The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-07-31

II . a
Ss& ow.ly ing
G E.s s2f y windswOpt
- coast, that
n,Cs sos,-= ~ = ycAra ngo tho
,SS.S y SSssi'SS'-Ss' S foam fringe ol
~alED the ocean lay
further To ths
east, 80 that whore now tho North Sea-
creops amoug the treachsrOuI sandraeis,
iE was once dry land, In those days,
between the Abbey and the sea, there
stood town Of seven towers and four
rich churches, surrounded by u wall oil
twelve stones thickness, making H. ~
men rsCkousd th0n, place Of strength
aud much import; aud the monks,
rlanclug their eyes downward from the
Abbey garden on the llllI saw beneath
their feat its narrow htrOals, COY with
the ever passing Of rich merchandise,
saw its many whRTvea and waterways,
ever noISy with tho babel Of strange
tongues; saw its many painted masls,
wagging their grave heads above the
dormsr roofs aud quainEly'carved OAK
Thus the town proSpsrsd until there
came q night when Il did evil IN the
tight Of God and man. Those Wers
troublous times to Saxon dWsllsrs by
the sen, for tho Danish wateT'rats
SWArmed round each river mouth,
scenting treasure from Altar; and BY
mono was the white dash OF their sharp,
strong teeth moro often Sdeu than Nv
the men OF Eastern Anglia, and by none
in Eastern Anglia moro often than by
tho watchers on the walls oil the townot
seven towers that once stood upon the
dry land, but which now lies twenty
fathoms deep below tho waters. Many
n bloody fight Wagsd now within its
walls OF twelve stones thickness. Many
4 groan OF dying man, many shrek
Of a murdered woman, many wall OF
mangled child, knocked IL the Abbey
door upon ita way TO heaven, calling
the trembling monks from their beds,
to pray for the souls that wore pass
ing by.
But at length peace came TO tue long.
troubled land; Dane 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-
joiced greatly, for all we're weary Of a
strife in which little had been gained
Oh either side beyond hard blows. and
their thoughts were OF the ingis.nonk.
So the long bearded Danes, their thirsty
axes harmless on their backS, passed TO
and from in struggling bands, seeking
where undisturbed and undtsturbing
they might build thor homes; and
thus it came about that HRariagor and
his company, a. the sun was going
down, drew near to the town Of seven
towers, that In those days stood on dry
land bot weOn the abbey and the sea.
And the men OF the town, seeing the
Danes, opened wide their gates, saying:
I'VE have fought, but now there 10
peane. Enter, and make merry With Us,
and tomorrow NO your way.
But Haariager made answer, ~ ain
an old man; pray you do not take my
words amisL There is peace between
us, as you say; and We thank you for
your courtesy, but the stains are still
fresh upon our swords. Lot us camp
here without your walls; aud little
Inter, when the grass has grown upon
the fields where WO have strlvon,
and our young mon have had time to
forget, we will make merry together, ne
men should who dwell side by side In
the same land"
But the men Of tho town still urged
Hnariagsr, calling his people neighbor';
and the Abbot, who had hastened
down fearing thore might be strife, add.
ed his word to theirs, saying:
"Pass in, my children. Let thore, in.
deed, be peace between you, that ths
blessing Of God may be upon the land,
aud upon both Dane and Saxon" for
the Abbot saw that the toWnsmen ware
we'll disposed toward tho Danes, and
knew that men, when they had ieaGtsd
and drunk together, think kinder Of
ons another.
Then answered HaSriAger, who knew
the abbot for holy man: Hold up
your stat, my father, that the shadow Of
the cross your people worship may fall
upon our path, 30 VIC will pass into the
town aud there shall DO peace between
us; for though your gods are not our
gods. faith between man and man is OF
all temples"
And the abbot held his stall nloft bo.
tween HaariHger'a people and tho Sun,
IL being fashioned IN. the form Of across,
and under its shadow the Danes passed
By into tho town Of seven towers, there
being Of them, with tho women and tho
little children, nearly two thousand
aouls, and the gates wore mado last be-
hind them.
SO they who hal fought face to face,
Toasted side by side, pledged ono an.
other in the wine cup, as was the Gus
tom; and llaGringcr'A men, knowing
themselves among friends, had cast
aside their arms; and when tue feast
was done, being weary, Ehey lay down
to sleep.
Thou an evil voice arose in tho town,
aud said. "Who arc those that have
come among us TO share our lnnd2 Arc
not tho stones Of our alrecis rod with
the blood Of wife and child that they
have Blain2 DO men let tho wolf 90
free when they have trapped him with
meat? Lot US fall upon them now that
they arc hoavy with food and vino, 40
that not ono among them shall escape.
Thus no further harm shall come to ul
from them nor from their children"
And tho voiCO OF evil prevailed; and
tho men OF tho town Of seven towers tell
upon tho Danes with whom thcy had
broken meat, oven to the women aud
the little children and tho blood OF tho
people Of llaaringer Criod with a loud
voice at tho abbey door; through tho
long night It ChOd saying:
II trusted In your spoken word. |
broke meat with you. ! put my faith
in you and your god. passed beneath
tho shadow OF your cross To enter your