The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-04-29

even the older folks were joyful, the
harvest had been good, and they had
no dread of the approaching winter,
for their barns were filled, and even
the bins were overflOwing with chest
nuts and rosy-cheeked apples for the
little ones. Everyone was gay but the
Syndic, a wise man who ruled the
town. He was morose old fellow and
the laughter of the children in the
Cathedral square disturbed him and
put to flight his wise thoughts for the
city's good. But alas and alack! the
Joy of the little town was suddenly
changed to sorrow, for the city was
besieged by the Free-lance from Pisa,
The townspeople, men and women, de-
fed the eight hundred horsenien and
two thousand men at arms encamped
at their gates, and bravely defended
the walls. Then the captain of the
Free-lances rode with a white flag in.
to the town, and the terms on which
the captain offered peace we're Singh
lar even for those days. He asked
only a promise that in the days to
come, Spinalunga would never join the
nearby cities against the town of Pisa
and as q pledge of the promise he
asked that twenty of the children oil
the city be sent as hostages to Pisa
With anger the Syndic refused to par
ley on such terms, and had the cap
tain not come under the white flag oil
truce the story would be at an end fol
the Syndic really loved the children
after all. YEARLY the siege wore on
The Free-lances played dice at the
walled gates of the city, and hooking
| ly called out that the inhabitants
would be caught as rats in a hole
Inside the men knew they could moi
withstand the enemy much longer, fol
even we'll filled bins have q limit
Then Father Agnola, who prayed il
the Cathedral night and day, sought
the Syndic and counseled him to &C
cept the strange terms of peace of
fered by the captain, for he added
with q smile, more of Heaven thar
of earth: God and His angels have
the children in their keeping" Al
the town revered the wisdom O.
Father Agnola, and at set of sun tina
day the council chose the twenty chill
dren to be sent to Pisa while thu
mothers and fathers wept. At daw1
Father Agnola gave each one hi
blessing, the Cathedral bells rang out
and the heavy gates were flung open
and the children trOOped out merrily
laughing and singing as they followed
Father Agnola, who led the way hold
ing q cross above his head. TIL
women wept behind the walls. Fathe
/ Agnola would have rebuked them, hat
he seen them, for their lack of trus
in God and His angels. But even a
the townsfolk watched the happ
troop, those whose eyes were not to-
dim with tears, saw a strange sigh
that dazzled them. In the golden o.
i tober sunlight, behind each child
J they saw a white-winged angel wit
la fiery spear-and as the singing chi
dren advanced towards the Free
lances, wild cry of panic arose froT
the camp.
The horsemen fed in wild confusion
I-trampling the men at arms unde
their horses feet and leaving tn
wounded and dying in the fields
rushed precipitately down the ravin
in confusion. And the children lie
| by Father Agnola sang a song c
thanksgiving, in which the Who'll
town joined, and the song of tn
mothers was lOnders than all the res
and held too note of regret for thei
want of trust. And ever since the
the children of Spinalunga pla
on the piazza of the great Cathedrs
and when men would chide them fo
their noise, some wise bystander II
lates this tale and reminds those VIII
forget that Gods angels are with tn
children now as on that Octobe
morning, and for the sake of thei
angels they play undisturbed.
49, The YM06og