Children's Corner.

Otago Witness, Issue 1584, 1 April 1882, Page 28

Children's Corner.

Lady Godiva.

Have you ever heard of Coventry, an old town not very far from London, where some of the streets are so narrow that no waggons caji pass through them, and where the second stories of the quaint old mansions jut over so far into the street that they almost touch each other?

But the thing which most interested us about Coventry was that here once lived a beautiful lady, about whom the people never tire of telling you. She was the wife of an earl who governed Coventry. He was immensely rich, but taxed his subjects so that petitions came in every day to have them lowered. Finally, as all their beseeching did no good, the poor people came to his wife, Lady to beg her to intercede for them. Her heart was touched, and she went to her husband ; but ho was angry, and bade her never to speak of it again. Several months went by. He had been a^waj to some wars in the northern pajt of England, and coming home was so delighted to meet his wife and darling little bay, that he olasped them both, to ifo heart, asking hcv if she needed anything to complete her happiness. She had money, an elegant home, and lived like a queen, but she could not be happy. She said, ' While our people groan under oppression, the most luxurious entertainment can afford me no real enjoyment.' Leof ric, her husband, again became violently angry, but said, since he had promised to do what she wished, he would keep his word ; but she must ride on horseback, at noonday, from one end of the city to the other, with no clothing upon her. He supposed, of course, that she would never consent to this, For a moment

her noble, womanly heart sank within her, and then she said, •I will go.' Seeing that her mind was made up, he ordered all the people to darken the fronts of their houses and repair to the back parts of them, while the devoted lady took her lonely ride. When the appointed day came the whole city was as still as death. Lady Godiva's beautiful white horse was brought to the palace. With a face as blanched as ncr charger, drawing her long hair like a scarf about her body, she mounted ' and rode in solemn silence through all the principal streets. No sound was heard save that of the horse's hoofs, as the grateful people waited for their burdens to be lifted. , . And when the ride was over and the people opened their doors and unbarred their windows, a great cry of rejoicing went up from thousands, for Coventry was free. Lady Godiva, after founding several churches, died about the year 1059.

Every three or four years in Coventry a quaint procession still takes place in honour of this noble act of devotion to her people. The city guard and high constable lead the column. Then follows a beautiful woman, clothed in a white linen dress fitted close to her body, with long hair floating about her and a large bunch of flowers in her hand, riding on a creamcoloured horse. On either side of her are two city officials, dressed in green and scarlet. Two men come next, bearing the sword and mace, emblems of the high authority of the mayor, followed by the mayor himself in his scarlet robes trimmed with fur, wearing a cocked hat, and carrying a white wand in his hand. Then come the sheriffs in their black gowns, all the different trades in the city, the Odd-fellows, Foresters, and other benevolent societies. The principal characters of the show are attended by beautiful children in costly habits, riding on horseback. These children are so small that they are obliged to sit in basket-work seats, which are fastened to the horses' backs. The men who lead the horses walk without their coats, and are decorated with a profusion of ribbons.