Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-06-27
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THE LYING SERVANT,

lust and wise, to whose lot 1t tell to have a SER |
wing man, a great rogue, and above all, addicted
to the vice of lying The name of the lord is
not in tho story, therefore the reader need not
trouble himself about it.
The knave was given to boast OF his won-
drous travels. He had visited countries which
are nowhere to be found in the map and seen
things which mortal eye never beheld. He
would lie through the twenty.four hours of the
clock-for he dreamed falsehoods in his sleep, to
the truth of which he swore when he was awake.
His Lord was cunning and virtuous man, and
used to see the lies in the Wallets mouth so that
he was often caught-.hung, as it were in his own
untruths, as in trap. Nevertheless, he persisted
still the more in his lies, and when any one said
How can that be !? he would answer, with fierce
oahs and protestations, that so it was. He
swore, stone and bone, that might the ---,
and 80 forth Yet was the knave useful in the
household and quick and handy; therefore he
was not disIikcd Of his lord, though verify a
great liar.
1t CHANGED, one pleasant dav in spring, after
the rains had fallen heavily, and swollen much
the floods, that the lord and the knave rode out
together, and their way passed through shady
and silent forest Suddenly appeared an old and
well grown fox. Lookm exclaimed the mas
ter of the knave look, what Il huge beast
never before have seen reynard so large I"
"Doth this beast surprise thee by its hugeness?"
replied straight he serving groom, casting his
eye slightingly on the animal, as he fled for fear
away into the cover Of the brakes; "by stone
and bone, have been in kingdom where the
foxes are as big as the bulls in this |" Where.
upon, hearing SO vast lie, the lord answered
calmly, but with mockery IN his heart, In that
Kingdom there must be excellent lining for the
cloaks, if curriers' can there be found well to
dress skins so large"
And SO they rode on--he lord IN silence but
soon he began to sigh heavily. Still he seemed
to wax more and more in spirit, and his sighs
grew deeper and more quick Then inquired
the knave Of the lord what sudden affli iction, or
cause ofsorrow had happened, 1" Alas" replied
the willy master, 81 trust in Heavens goodness
that neither of us two hath to-day, by any for
wardness of fortune, CHANGED te.sgy the thing
which is not for, assuredIy, he that hath so
done must this day perish" The knave, on
hearing these doefu words, and perceiving real
sorrow to be depictedcn the paleness of his mas
ter's countenance, instantly felt as ii his ears
grew more wide, that not word or syllable of
50 strange discovery might escape his troubled
sense. And so, with eager exclamations, he de-
manded Of the lord 70 case his suspense, and to
explain why so cruel doom was now about to
fall upon companionable liars.
"Hear, then, dear knave," answered the lord,
to the oarnestness of his servant, " since thou
must needs know, hearkeh and may no tronble
come to thee from what | shall say. To-day
we ride far, and in our way is vast and heavy
, rolling food, of which the ford is narrow, and
the pool is deep; to it hath heaven given the
. power of sweeping down into its dark holes all
. dealers in falsehood, who may rathly venture to
put themselves within it's truth'loving current!
But to him who hath told no lie, there is no fear
. of this river. Spur we our horses, kEave, for to
day our journey must be long"
9 Then the knave thought, long, indeed must
q the journey be for some who are here; and as
he spurred, he sighed heavier and deeper than his
Il. master had done before him, who now went gal
8 ly on; nor ceased to cry
n "Spur we our horses, knave, for to-day our
!. journey must be long"
Then came they to brook Its waters were
n small, and its channel such boy might leap u
+ cross! Yet, nevertheless, the groom began to
= trembe and falterngy asked
ais this now the river where taltering liars
o must perish ?"
= "This, all no p replied the lord " this is but
brook, no liar need trsmble here,"
Yet was the knave not wholly assured, and
IL stammering, he said
! "My gracious lord, thy servant now bethlnks
= him that to day he hath made fox too huge
that of which he spake was verify not so large
:. as an OK. but, stone and bone, as big as good
sized roe !"
The lord replied, with wonder in his tone
: .Wbat of this lox concerneth me? If large
;, or small. | care not. Spur we our horses, fol
>. to-day our Journey must be long.
Long, indeed, still thought the serving groom
- and in sadness he crossed the brook. Then they
" came to a stream running quickly through I
;; !; preen meadow, the stones showing themselves
in many places above its 'rothy water. The
- yaret started, and cried aloud
"Another river! surely Of rivers there is to
dov no end was it of this thou talkedst hereto
H. fore ?"
n mo-" replied tho lord, not of this"
- And more he said not yet marked he will
e inward gladness his servants fear.
Because, in good truth" rejoined the knave
n. 1T is on my conscience to give thee note, tina
cd the fox of which spake was no bigger than
calf"
So Large or small, let me not be troubled wit
nm thy fox the beast concerneti me not at all"
ng As they quilted the wood, they perceived
tn river in the way, which gave sign of having bee
Il. swollen by the rains, and on it was boat.
"This, them is the doom of liars" said tn
III, kllave and he looked earnestly toward the pas
he sage craft. Be informed, my good lord, thg
ed reynard was not larger than fat wedde
ret sheep"
ng The lord seemed angry and answered,
We "Th;s is not the grave Of falsehood VIII
ut torment me with this fox Rather spur oil
MT horses, for we have far to CO."
"Stone and bone," said the knave to himsel
the ehd of my journey approaches !"
Now the day declines, and the shadows of tn