Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1904-05-13

~
S&o@ 12S5-doings the like of
which the old-world village had never
seen before, nor equalled since. All was
stir and hustle, the clachan was full of
men-at-armS and vassals, followers of
the great and powerful barons who,
in their turn followed their liege lord
the King; and he for some days before
hand had taken up his quarters with
in the precincts of the stately abbey.
Hither for days beforehand, too, had
been fiocking all the Migrants, as well
as the mobiles of the land Pipers,
fiddlers, glee maidens and harpers
jostled, elbow with elbow, naughty
knights, portly monks and high-born
dames-each and all eager to take
their places in the pageant, or share
the spectacle arising out of good King
Alexander's wedding. For therein lay
the reason of all the hustle and I'M
usual display in this old Border cla-
chan-King Alexander was that day
espousing the Lady Ioleat de Coney,
daughter Of the noble Count of Dreux,
and all were eager to witness the cere-
mony, if not to share in the banquet
to be held that night in honor of the
occasion.
This Alexander was he who had
been surnamed Tanner of the Ravens"
and was at that time a man in the
prime of life-a man wise in the judg-
ment hall. fierce on the battlefield,
gentle in lady's bower, and enthroned
in the hearts of his people-take him,
all in all, king the like of whom
Scotland was destined to see but once
again. So, it was no wonder the peo-
pie crowded to share in the mirth and
jollity of the occasion, to wish him
long life. and hope the gentle queen on
his arm would long be enthroned in his
heart and theirs.
Meanwhile, the monks of the abbey
grumbled loud and long because the
king had hidden the villagers to at
tend the banquet that night and help
on the dance. The lord abbot had sent
to countermand the order, bidding the
rustics. under pain of the displeasure
of Holy Church, to bide in their own
homes and refrain from INDUCING in
the sinful pleasure of dancing. But
this did not go Gown we'll with the
burghers, and Will, the Cauldron
Clouter, bold as lion, walked into the
kings presence. where courtiers bowed
at his knee and gentle ladies hung
about, to complain of the abbot's in
reference with their pleasure.
by ma sang!' cried the good king,
rising from his throne in displeasure,
| and striding through the abbey hall
with the stride of a warrior on the
battlefield, ''this mauna be. Every one
has my leave to enjoy himseI. for it's
no. every day a kings married; an
TAX your pleasure while you may is
guild sayin'"
So thereupon he sent for the abbot,
and reprimanded him before the whole
court.
What is this we hear, Lord Abbott"
he inquired ''Is it our wedding or
thine that We must needs turn the
guests away from us?"
Sire" answered the abbot, making
| his obeisance with a sour visage,
dancing is lure of the Evil One, and
it BELTS not these poor people to be led
! astray by such a device"
'By st. Andrews bones, Lord Alb
| botv' cried the king. there is no harm
in dancing and We did wrong TO gain
say me in this. Hearken now" he
continued, 'to what here ordain. Let
all the walkers, and wabsters and SOU
tars, and merchants, and millers and
cedgers frae the kintra round that are
SO minded set to at once and dance a
| reel to celebrate our waddin'. And
every landward lassie that so likes can
come the nicht-the bonnie lassie fresh
frae putin lint II be as we'll received
by us as ony naughty baron's dochtar.
And TAX tent that nae, monk inter-
| feres."
"Naught good can come of displeas-
ing Holy Church." said the abbot,
turning away with long lip; and the
courtiers were reminded of his words
later on that night
SO the t0wn-erier belied the kings
| proclamation through the town, and
the whole Of the populace from the
town-foot to the abbey, were soon gone
/ dancing mad-al dancing TO the we'll
being of the king.
The scene at the marriage feast that
| night was something the burghers did
not forget in hurry. The tables
| stretched from one end Of the hall
ptraight out into the caller air. and