Year: 1874

Moro than half a century ago, before
the walls were built about the old city of
Lucerne, certain Austrian noblemen
formed II great conspiracy to conquer
town and land for Hapsburg. Now the
emeraldgreen waters of the Reuss flowed
swiftly by the town. They have had
long journey from their homo among the
awful glaciers that bolt and bar the glor-
les of Alp-land. They have bounded
over barren rocks, sprinklod the moss
and heather above the realm of beast and
bird, leaped fearless down the Black
Devils Gorge, dashed over and around
tho powders with which the giants used
to play, and SO ever on and ever down
they have held their course, till tho
! Wonderlakc, the lake of the Four CAN
tons has received the fugitives. She has
washed them clear of the earth tint with
which they were born. Her depths, the
color of daintiest robins egg, quietly.hite
tho wanderers impcrfections and sends
them on their way, clad in their purity,
loudly singing their untranslated song
Down by the bed of the Rcuss there stood
an old arcade, dim and secure, fit place
for murderous council. Here the scarlet
sleevcd consprators mot in the darkness
of night. Attor much consultation, it
was finally determined that with the
swords and daggers with which they
we're armed the Mayor and Councillors
of the city shall be slain. Before day
shall break the doomed town shall be in
their power.


Silently starting on their deadly mis-
sion one of the noblemen discovers a poor
boy lying upon bench in the darkness
of corner. He is only beggar boy,
and he has no home, no friends. SO the
hand of the heavenly watcher, whose
glanccs pierce the vale of night, had led
him here to guard the town. He had lis
tened to the trcachcrous plot and deter
mined to reveal il MS soon as he could es-
cape undiscovered. But suddenly he is
seized by tho desperate men. They do
clare that they will instantly kill him.
| L llt bWOlu ~ lul1tht bub tilS wy Nhh
with terror, entreats their mercy, and
promises he will never reveal to any man
what he has heard, Believing the prom-
iso, with many threats they let him go.


Out into the darkness tho boy ,Gashcs.
lie sees far off the light in the cot ofa
village butcher, and hastens towards it.
There is careless feasting and morri-
ment here, and a group Of men are tell
ing stories of daring in the olden timc.-
The boy, with breathless haste, rushes in
the room. The tears are rolling down
his cheeks. He does not say word to
any one, but hurries TO the great stone
stove and cries


"Oh stove what have promised new
er to tell TO any man, | must quickly tell
to thee o dear, gsod stove, was COM
PEELED to swear but listen well, while /
show you the danger Of the beloved city.
Tho murderers are Fastening even now
to slay the rulers, and TO conquer Lu-
corne once more. They"


But only the stove is there to hear tho
story of the bright sly boy. The strong
men have quickly taken the alarm very
soon the conspirators are seized and
brought to justice. The foes of the good
town are driven out with q strong hand
and Lucerne is free.


They sought for the child whose loyal
cunning had saved them, but they never
fnund him Even In this daV the Swift
ers tell the story with admiring gratitude
in their tones and no man !knows his
name. The senscless stove that heard
his warning, is still preserved in the old
hall where the butchers guild was wont
to meet.


What think you of the bravery and
artfce of the beggar-boy Of Lucerne ?
= Hearth and Home.