Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1908-04-03

q
his condition would allow and weari.
and exhausted, fell asleep.
He was awakened by the cackling o.
a hen near him "Ah," he thought
God is watching over me. He will not
see me perish" He was good Chris
ton, this Lombard prince, and had hac
excellent training
After biddy lad left the NOW Ber'
tarid, with some difficulty, and no liz
tie pain, ventured to the nest, which
was only a few feet from his hiding
place. There he found half dozen
fresh eggs, five of which made him
capital dinner One egg he left for
nest egg so as to tempt his feathered
friend to lay again.
The fugitive prince was much
strengthened both physically and NOR
ally by this incident. He felt that
Heaven was indeed watching over his
destiny, and though his condition was
forlorn, he did not give up hope.
The barnyard fowl came the next day
and laid another egg in the nest, with
the same rude alarm, and again the
prince made a meal, though a small
one. This time he ate two eggs. He
was going to trust to Providence for
the morrow.
And Providence did not desert him.
The third day biddy not only laid an
egg but she brought companion who
also deposited her treasure, for treasure
indeed it was to the famished prince.
That night as he was telling his beads,
the prince heard familiar voice in
the lower barn, chatting with the SER
wants. 1t was that of his faithful Onuff
who had followed him almost with the
keenness of greyhound.
After 1t was quite dark Bertarid
heard footsteps on the loft and pres
emily some one asked in guarded
voice:
MY lord, are you here? Speak. 1t
is Onuff"
And Bertarid answered joyfully as
you may believe, Il am here. Bring
meat and drink, for | am famished."
Onuff was absent about half an hour
and when he returned he brought on
his shoulders huge bundle of straw.
What is this for?" exclaimed Ber-
tarid 81 asked for my supper and you
have brought straw"
Here Is your supper, my lord" said
Onuff, throwing down the straw and
producing bag which contained bread
and meat, and giving his master a
draught of wine from the horn at his
side. What say you, master, If we
should breakfast out of Lombardy to-
morrow morning."
81 rede not your meaning, Onuff, ,"
said the prince 81 am helpless as a
child. Truly if the Lord had not sent
this poor fowl to feed me l should
have persisted"
Listen" said Onuff, my horse is
down below. AS soon as the house is
asleep l shall come for you. Meanwhile
get into this bundle of straw. Make no
noise and trust to me-"
The trusty Onuff left him, and short
ly afterwards Bertarid could hear him
telling stories and laughing with the
husbandman and his servants in the
yard below.
Two hours from that time Onuff
could have been seen bearing heavy
burden on his shoulder, making his
way from the barn to shed near by.
His heavy bundle was there placed up
on the back of horse; bound securely
to the saddle, and in a few minutes
more Bertarid knew by the motion
that he was being borne away.
A few miles out they came to halt.
Onuff descended, took down the bum
die and released the prince from the
straw. After a brief rest they both
mounted and fed the rest of the. night
for their lives.
In due time they reached the court
of Clotaire Ill, king of Paris and Bur-
gundy, where the exiles found home
and powerful protectors.
. Bertarid was an exile for nine years.
At the end of that time Grimoald died
and the rightful prince was summoned
to the throne of his ancestors from
which he had been so long deposed. He
entered Pavia, which he had quilted in
so ridiculous a manner, amid the &C
carnations of his subjects, a great reti-
nue. of mobiles and the faithful Onuff
by his side. He reigned gloriously for
many years. ranking among the best
and greatest of the Lombard kings.
Onuff was advanced to high honor, and
was his most devoted subject through
long life.
hope, too, that he was good to the
hens and kept a whole yard full of
them If only to show his gratitude to
those feathered bipeds, from one of
which he received so signal service
in time of sorest need.-Christian I'm
ion Herald.