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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；
had defeated him in a battle at Soissons； and broken forever the
power of Rome in Gaul。
War； which is never any thing but terrible； was doubly so in
those savage days； and the plunder of the captured cities and
homesteads was the chief return for which the barbarian soldiers
followed their leaders。 But when the Princess Clotilda heard how；
even in the midst of his burning and plundering； the young
Frankish chief spared some of the fairest Christian churches； he
became still more her hero； and again the desire to convert him
from paganism and to revenge her father's murder took shape in
her mind。 For； devout and good though she was； this excellent
little maiden of the year 485 was by no means the gentle…hearted
girl of 1888； and； like most of the world about her； had but two
desires： to become a good church…helper； and to be revenged on
her enemies。 Certainly； fourteen centuries of progress and
education have made us more loving and less vindictive。
But now that the good priest Ugo of Rheims saw that his own home
land was in trouble； he felt that there lay his duty。 And
Godegesil； the under…king of Geneva； feeling uneasy alike from
the nearness of this boy conqueror and the possible displeasure
of his brother and over…lord； King Gundebald； declined longer to
shelter his niece in his palace at Geneva。
〃And why may I not go with you？〃 the girl asked of Ugo； but the
old priest knew that a conquered and plundered land was no place
to which to convey a young maid for safety； and the princess；
therefore； found refuge among the sisters of the church of St。
Peter in Geneva。 And here she passed her girlhood； as the record
says； 〃in works of piety and charity。〃
So four more years went by。 In the north； the boy chieftain；
reaching manhood； had been raised aloft on the shields of his
fair…haired and long…limbed followers； and with many a 〃hael！〃
and shout had been proclaimed 〃King of the Franks。〃 In the south；
the young Princess Clotilda； now nearly sixteen； had washed the
feet of pilgrims； ministered to the poor； and； after the manner
of her day； had proved herself a zealous church…worker in that
low…roofed convent near the old church of St。 Peter； high on that
same hill in Geneva where to…day； hemmed in by narrow streets and
tall houses； the cathedral of St。 Peter； twice rebuilded since
Clotilda's time； overlooks the quaint city； the beautiful lake of
Geneva； and the rushing Rhone； and sees across the valley of the
Arve the gray and barren rocks of the Petit Seleve and the
distant snows of Mont Blanc。
One bright summer day； as the young princess passed into the
hospitium； or guest…room for poor pilgrims； attached to the
convent； she saw there a stranger； dressed in rags。 He had the
wallet and staff of a mendicant； or begging pilgrim； and； coming
toward her； he asked for 〃charity in the name of the blessed St。
Peter； whose church thou servest。〃
The young girl brought the pilgrim food