The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-12-09
The Kings Heart's-Ease
A cnlLp's rABLE.

There was once king who had vcry
beautiful garden. with grounds arranget
with tast, to please the eye, to afford refresh
ing shade. retired walks. commanding views
and, besides, oil the delightful fruits thai
could he procured. There was ono supert
old oak, 50 high and grand. tina: 1t could b,
seen for miles around. There were roses and
lilies, and towering shrubs OF every kind
in short, nothing was wanting to make It
most perfect spot. Ono day, the king's heac
gardener came and exclaimed:
20 king, pray come and see what Is tne
matter with your gardcn-everythlnS u
whiting. dropping. and dying" While he
spoke, the other gardeners came running In,
and all had the same story to tell. so the
king went ont, and there found all as they
had said. He went up to the first grand ola
oak tree, his pride and admiration. and SAID
"Why, oak, what is the matter with you,
that you arc whitening md dying away,
"Oh," said the oak, 81 don't think am ol
any use. am so large and cumbersome;
bear no fruit and flowers, and l take up 81
much room; and besides. my branches spread
80 wide and thick that it IL oil dark ant
shadow under them. and no flowers or frui
can grow there. Now if were u rose'bus
it would be worth while. for should bear
sweet flowers or II were u peach or pear
tree, or even like the grapevine. could bea'
you fruit"
The king next went to his favorito rose
bush, and said: swell, rose-busb, what i
the matter with you-why are you 80 droop
ing2" "Why." said tho rose.bnsh, 81 am %
no use; I can bear no fruit. have nothing
but flowers If 7 were an oak, like that on,
in tho middle of the grounds. should be ol
some use for then could shelter you.
could be seen for miles around, and bc an
honor to your garden; but as 1t is, | might
just as well die."
The king next went to grapevine, no
longer clinging to the trellis and trees, but
trailing sadly on the ground. He stopped
and said: "Grape-vine, what is the matter
with you? Why arc you lying SO doleiully
on the ground"
"Ah." said the vine. "you SEQ what a
poor. weak creature am: don't even hold
up Inv own weight, but must cling to tree
or post, and what can do? neither give
SUtuc nhr tuc Oths uVE o'h' hVWO'" INV W.
shrnbs; always must depend for support
upon something else, and surely am Of no
USE"
On went the king. quite In despair to see
his place going to destruction: and 1t gricved
him To think that for all the kind care and
attention no had lavishcd upon his garden,
he. was to DO repaid by mnrmuring and re.
pining. But no suddenly spied q little
heart's.ease "a small Hower) low down on
tho ground. with its lace tnrned up to him,
looking Ms bright and smiling as possible.
He stopped and said "You dear little
hearts ease! what makes you look so bright
and blooming. when everything around you
is whitening away?'
why" said the heart's.ease. "l thought
you wanted ne hero if you had wanted an
oak, you would have planted an acorn; II
you had wanted roses, you would have set
out n rose.bush; if you had wanted grapes
you would have put In u grapevine But !
knew what you wanted Of mo was to be
heart s.case so thought | would try to ho
the very best little heart ts.ease that ever |
could!"
Dear children, do you SEQ the moral?