Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-07

the bells. the children in far-off Naumburg
are parading with branches laden with
clusters of red, ripe cherries.
In the first place perhaps you would
like to know Just where old Naumburg Is.
II you will look at the map of Germany
in your big atlas you will find Il in the
province of Saxony, In Prussia. on the
River eSaale. near the junction of the I'm
strut 1t is a large. fortified town. with
reminders of its ancient splendor in its
vast dim cathedral, and Its moat and lofty
walls. A lovely old romantic place 1t Is.
in the midst of orchards, and girdled by
tbs shining waters of It's double rivers
Being a large and well-fortifed town.
Naumburg was always a place of impor-
lance. So in time of war-and in the old
time folks seem to have been always fight
ing-it withstood many sieges, for there
was always somebody who wanted to get
the city away from its proper owners. OF
course, this made troublous. anxious times
for the people of Naumburg. It's most
famous siege was that by the Hussite army
under Procopius In the summer of 1882.
The Hussites were the followers of John
Huss Of Bohemia, religious reformer- In
less than dozen years after his death his
followers were numerous that they were
more powerful than their enemies. A great
army OF them marched UP and down Ger
many. plundering and burning the country.
and besiegfng the cities that did not open
their gates to them.
This HUSTLE war. as II was called. lasted
a number of years. and caused much suf-
fsring The leader of the Hussites was the
famous John Procopius, a dark, swarthy,
one-eyed man, enormously fat, and the
most cruel of them all
And now this savage. one-eyed old gen.
eral and his host OF warriors sat down be-
fore Naumburg, the inhabitants of which
closed their gates against him. Two
months the siege continued. and Naumburg
did not yield. The Hussite army drew clos
er and closer the lines around the city, anu
the eyes that had gazed anxiously from
the ramparts day after day for help now
knew that no help could reach them. Even
the stern, dark-browed warriors, who moro
than once had sailed out against the enc
my, dared no longer go without the gates.
Despair and famine stalked with silent
tread through the quaint, narrow streets
The provisions that had been gathered were
consumed and the people were gaunt with
hunger. Meanwhile, too, the enemy pinched
them more without. The hos summer sun
dried up the springs about the city. Pro-
copius vowed that he would take the city
and slaughter every man within 1t.
So there was good reason that brave
hearts faltered, that the mnstrel's harp
was silent and that tears glistened In the
eyes OF high-born dame and of lowly milk
maid. But better they thought the slow
death by famine than to be killed outright
by the Hussites, and so the sentinels with
Their coats OF mail kept watch upon the
walls
In the middle of the city rich citizen
named Wolfe had a walled garden, where
many cherry trees grew. Wolfe had been
very watchful OF his trees, and they had
made him both rich and famous. That sea-
son they promised more than a usual har-
vest. The trees were In blossom when Pro-
coplus sat down gebore the walls; now they
were red with the ripe. juicy cherries.
Returning from the walls one bright July