Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-02-12
FOR
THEGAZETTE'SS
LITTLE FOLKS

~ and fGrsaken, was roaming III
search Of her lost Knight. How SAD
was ner fate! She, Kings daugh-
ter, os beautiful, SO faithful, so true,
who had done no wrong either in
word or deed, was left sorrowful and
deserted because OF the cunning wiles
of a wicked enchan:er. Fearing noth-
ing, she sought the Red Cross Knight
through woods and lonely wilderness,
I but 20 tidings Of him ever came 70
her.
One day. being weary, she aliGhted
from her steed, and lay down on the
grass to rest. It was in the midst Of
th;cket, far from the sight Of any
traveller. She lifted her veil, and put
aside the black cloak which always
covered her dress.
Suddenly, out of the wood there
rushed fierce lion, who, seeing Una,
sprang at her to devour her; but,
when he came nearer, he was amaz-
ed at the sight of her loneliness, and
al! his rage turned to pity. Instead
of tearing her to pieces, he kissed
her weary feet and licked her lily
/, hands as if he knew how innocent.
and wronged she WAS.
Sad TO see her sorrow, he stood gaz-
ing at her; all his angry mood
changed to compassion, till at last
Una mounted her snowy paifrey and
once more set out to seek her last
companion.
The lion would not leave her desc
late, but went with her IS strong
guard and as faithful companion.
Waen she sept he kept watch, and
when she walked he waited diligently
ready to help her in any way ne
could. He always knew from her lo0ks
What she wanted.
Long she travelled thus through
lonely places, where she thought her
wandering knight might pass, yet
never found trace cf living man. A.
length she came IT, the feet OF
steep mountain, where the trodden
grass showed that there was path
for people to 80. This path she fol-
lowed till at last she saw, slowly
walking in the front Of her, a dam
sci carving a jar OF water
The Lady Una called to her to ask
= if there were any dwelling place near,
hu. the rcugh-!coking gil made no
answer; she seemed not able 20
speak, nor-hear, nor understand. But
when she saw the lion standing beside
her, she threw down her pitcher with
sudden fear and fled away. Never
before in that lard had she seen the
face Of fair lady, ard the sighs Of,
the ,:on filed her with terror. Fast
away she fled, and never looked be-
hind till she came at last to her home,
where her blind mother sat all day
in darkness. Too frightened to speak,
she caught hold of her mother with
trembling hands, while the poor old
woman, full OF fear. ran TO shut the
door Of this house.
BY this time the weary Lady Una
had arrived, and asked if she might
come in; but, when no answer came
to her request, the lion, with his
strong claws, tore open she wicket
door and let her into the little hut.
There she found the mother and
daughter crourhed up in dark cor
ner, nearly dead with feaa'.
The name Of the poor old blind
woman was Superstition. She tried to
be good in very mistaken way. She
hid herself in her dark corner, and
was quite content never to come out
of it. When the beautiful Lady Una,
who was all light and truth, came 70
the hut. the mother and daughter, IN
stead Of making her welcome, hated
her. and mould gladly have thrust
+, her out
Trying to soothe their needless
dread, Una spoke gently to them, and
begged that she might rest that
night in their small cottage. To this
they mwill;ngly agreed, and Una lay
down with the faithful lion at her feet
to keep watch. All night, instead OF
sleeping. she wept. still sorrowing
for her lost Knight and longing for
the morning.
In the middle of the night, when
all the inmates Of the little cottage
were asleep. there came a furious
Knocking at the door. This was a
w:ckct; thief, called 'Kirlsrapine", or
Church-rcbber, whose custom il was
to 20 about stealing ornaments from
churches, and clothes from clergymen.
end rchbirg tie aims boxes Of the
poor. lie used to share his spoi.s with
the daughter Of the blind woman, and
tonight he had come with great
sachfui of stolen goods.