The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-01-04
BIDDEFORD, MAINE, FRIDAY

! in the pleasant apartment, he thought 1t had
never tasted better. Suddenly, as he was
raising the mug to his lips, there appeared
grOtesque face on the top, and as it looked
at him il winked and smiled mysteriously.-
As Ralph gazed in wonderment, the face
grinned more broadly, and said with quiet
words and sharp voice.
want to be u king"
Yes said Ralph.
set me down then and wait, was the re-
sponse.
lie sat the mug down and closed the lid.
A strange feeling came over him. He was
helpless. but felt himself lifted and borne
alon. II was not long before consciousness
came back to him. He opened his eyes-his
wish was granted-he was king. What
splendors surrounded him lie was lying
on stately couch. all gold and silver and
delicate network. The morning seemed to
have dawned. and yet there was no stir in
the royal household. As far as he could see
he was darlled. Chairs Of velvet, gilded and
carved, chairs o. silk and satin, pictures be-
hind hangipgs OF crimson lustre, ornaments
exquisitely fashioned. all beauty and pro-
fusion. He lay there wondering dreamily
until silvery sound smote his ear In a few
minutes his courtiers surrounded him, each
seemingly ready to assist him.
well, this is not very pleasant, not the
DO master of ones own limbs he said to
himself, US one placed this garment, and an
other that. 50 that by the time he was dressed
he was so weary that his frame acbcd with
the endless pulls and pushings; for though
all things were done politely, and not with
out much compliment, still he did not feel
like free man. Besides, he had sense OF
weariness which he could not account for, a
dull pain in the head which was very hard
to bear, and u sensation Of great fatigue.
Your majesty must have ridden too hard
yesterday said one OF the courtiers.
Your majesty drank wine too late at the
supper, last night, said another, from which
he gathered that probably he had been
topping.
lie sat bown TO q sumptuOus service alone,
his courtiers ranged around him. Aglass OF
wine was poured out, for he felt as ii need
ing something to steady his shaking nerves.
Suddenly, rs he raised il to his lips, he shud- |
dered. An unearthly thrill ran through
him.
Bring the taster,' he cried. rs from some
new impulse. A slender, beautiful youth |
came near, he tasted the wine, he turned
pale, staggered, and was borne away. The
wine was poisoned.
III this Is one Of the penalties Of station,
said the king to himself, Il had rather go
back to my ploughing;' but the matter was
not 80 easy; king he was, and u king he
!unst be till he had thoroughly learned the
lessons Of royalty.
Why should give the days experience.
save to say that ut night he was q jaded and
worn-out king? And as he possessed double
consciousness, he wished from his heart that
he could go back to the old farm and hoeing
potatoes again. A hunt was arranged Tor
the next day; that, the king thought, might
Do source OF some pleasure. at any rate,
the hedge Of etiquette by which he was en-
yironed wsild be somewhat broken down.
They were og as carly as strict court rules
would allow, and the king felt a wonderful
exhilarating influence as the cool wind blew
across his temples, and he saw the early dew
glistening on the hills and the fields. They
passed little school.house. In the door
way stood little Maud, looking like bright
rose. The king scanned her curiously. Sure
ly he had never half noticed her before. He
stoppedS smiled, when she in sudden terror
turned away, her cheek blanching, and hur-
ried within the school.room.
Are even the innocent girls afraid OF me?'
thought the king. MY reputation must
have been a bad one. Well, Ill not force
her to notice me Of course she dosen't know
how should she? But declare, never
saw that Maud was so pretty before. There
isn't lady at the court 50 fresh and hand
sOme.
Presently they were of chasing the deer.
We'll. this is fine SPORT thought the king
after all, il isn't so bad 10 be ut the head of
a great nation, il we can once in while have
such good times rs this. What ho? what
is the matter here? he cried out, as the
man next to him, one Of the first officers in
the kingdom, reeled and fell from the sad
die.
They picked him up and examined him
sorrowfully. The man was dead. There was,
however, u shout heard not far off; they had
found the murderer and now brought him
forward.
What didst thou do this for ? questioned
the king, angrily.
The arrow was designed for thy treachcr-
Gus self replied the forester.
'IIear him = shouted the king, his anger
stirred. take him away and have him dealt
with. Wen have thee broken on the wheel,
.irrah.'
1T had only performed my mission !
should not have cared, cried the audacious
fellow.
And now the king was in misery all the
time. He st rted at shadow, almost at
tree, thinking it might be an assassin; he
looked warily round upon his courtiers. In
more than one face he read treachery. and
their fawning manners disSusted him. Truly,
there is no safety out OF potato-patch,' he
said, mournfully. Would were Ralph the
farmers boy again
A week passed by, and they wanted him
TO marry.
Whom shall havc?' he siid, partly to
himself; but one of his ministers heard him
and stepped before him.
MAY 1t please your majesty, he said, 'pro-
poSals have boen sent from thequeen ofSpain,
who wishes an alliance formed between your
majesty and her royal highncss.'
The king listened astonishcd
but we have never seen her, he said, and |
then the prime minister went into long
discussion concerning reasons state, till the
king was weary and came very near falling
asleep. Plague take all the kingdoms, he
thought to himself, III these are the trials
that besct the man who sits on a throne
They won't even letmc marry whom please.
Not content with dressing me, feeding me,
trying to poision ard to shootme, they must
needs put wife besides me whom don't
know or care anything about, won't he
led by the nose in this way, if am king.
81 he thought of plan, which was to dis
cuise himself, and take journey tn Spain
that he might see his future wife for himself;
and il don't like her, he quoth, nothing
shall force me to have her. lie had not
ridden mile with his few Attendants on his