Middletown transcript., 1888-11-22
For THE TRANSCRIPT.
LEON AND PONCE.
A Tale or the Children's Crusade by
q. NeroI. IA

1 "a E T. r
In the district of Cologne, in ths
| early part of the XIII century, dwell
a lad named Ponce. His father had been
killed in Palestine, whittier he had
gone under the command of Duke AlYa.
The letter also lost his life in fighting
to regain the Holy Sepulchre from the
Infdels, and both master and servant
rested in strange land.
| Ponce lived with his mother in a lit
tie hut some distance from the village.
They were very poor and had hard
struggle for existence. The boy tend
ed sheep for the young Duke Leon.
who would often come out to the field
and talk with him. Their common
bereavement made them firm friends
despite the inequality in their ranks.
Leon longed to help the widow and
her son, but, alas, he was as poor as
they. The church made heavy drains
upon his income and demanded his
tenants for crusaders, until his lands
were tenanted almost solely by widows
and orphans. He was also controlled
by guardians who appropriated every
penny spared by the church, and not
needed for the lads direct maintain
ence.
Oftimes would the two boys sit and
talk of the strange world that lay be-
yond the hills which bounded their
valley. They peopled it with all sorts
of strange beings and wondered if be-
yond the hills the sun shone so bright
ly or the birds sang SO sweetly.
They felt that the sun shone brightly
upon the Holy Sepulchre, and often
would they talk of that sacred spot,
now so sacriligiously possessed by the
Saracens.
One day, while talking of the Holy
Land, Leon cried fervently, "when I
am man, I will fight until death to
rescue the Holy shrine from the hands
Of the unbelievers.
"And 1 will go and be your hench-
man," Ponce responded zealously.
Scarce had these words been uttered
when noise was heard in the distance.
At first it sounded like the gathering of
a storm afar, but as it came nearer it
was like the babble of countless tom
gues. Even the sheep noticed it, as they
ceased grazing and held their silken
ears aloof.
Over the hills came a strange pro.
cession, hundreds Of children, some of
the most tender age and others just
merging into manhood and woman
hood. They were dressed in plain,
coarse gowns, with the cross of the
crusaders sewed upon the breast. In
their hands were carried banners and
crosses. Many were the feet unprotected
from the sharp stones of the highway,
but on marched the host, singing fer
vently
"Fairest Lord Jesus i
Ruler of all Nature,
Thou OF Mary and OF God the son.
Thee will I cherish,
Thee will honor,
Thou my souls glory, joy and
crown" |
In wonder did Leon and Ponce gaze
on this strange procession.
''Where 60 ye, o. children ?'' cried |
Leon.
"We go to get the cross from beyond |
the sea and to baptize the Moslem in
fidels," :" responded a hundred voices.
One of the older pilgrims advanced
towards the two friends who stood gaz-
ing in amazement at the wonderful |
sight.
Why stand ye here, o. children of
sin 7" demanded the pilgrim, "come
with us to regain the Holy Sepulchre
from the hands of the unbelieyers. -
"Alas," replied Leon.' how can such
an army of tender yearlings conquer
where so many knights and brave men
have failed ?''
I'VE will conquer by the might of
the Lord, responded the pilgrim, with
enthusiasm" To our leader it has
been revealed that to the army of the
lnnocents will the Saracens deliver
Jerusalem.
'But there is the sea to cross,n
Ponce ventured to suggest.
"Behold when we reach the sea the
water will fall back and we will pass
% Palestine on dry land, as did the
OF Israel through the Red Sea.
The Lord Jesus appeared to a shep-
lerd lad and declared this. Delay :
not but come with us, for thrice
blessed will be they who arrive first
it the Holy spot.n
Before he ceased speaking the lads .
lad decided what they would do. The
'ast moving throng, the flying banners
md shining crosses. together with
he commotion and singing, filled
hem with excitement and they need !
d no second bidding r., io;n etbar worth.