knight, . said Lady Christine,
appiOYiuEly, extending to the page a bough of
misetoe that she had been holding in her hand.
He took it, and with pretty reverence bowed his
head over it. ." shall keep 1t always" be said;
" Ii shall he my badge. shall wear il all withered
in my helmet at the tournament when come TO
fight for y0u against all opponents. Aud il is OF
good omen," continued the boy iOyOusly, for yes
..,,s,,
concerning the mistletoe ana they did al point TO-
its being the emblem of divine and honorable love-"
." Tell me what the doctor sald.' commanded Lady
Christine addressing the page III IA new tone OF
! "'The puIp6rt of one - replied Hugh, was that
the mislctoe was once goOdly Tree but that the
cross winch our dear Lords body hung having
been made OF its wood ii wlthcred away If
cursed and yet 50 long as this world exists
it must lingcr upon it-rOOtleSs, hanging on the
branches OF trees, set midst Heaven and earth-tO
remind rs of the SaviOur's love. And the other say
ing right fair one al'o, tor 1t told that the
plant had always been as it now Is, and
our Lord on earth. when the foolish
heathens wOrshipped the sun, they thought this
plant, because its leaves and branches were forhed
like the lightning, had virtues in 1t TO keep evil
spirits away. On the darkest days of the year
the days now blessed by holding the birthday of
ChTist-evli spirits walked upon the earth, bu they
were atlrghted at the sight of tine holy bOugh and
dared not cross the threshold of that door over
which il hung SO Doctor Gramnarus said pure
and faithful love III mans heart keeps evil pas
sOns from it,"
Lady Christine nightly pleased with those
sayings concerning the mistletoe, and then the chill
dren fell 10 chat once more of the future The
legends of the Knights and King Arhur's Round
Table; the ballads wherein were recorded the cx-
PLOTS of ChaTlemagne and Childe Roland the lays
of the MINISTRIES, furnished kindlng examples of
prOwess; but Sir Hu.h 10 suTpass all these he
rOes and the damsel, as Zinet had been in the
was TO prove obdurate until her knights
fame was unsurpassed. Wien the recital
of these future combats with maraudcrs,