ly in a moment of unexpected
vision, before them in the distance they saw winding rivers, tapestried
hills, and vine-yards and valleys of such luxuriant beauty as they had
never seen in their Northern lands.

With new courage and strength they hurried on now, and soon they were
in Italy, where, alas, poor children, they met with all sorts of
oppression and cruelty as they journeyed, for the Italians were
embittered against the Germans because of the constant wars carried on
by their emperors, and visited the sins of their fathers upon these
innocent children who were in their power, refusing them entrance to
many towns, and subjecting them to all sorts of cruelties. But still
such of the army as remained pressed on and on, and then one day, oh,
joyous sight, not far beyond they saw the sea, blue and boundless, and
on its shore, bathed in sunlight, lay "Genoa, the proud," a vision of
fairyland to their dazzled eyes.

Discords were forgotten, songs not sung before for many a tearful day,
rose again on the clear air. Crosses and banners were again uplifted as
of old, and Nicholas was once more prophet and leader, as, forgetful of
the past and its miseries, the army of children stood on the 25th day
of August, at the gates of the city of Genoa, waiting to be admitted.

Bright were the floating banners, proud were the waiting youths, as
Nicholas made his plea:--

"In the name of Christ and his Holy Cross, admit us, his soldiers to
your city! Grant us rest on our journey, to rescue the Holy Sepulchre
from the hands of the enemy! Men of Genoa, we ask not for
transportation across the sea rolling between us and our goal. On the
morrow God will part that sea that we may go over as on dry land, to
achieve a victory denied to the wise and powerful of the land. Yea, he
has said, 'Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained
strength, because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy
and the avenger.' Men of Genoa, open thy gates to us, in the name of
Christ!"

A large number of dignified Senators, or rulers of the city, heard the
petition of Nicholas, heard it with pity mingled with amusement, and
offered the protection of the city for a week to the deluded youths,
for by that time--so thought the Senators--the youths would discover
their deception and return homeward.

Eagerly did Nicholas and his army accept permission to enter the city
whose streets and palaces were in such sharp contrast to thos