Year: 1864

THERE once lived, in the land Of Thur
ihgia, a princess named Elizabeth. She
was the wife Of Count Louis the Good, a
noble and knightly prince, who thought
no service too great, no gift too costly, to
show his love for the lady of his heart;
for Elizabeth was beautiful as an angel,
and she bloomed in the dark Castle of
the Wartburg as a rose in the cleft of a
frOvning rock.


But though her lot was among the
high ones Of the earth, she was of most
meek and lowly disposition, and withal
SO full Of love and charity that it was her
chief delight to succor the poor and
wretehed, for whom no one else cared.
Nay, so humble and sympathetic was she,
that she counted it her chief honor to
serve thrm with her own hands, and the
hours spent it their poor huts, clothing
the naked feeding the hungry and tend
ing the sick, we're far happier than those
passed amidst the pomp of the palace
feasts, where eourtiers bowed the knee
before her, and minstrels tuned their
harps in her praise. She remembered
that the Lord, though a king, for our
our sakes became poor, and spent his
days among those whom the great despi-
sed; and it was her longing, by day and
by night, to initiate his life of humility
aad love And so it was her wont often
to lzy aside her royal garments and gol-
dea crown, and to descend into the vauey
ia plain and homely garb, which suited
better With the state Of those she came
to help,


As I have said, Count Louis dearly
loved his fair young wife, and was ten
derly in5ulgent to her pious wishes, tho
he often sighed for her sweet company
when she was absent on her errands Of
mercy But his mother aad sister were
of proud and naughty spirit, and tho t
| it foul disgrace that a princess of the land
should thus. associate with beggars. Ma
ny we're the scornfuI looks and cruel
taunts that the gentle Elizabeth had to
suffer from them; but she bowed her
head and meekly went on her way.


Now it happened, in a certain year,
that a terrible famine prevailed in Thur
ingia, Sore, sore was the suffering of
the poor, for all that could be raised or
bought went to the tables of the rich and
noble, and those who had no money or
lands were left to starye. The country
was full Of doleful sights and sounds.
Companies Of gaunt and hungry people
dragged themselves from castle to castle,
begging and shrieking for bread; and in
the huts lay the dead and dying bodies
of such as had sunk down in weakness
and despair.


The heart of the good Elizabeth was
full Of woe. In the royal castle there
was abundance. Huge launches Of ven
isou smoked on the board, and wine fOwl
ed as freely as ever from the silver flag
ons. But she sat beside her princely
spouse, and could uot taste of the dain-
ties because of the vail of the poor and
the sighing of the needy, which was ever
in her ears.


She was never happy for a moment,
save when ministering to the sick and
starving. She sold her estates to pro-
cure food for them; then she sold he1
Ijewelsj when all else was gone, she sold
her royal clothing. Then the wrath Of
her proud mother and sister knew nc
bounds; and so maliciously did they
work on the mind of Count Louis that
his heart was turned from Elizabeth, ant
he sternly babe her to desist.


But much as she loved her lord anG
feared his displeasure, she could no
obey-the pity in her heart was too
strong. Each day, as soon as he mount
ed his horse and rode off with his trair
to the hunt she gathered up whateyer
fragments of food she could lay her hands
on, and followed by one faithful maid
hastened to her poor.


One morning, Count Louis having, a
usual, rode away, Elizabeth called he
trusty Ermengarde, and having fOun'
the keys Of the larder, they hastily fillec