The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-07-31


the North esa creeps among the
treacherous sandreefs, 1t was once dry
land. In those days. between the Ao-
bey ana the sea. there stood a town
Of seven towers and four rich churches,
surrounded by . wall Of twelve stones
thickness, making It. as men reckoned
then. place Of strength and much i'm
port; and the monks, glancing their
eyes downward from the Abbey garden
on the hill. saw beneath their feet its
narrow streets. gay with the ever pass
Ing OF rich merchandise, saw its many
wharves and waterways, ever noisy
with the babel TO strange tongues; saw
tts many painted masts. wagging their
grave heads above the dormer roofs
and quaintly-carved gables.
Thus the town proepered till there
came q night when it did evil in the
sight Of God sxsd man. Those We're
troublous times to Saxon dwellers by
the sea. for the Danish water-rats
swarmed round each river mouth.
sceuking treasure from afar; and by
none was the white fash Of their sharp.
strong testh more often seen than by
the pnen q Eastern Anglia. and by none
In Eastern Anglia more often than by
the watchers on the walls OF the town
OF seven towers that once stood upon
the dry land. but which now lies twenty
fathOm deep below the waters. Many
a bloody fight ragged now without and
now within its walls Of twelve stones
thickness. Many a groan of dying
man, many o shrek Of murdered wo-
man many q wall of mangied child.
knocked at the Abbey door upon its way
to heaven, calling the trembling monks
from their beds. to pray for the souls
that were passing by
But at length peace came to the long
troubled land. Dame and Saxon agree
ing to dwell In friendship side by side,
East Anglia being wide. and there be-
ing room for both. And all men re-
3oiced greatly. for all We're weary of a
strife In which little had been gained
on either side beyond hard blows, and
thor thoughts were of the ingle-nook.
SO the ions-bearded Danes. their thirs-
ty axes harmless on tbsr backs, passed
to-and-fro In stragSlSks bands, seeking
where undisturhd4 and undisturbing
they might rksiId their homes; and
thus It CAME about that Haarfsger and
his comp 4ny. as the sun was going
down. GREW near to the town Of seven
towers, that in those days stood on dry
land 1Setween the Abbey and the sea.
\ And the men Of the town, seeing the
Danes. opened wide their gates, say
iug' I'VE have fought. but now there
~ peace. Enter. and make merry with
q !. and tomorrow go yodr way"
49, 34ssStageE made answer, Il am
old man; pray you do not take my
ortas amass There 70 peace between
a. you say; and We thank you for
bur courtesy, but the stains are still
eeh upon our swords. Let us camp
Ere without your walls; and little
Ter, when the grass has grown upon
~ fields where we have striven, and
oufH young men have had time to forget.
we Iwin make merry together, as men
sh{Cuh who dwell side by side In the
saGlhe land"
But the men Of the town still urged
tIaarfkgeF. calling his people neigh
1ers; and tire Abbot, who had hastened
Down fearifs there might be strife,
ADDED his words to theirs. saying:
'.Pass in. my children. Let there, In
deed, be peace between you. that the
blessing Of God may be upon the land
and upon 10Th Dane and Saxon;" for
TIE AbboaH1k W that the townsmen were
well disposed towards the Danes, and
knew mat men. when they had feasted
and drunk tosethS think kinder of one
another. ~ ..
! Then answered Haarfager, who knew
the Abbot for holy man: Hold up
your staff, my father, that the shadow
6f the cross your people worship may
fall upon our path, so we will pass into
the town and there shall be peace be.
tween Us: for though your gods are not
our gods, fal.h between man and man is
Of all temples"
And the Abbot held his staff aloft be.
tween Haarfager's people and the sun
It bedng fashioned in the form of q
Cross, and under Its shadow the Danes
paeaed by into the town of seven tow.
erS, there being Of them, with the wo.
men and the little children. nearly two
made fast behind them.
so they who had fought face to face
eeasted side by side. pledging one an.
other in the wine cup. as was the Gus.
tom; and Hahrfagers men, knowing
themselves among friends, had cast
aside their arms; and when the feast
was done. being weary, they lay down
to sleep.
Then an evil voice arose In the town
and said: who are these that have
come among ms to share our land? Are
not the stones Of our streets red with
tihe blood Of wife and child that the,
have slain? Do men let the wolf ge
free when they have trapped him witt
meat? Let us fall upon them now thai
they are heavy with food and wine, st
Ahak not one among them shall escape
Thus no further harm shall come to u.
from them nor from their children"
And the voice OF evil prevailed: ant
the men Of the town of seven tower.
fell upon the Danes with whom the,
had broken meat even to the woYner
and the little children; and the blood
Of the people of I1aarfager cried with 4
loud voice at the Abbey door; through
4 che long night It cried, saying:
II trusted in your spoken word.
broke meat with you. I put my faith
IN you and your God. I passed be
meath the shadow Of your cross to ente
your doors. Let your God make an
6werr' Nor was there silence till tn,
dawn.
Then 4he Abbot rose from where HI
enelt ana called to God. saying: "rho,
hast heard, oh, God. Make answer"
And 4hers came great sound from
the sea a. though . tongue had beef
given to the deep. 30 that, the monk
Tell upon their knees in fear; but th
Abbot ansWered: 1T II the voice o
COD. epsaking through the waters. H
hath mado auSwer."
AoA thaA winter q mighty storm