. Legends of the Rhine . d over the town like wild fire, fillingall hearts with nameless dread. The Pope and bishops, finding no one willing to enter thecathedral, and not wishing to risk their own precious souls,were at a loss how to proceed, when a monk suddenly cameinto their presence and proposed a plan which was hailedwith enthusiasm by every member of the clergy. By theirorder the preparations for the dedication were speedilyended, and when all was ready, and the people of Aix-la-Chapelle duly assembled in front of the cathedral, a hugebox was brought and placed close beside the doors, w
. Legends of the Rhine . d over the town like wild fire, fillingall hearts with nameless dread. The Pope and bishops, finding no one willing to enter thecathedral, and not wishing to risk their own precious souls,were at a loss how to proceed, when a monk suddenly cameinto their presence and proposed a plan which was hailedwith enthusiasm by every member of the clergy. By theirorder the preparations for the dedication were speedilyended, and when all was ready, and the people of Aix-la-Chapelle duly assembled in front of the cathedral, a hugebox was brought and placed close beside the doors, whichwere set ajar. Then the box-lid was cautiously slipped aside and a cap-tive wolf, springing out of his narrow quarters, rushed intothe empty edifice. The assembled multitude saw the monksshut the door, heard a howl of rage, and saw the buildingshake violently from foundation to spire. While they weregazing open-mouthed at this miracle, the doors burst openand the devil escaped, snarling with anger at being outwitted,. AIX-LA-CHAPELLE CATHEDRAL. A1X-LA-CHAPELLE. 87 and banging the door so noisily behind him that it wascracked from top to bottom. Satan having fled, and his power being ended, the priestsfearlessly entered the cathedral, thrust out the dead bodyof the wolf, and solemnly proceeded to dedicate the beauti-ful building to the service of God. Since then, however,one of the cathedral doors has been disfigured by an un-seemly crack, while another, of more recent date, bears theeffigy of a wolf, apparently playing with a pine-cone, whichthe mediaeval artist intended as a symbol of his soul. The devil, however, did not forget that he had been out-witted, and patiently bided his time, hoping he would findsome means of revenge. After several years cogitation,he resolved to pick up a great mound of earth which thenstood near Leyden, carry it to Aix-la-Chapelle, and drop iton the city at nightfall, thus crushing cathedral and inhab-itants at once. The journey was long, the
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