The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-12-29
A PEASANT HUHC;MG.
roUND.r OK FACT.


OF saint' and licroe, holi,
And H. I - Book al Life her namo
Ii VIZ IN Iin.s III gold.
Twas In the d-eac.s w,ntcr,
NA0i TIC s,ov lay ;hicl: and white,
A"t ii. tl,u 81. tusidc the hearth
"a t!i .lici.t ring :.rcIi;at:
N..'..c ROMA The lonely house the wind
"cnt iEou:..Di; through the night.
Two sturdy peasant children.
Who Kept THEN lICh aono
For the elders t. t..- viiago
few miles OF had gone
3cdutc. louscwifcly little I;cino,
Ind Sc" .-yc:r-C.iI Aa:o.ac.
Tlcy sa, and talked together
g.. -. > childish gee.
Tie hi: - curly Lead 81; rest
E.aile; his sisters knee,
And hcuC tolG = cries while she pied
her nee dies busily.
but lark! What sound comes up the wind
From Tic great plain beneath?
The children started TO their feet
And, lis;cni g. held their breath
And thca the wo young faces turned
As pale as p;..c as DEATH
" The wolves! 1t is the horrid wolvesl"
RcDc srrang toward the door;
WIKI trembling hands she drew tho bolt
More closely than before;
ION, Antoine, pile nc legs up high,
A.id make them blaze yet morcI"
With rcd glare on tho cleaning snow,
Shonc out inc lcnpng fame,
But 81 The door the bowling pack
With frantic claiaor came
They shook 1t with their savage claws
1t trcmblcd In its framcl
Tho children chung together
In mortal agony,
1hcrc Was no succor nigh ut hand
NO place for them to fly
a crazy plank between them stood
And the death that they must diei
"Oh. dear Lord, save nv brothcr,r
The elder sister prayed;
And then she started to her feet
And felt no moro afraid:
For quick as light sudden thought .
Flashed on the little maid.
The press beside the fircl
!! she could reach up thcre-
Thsrc was just room enough for ond,
Bat not an inch to sparcl
She seized her brother In her arms
And struggled on 4 chair.
Outside tho beasts were cnmorpg "
With howlngs yet more wild,
Into tho dark but safe rcccss
She thrust tho frightened child;
She turned the key and 'gainst the bars,
Some heavy logs she piled.
Twas done! Tho decd of rescue
1t scarce was safely ocr,
When with grooming, awful crash,
Fell down the rotten door
The wolves rushed IN! Did angels weep
To see such suffering sore!
AT last the village Is astir,
The wolves are all at bay,
Forth from the little house they rushed
And left their scnso!css prey;
While after them with gun end spear
Men track their desperate way
Across the blood stained threshold
The frantic parents go:
And then upon tho frosty air
Rings ont wall of WOO,
AS, by the little rianglcd form,
The awful truth they know.
They clasp their other darling
"Dnt Refine, our Refine" they cried
And then the little sobbing Ind
Tells how she mnde him hide,
And face TO face with hideous death
Stood gallantly outsidcl
Why linGcr DER the story.
So full OF WOO and pniEs
AT rest in the Good Shepherds fold
Is valiant little Refine,
Where never cruel. providing wolf
Can harm or fright again!
But STILL throughout tho country,
Fer name Is honored long,
And the village people chant her praise
In native rhyme and song,
And tell about the Quenchiess love
That made her heart so strong
A little peasant maiden,
Yet She 90 well had striven,
That unto her Il glorious crown,
The martyrs crown, was given,
And place among tho deathless ranks
OF Gods dear ss..nts in Heaven.
Christian Burke in Argosy Z