Year: 1874




More than half century ago, before the
walls were built about the old city of Lu-
cerne, certain Austrian nOblemen formed a
great conspiracy to conquer the town and
land for Hapsburg. Now, the emerald green
waters Of the Reuss flowed swiftly past the
town. They have had a long journey from
their home among the awful glaciers that
bolt and bar the glorics of the Alp-land.
They have bounded over barren ROCKS,
sprinklcd the moss and heather above the
realm of beast and bird, lcaped fearless down
the black Devils Gorge, dashed over and
around the boulders with which the giants
! used to play, and SO ever on and ever down
have held their course, till the WOnderlake,
the Lake of the Four Cantons, has received
the painting fugitvcs. She has washed them
clean of the carth-tint with which they were
born. Her depths, the color of the daintiest
robins egg, quietly hide the wanderers i'm
perfcctions and send them on their way, glad
in their purity, loudly singing their untrans-
lated song. Down by the bed of the Rcuss
there stood an old arcade, dim and obscure,
fit place for murderous council. Here the
scarlet-slceved cOnspirat0rs met in the dark
ness of the night. After much consultation,
it was finally determined that with the swords
and daggers with which they were armed the
mayor dLu \OuuClIlOIS VI tuC ClJ SHOuII W
slain Before day shall break the doomed
town shall be IN their power.


Silently starting ON their deadly mission,
one of the noblemen discovers poor boy
lying upon bench III the darkness of the
corner. lie is only u beggar boy, and he
has no home. no friends. So the hand of the
heavenly watcher, whose glances pierce the
veil of night, has led him here to guard the
town. He had listened to the treacherOus
plot, and determined to reveal it as soon as
he could escape undiscovered. But suddenly
he is seized by the desperate men. They de-
clare that they will instantly kill him. The
sword is raised, but the boy, wild with terror,
entreats their mercy, and promises he will
never reveal to any man what he has heard
Believing the promise, with many threats
they let him 60.


Out into the darkness the boy dashcs. He
sees far off light in the cottage of q village
butcher, and hastens towards it. There is
careless feasting and merriment here, and q
group of men are telling stories OF daring in
the olden time. The boy, with breathless
haste, rushes into the room. The tears are
rolling down his cheeks. He looks not into
the face of any one. but hurrics to the great
stone stoves, and cries:


"Oh stove! what have promised never
to iell to any man must quickly tell to thee.
Oh dear good stove, l was compelled to
swear but listen well while show to you
the dangers of the beloved city. The murder
ers arc Fastening even now to slay the rulers
and to conquer Lucerne once more. They"


But only the stove is there to hear the
story of the bri ight, sly boy. The strong men
have quickly taken the alarm; very soon the
conspirators are seized and fastened to JUS
tice The foes of the good town are driven
out with 4 strong hand, and still Lucerne is
free.


They sought for the child whose loyal cum
ming had saved them, but they never found
him. Even to this day the Switzers tell the
story with admiring gratitude in their tones,
but no man knows his name. The senseless
stove that heard the warningis still preserved
in the old hall where the butchers guild was
wont to meet


What think you of the bravery. :Mtiicc
and cunning of the namelcss beggar boy of
Lucerne?