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troubled the splendid city by the Golden Horn which offered so
rare and tempting a booty。
It is not given to the girls of to…day to have any thing like the
magnificent opportunities of the young Pulcheria。 But duty in
many a form faces them again and again； while not unfrequently
the occasion comes for sacrifice of comfort or for devotion to a
trust。 To all such the example of this fair young princess of old
Constantinople； who； fifteen centuries ago； saw her duty plainly
and undertook it simply and without hesitation； comes to
strengthen and incite； and the girl who feels herself overwhelmed
by responsibility； or who is fearful of her own untried powers；
may gather strength； courage； wisdom； and will from the story of
this historic girl of the long agothe wise young Regent of the
East； Pulcheria of Constantinople。
CLOTILDA OF BURGANDY：
THE GIRL OF THE FRENCH VINYARDS
＇Afterward known as 〃St。 Clotilda；〃 the first Queen of France。＇
A。D。 485。
It was little more than fourteen hundred years ago； in the year
of our Lord 485； that a little girl crouched trembling and
terrified； at the feet of a pitying priest in the palace of the
kings of Burgundy。 There has been many a sad little maid of ten；
before and since the days of the fair…haired Princess Clotilda；
but surely none had greater cause for terror and tears than she。
For her cruel uncle； Gundebald； waging war against his brother
Chilperic； the rightful king of Burgundy； had with a band of
savage followers burst into his brother's palace and； after the
fierce and relentless fashion of those cruel days； had murdered
King Chilperic； the father of little Clotilda； the queen； her
mother； and the young princes； her brothers； and was now
searching for her and her sister Sedelenda； to kill them also。
Poor Sedelenda had hidden away in some other far…off corner； but
even as Clotilda hung for protection to the robe of the good
stranger…priest Ugo of Rheims （whom the king； her father； had
lodged in the palace； on his homeward journey from Jerusalem）；
the clash of steel drew nearer and nearer。 Through the corridor
came the rush of feet； the arras in the doorway was rudely flung
aside； and the poor child's fierce pursuers； with her cruel uncle
at their head； rushed into the room。
〃Hollo！ Here hides the game！〃 he cried in savage exultation。
〃Thrust her away； Sir Priest； or thou diest in her stead。 Not one
of the tyrant's brood shall live。 I say it！〃
〃And who art thou to judge of life or death？〃 demanded the priest
sternly； as he still shielded the trembling child。
〃I am Gundebald； King of Burgundy by the grace of mine own good
sword and the right of succession；〃 was the reply。 〃Trifle not
with me； Sir Priest； but thrust away the child。 She is my lawful
prize to do with as I will。 Ho； Sigebert； drag her forth！〃
Quick as a flash the brave priest stepped before； the cowering
child； and； with one hand still resting protectingly on the
girl's fair hair； he raised the other in stern and fearless
protest； and boldly faced the murderous throng。
〃Back； men of blood！〃 he cried。 〃Back！ Nor dare to lay hand on
this young maid who hath here sought sanctuary！〃＇1＇
＇1＇ Under the Goths and Franks the protection of churches and
priests； when extended to persons in peril； was called the 〃right
of sanctuary；〃 and was respected even by the fiercest of
pursuers。
Fierce and savage men always respect bravery in others。 There was
something so courageous and heroic in the act of that single
priest in thus facing a ferocious and determined band； in defence
of a little girl；for girls were but slightingly regarded in
those far…off days；that it caught the savage fancy of the cruel
king。 And this； joined with his respect for the Church's right of
sanctuary； and with the lessening of his thirst for blood； now
that he had satisfied his first desire for revenge。 led him to
desist。
〃So be it then；〃 he said； lowering his threatening sword。 〃I
yield her to thee； Sir Priest。 Look to her welfare and thine own。
Surely a girl can do no harm。〃
But King Gundebald and his house lived to learn how far wrong was
that unguarded statement。 For the very lowering of the murderous
sword that thus brought life to the little Princess Clotilda
meant the downfall of the kingdom of Burgundy and the rise of the
great and victorious nation of France。 The memories of even a
little maid of ten are not easily blotted out。
Her sister； Sedelenda； had found refuge and safety in the convent
of Ainay； near at hand； and there； too； Clotilda would have gone；
but her uncle； the new king； said： 〃No； the maidens must be
forever separated。〃 He expressed a willingness； however； to have
the Princess Clotilda brought up in his palace； which had been
her father's； and requested the priest Ugo of Rheims to remain
awhile； and look after the girl's education。 In those days a
king's request was a command； and the good Ugo； though stern and
brave in the face of real danger； was shrewd enough to know that
it was best for him to yield to the king's wishes。 So he
continued in the palace of the king； looking after the welfare of
his little charge； until suddenly the girl took matters into her
own hands； and decided his future and her own。
The kingdom of Burgundy； in the days of the Princess Clotilda；
was a large tract of country now embraced by Southern France and
Western Switzerland。 It had been given over by the Romans to the
Goths； who had invaded it in the year 413。 It was a land of
forest and vineyards； of fair valleys and sheltered hill…sides；
and of busy cities that the fostering hand of Rome had
beautified； while through its broad domain the Rhone； pure and
sparkling； swept with a rapid current from Swiss lake and
glacier； southward to the broad and beautiful Mediterranean。
Lyons was its capital； and on the hill of Fourviere； overlooking
the city below it； rose the marble palace of the Burgundian
kings； near to the spot where； to…day； the ruined forum of the
old Roman days is still shown to tourists。
It had been a palace for centuries。 Roman governors of 〃Imperial
Gaul〃 had made it their head…quarters and their home； three Roman
emperors had cooed and cried as babies within its walls； and it
had witnessed also many a feast and foray； and the changing
fortunes of Roman； Gallic； and Burgundian conquerors and
over…lords。 But it was no longer 〃home〃 to the little Princess
Clotilda。 She thought of her father and mother； and of her
brothers； the little princes with whom she had played in this
very palace； as it now seemed to her； so many years ago。 And the
more she feared her cruel uncle； the more did she desire to go
far； far away from his presence。 So； after thinking the whole
matter over； as little girls of ten can sometimes think； she told
her good friend Ugo； the priest； of her father's youngest brother
Godegesil； who ruled the dependent principality of Geneva； far up
the valley of the Rhone。
〃Yes； child； I know the place；〃 said Ugo。 〃A fair city indeed； on
the blue and beautiful Lake Lemanus； walled in by mountains； and
rich in corn and vineyards。〃
〃Then let us fly thither；〃 said the girl。 〃My uncle Godegesil I
know will succor us； and I shall be freed from my fears of King
Gundebald。〃
Though it seemed at first to the good priest only a child's
desire； he learned to think better of it when he saw how unhappy
the poor girl was in the hated palace； and how slight were her
chances for improvement。 And so； one fair spring morning in the
year 486； the two slipped quietly out of the palace； and by slow
and cautious stages； with help from friendly priests and nuns；
and frequent rides in the heavy ox…wagons that were the only
means of transport other than horseback； they finally reached the
old city of Geneva。
And on the journey； the good Ugo had made the road seem less
weary； and the lumbering ox…wagons less jolty and painful； by
telling his bright young charge of all the wonders and relics he
had seen in his journeyings in the East； but especially did the
girl love to hear him tell of the boy king of the Franks；
Hlodo…wig； or Clovis； who lived in the priest's own boyhood home
of Tournay； in far…off Belgium； and who； though so brave and
daring； was still a pagan； when all the world was fast becoming
Christian。 And as Clotilda listened； she wished that she could
turn this brave young chief away from his heathen deities； Thor
and Odin； to the worship of the Christians' God； and； revolving
strange fancies in her mind； she determined what she would do
when she 〃grew up；〃as many a girl since her day has determined。
But even as they reached the fair city of Genevathen half
Roman； half Gallic； in its buildings and its lifethe wonderful
news met them how this boy…king Clovis； sending a challenge to
combat to the prefect Syagrius； the last of the Roman governors