64 The Iron Collar. 



" I know not, Father, if it be not a thought sent from Heaven itself. It 

 hath been with me since last spring. I was abroad early, and all things 

 about me seemed living with a new life : the young corn shot up freshly 

 and strongly the air quickened the blood about my heart all things 

 looked of a brighter colour to me ; the birds were singing in the sky and 

 on the boughs, and I saw the hand of God working in the trees " 



" A goodly matin meditation. Well, what didst thou see next ? " 



" Looking round, I saw the iron collar of my serf." 



" Aye, thy lawful bondman. Well ? " 



" From that moment doubts possessed me, and I did think it but a 

 fitting deed to take that iron badge away." 



" Then thou hadst no other communion ? By my order, I did look for 

 some angelic descent, thou hadst no divine intelligence, then ? " 



" None, but my own thoughts none but" 



" Have a care, son lest in the idleness of thy mind thou dost take its 

 wanderings for high behests. I see nothing in these meditations that 

 should call on thee to remove the badge. Why shouldst tViou object to 

 place upon thy slave that mark of which law and custom have given thee 

 warranty ? " 



" Aye, but in truth, Father, I begin to doubt nay, and I date my doubt 

 from the time of which I have spoken the mercy, the reason of that 

 custom j it is on this that I would have thee resolve me ? " 



" Speedily. And answer, my son so shalt thou profit. Since thou hast 

 possessed thy lands, have they not been tilled by serfs, each with his iron 

 collar ? " 



" Aye, and for many a day before us, Father." 



" Hath the earth proved stubborn and unfertile ? Hath not the seed 

 burst in the ground, though cast there by collared villains ? Hath not the 

 green blade shot up hath it not ripened in the sun, been cut down in its 

 fulness, and returned thee seed a hundred fold, though reaped by serfs 

 with iron collars ? Hath not all this happened ? " 



" Even so." 



" They who take thy swine to mast wear they not the badge ? " 



" Aye ! " 



" And yet the hogs stray not but fatten ; and when killed, are nou- 

 rishing and toothsome though tended, killed, cooked, and served by men 

 with iron collars ?" 



" All this is true." 



" Then wherefore move the collar ? " 



" Act of mere justice to him who bears it. Thy arguments are subtle, 

 Father, but to my mind, selfish and tyrannic. I will remove the badge 

 from his neck, and from the necks of all my bondmen." 



On this, the speaker departed with his serf, and the monk went his 

 way, loudly prophecying the sudden dissolution of the social fabric, from 

 the instant that the " lower orders" were relieved from iron collars. 



This legend is somewhat old, but there may be curious people Avho even 

 now may fit it with an application. 



J. D 



