Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-05-14

eleventh birthday when he drove to tho race
cent black hoises all his He had reason
10 be proud f.. T. s. nc' the lot Of many boys to
have the march of q victorious army halted. that their
birthdays in celebrated with military games.
The fiery steeds pranced and curvetcd. Tho heavy
unsteady chariot, clumsy IL magnificent,
rocked from side to side. A hundred hands
ready 10 take the roins should the emporors young
give the nod; but though his arms seemed al
most pulled from their sockets ana his footing shifted
with he swaying chariot, he would not give BOYS
expected TO be hardy and fearless in those days
Young Geta had already been two years with his
father In the army sleeping accomplishing IL need
be. the bare ground. eating anything nothing,
seeing sights which our byayest men could hardly
bear. lie frank and friendly little fellow.
whose greatest pride endure all the hardships
that the Roman soldiers suffered What wonder that
the whole army loved him. and that the emperor.
SeptimiUs Severus preferred him his sullen older
brother Caracaa'
when thc brilliant cortcge reached the amphithea-
ter where the games were 70 be held Gca was placed
In the seat OF honor at he riHht hand Of the en-
peror and happier face than his looked down
upon an assembled audience. At the left with brow
black with anger Getas was bright vi n hap
pness sat the Older son. Cara ala, whose heart
full OF bitterness at this honor paid 10 his brother
Il little provincial town The amphitheater
did not begin TO compare With the wonderful Colos-
seum at Rome The citizens had made great effort
adorn it suitably for the emperor The place re-
served for his train hung with the richest dra-
peries the time produced, but f. not far
moved from the seats OF the common neople as vas
fitting to the Roman ideas OF etiquette. Cara
ra!a scO"le1 as he took his purplo-drape seat fer
the mass-the vulgar herd. he called them con
them with his hand
Geta, with shining face, watched every movement
of the wrestlers. Caracalla looked idly about with
eyes Of disdain At last the climax seemed to have
come. The whole amphitheater was silent in breath
less interest; even Caracalla began to show some
faint sign Of attention One cOmba ant after another
had been downed by one stalWart Roman soldier who
now challenged the world. Just at that moment
luckless slave child from tier Of seats above Cara
calais left hand leaned too far over lost his balance
and fell, and cuchinc wildly at emptiness to save
himself somehow, struck the empeTors heir full IN
the face
Oh what an angry Caraca'la started m from the
purple scat and with scowls and fierce inprecation
rderod that the unlucky child had unintention-
ply lnaulted him should at once be put to death
Pale and trembling the little lad dragged before
the emperor and his sons ana the deadly swords OF
Caracallas guard Of soldiers we're drawn from their
shoaths.
It the common punishment for such an oTense.
The emperor and his sacred. 10 one
touched Them unbdden save at penalty OF death But
the little lad who had unwttingly offended was SO
small and innocent lie scarcely comprehended 1t
all and was more shaken BY the fall than by his i'm
pending doom, only realizing that some danger was
near and everyone else looking upon him in an
ger. But Geta's face alone friendly and ptful
and flung himself down at the feet OF the emperor'a
younger son, cnglng to hts robe.
II would only have made his punishment more
swift If II had been Carecallas robe he seized. but
Geta was made Of enderer as well Drawer stuff
Reaching gently down. he caught the litte praying
hands inJo his own.
"Father," he said this IS my birthday. nave
right TO a boon. ask for The life OF his boy
But the stern emperOrs face wore no look Of con
sent. The majesty OF Rome had been insulted. What
did the life Of one slave boy matter among the mill
lions subject 10 his sway? TO him it seemed IN
fitting his dignity that such crime. even though
unintentional, should 90 UNPUBLISHED.
1T Is impossible, my SON. he said. ASK It M
move. Give up this request and will order a whole
f'adiatorial show to please you But that such an In
suit an emperor's son should go unayenged, 1t il
rs impossible as that yonder Roman soldier in tn
arena should be overcome by one Of these barbarian
ThracidHs
But Geta with the small curly head OF the slay
child between his knees. looked anXiOusy 10 TIT
ANY delay 10 be welcomed
"Wait, father; only walt till the games are I'm
shod,' he begged. "Let the boy stay safe with m
til The games are over. Then, ii Roman soldier 4
still the victor | will give him up
The emperor loot ed at mis- layorite son. II wa
hard to deny him Vie made sign to the soldier
who had dragged the child before him, and the SWORD
were sheathed. Once more every eye was hHed upo
the arena, and behold, Across II came stalking IN
tallest barbarian that Rome had ever seen, Rlan
rudely clothed in skins who besOuRht an opportunt
to wrestle with the champion.
"My SON" said the emperor-and though he spok
to Gea his eyes were fixed upon scoWlng Caracalla-
"aU thou rea(y 10 risk this cause the strength O
this ThraciaH gian|
Yes oh, yes cried Gea; and Caracalla tina
no Roman soldier could be by q barbarian
mutcred sullan assent
Once he trumpet sounded, and the long lin
Of fresh combatanfs marched the an