Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-04-13
with your permission1 have cen

NAA yOuA huNC u Cu
dropped something
And, STOPPING. the scamp scholar
picked up a small leathern bound vol
ume from the ground, where it had
fallen during the struggle, and held II
tightly clutched in his hand. "Ah." lie
muttered, with glad sigh, II feared
I had lost Tiny Horace! And now,
Sir Jester, what would you with met"
"a question might answer with n
question:" replied the fool. Having
failed in your enterprise, why should
spare you;"
"You shouldn't" returned the vaga-
bond student. "Thc nncients teach but
the irrevocable law Of retribution."
TO hear would be assassin, a cast
away out of pocket and heels and ell
bows. calmly proclaiming the Greek
doctrine of inevitableness under sucA
circumstances would have surprised
an observer even more experienced and
worldly than the dukes fool. Involun-
tarily his face softened. This pauvre
dable gazed upon eternity with the
calm eyes of q Socrates
"You do not then beg for life?" said
the plaisant, his former Impotence
merging into mild curiosity.
is it worth begging for?" asked the
straitcned bookworin. Life means a
pinched stomach, cold body; death,
no hunger 20 fear and bed that,
though cold. chlls us not. What we
know not doth not exist-for us; ergo,
to lie in the ear to rest in the lap
of luxury for our consciousness of
it, But to be unconscious OF the ills of
this pershable frame Horace likewise
must be as dead to us as our aches
and pains Thus is life made prefera-
Bile to death. Yes. I would live Hold,
though he again hesitated in deep
thought. what avails Horace if"-
he began.
in the premises" observed the won
dering jester.
"Nanctte" was the gloomy answer.
"Who. pray. is Nanette?" asked the
fool. thrusting his assalants weapon
in his jerkin.
"a NuntOli uuEEuTU WHOSe tOlSuC
will run post sixteen stages together;
who would make the devil himself
mallcablc, then work, hammer and
wire-draw him.
And what is she to your"
"My wifc-that is. she claims that
exalted place, having married me one
night when l was in my cups through
false priest who dresses as Fran.
ciscan monk. Fools in the court of
God are these priests called, and truly
he is Jester. for certainly is he no
true monk. But Nanctte nevertheless
asserts she is the lawful partner of
my sorrows. SO work your will on me
A stroke, and the shvering spirit is
waited across the Styx"
And if l gave you not only your
life-for n consideration hereafter to
be mentioned n small silver piece
as well?' suggested the Jester. who
had been for some moments buried in
thought
"Ha" calculated the scamp student
Frightening. Your gift would match
the piece I already have and which,
dolt that | was-I overlooked to in.
clude in my chain Of reasoning" And
thrustinG his hand into his ragged
doublet after some search he extract
ed diminutive disk upon which he
gazed not without nrdor. "Thus are
we forced to start the chain Of reason.
ing anew" he remarked. with Horace
and this bit Of metal on one side of
the scales and Nanette on the other.
Now, unless the devil sits on the beam
with Nanette, which he's like to do,
the book and the bit of dross will out.
weigh her and we arrive ut the certi.
tude that life, qualified rs to duration,
may be happily endured"
What argument does the dross car.
~, knave?" demanded the fool, look.
ing down at the hound that crouched
at his feet.
with it may be purchased that
which warns the pinched stomach.
With it may be bought an elixir SO
strong and magical it may breed de.
finnce even of Nanette Sir Fool, I
have concluded TO accept life and the
small silver piece"
"Well and good" commented the Jest.
or. "But there are conditions attach
ed to my clemency."
conditions" retorted the vagabond.
what are conditions to n philosopher
once he has reached logical assur.
ance"
First, you must find ME n horse,
Your Nanette, as take 1t. is n gypsy,
and in the camp are surely horses"
but why should you want n horse
TITS not far to the castle" said the
puzzled scholar.
mo. but tits far away from it. Next,
tell me where YOU got that small piece
Of silver, like the one l have promised
you:"
"From Nanette"
"What for?"
"rO accomplish that which have
failed to do" replied the student will
ingly. But. alas. not having earned
it. have l the right idly to spend it?"
he added dolefully half to himself.
"Why did Nanette'-- began the Jest.
or.
But tho other raised his arm with an
expostulatory gesture. MANY things
know" he interrupted. "odds and ends
OF erudition, but n woman's mind
know not nor want TO know had ms
soon question Beelzebub as her: yea. to
CT ~, tbo JoviI with otioI,' .no,