Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-02-04
ahistellanu.
N~
THE ROYAL PULL AT THE BELL.

There is a story told of an anonymous
KING, the moral oi which may be well APP
piled by all soyereigns The old monarch,
when dying. called his son to him, put in
his hand the sceptre, and then asked him
if he could take advice as easily as he had
taken from his father the symbol OF author
ity.
The young heir, grasping the sceptre
tightly. and hiniing at the excellence of
breYlty III council as well rs in wit, said,
under the circumstances, 'he could
II could be as brief as my breath an
swered the abdicating monarch, land that
is short enough. You look upon the world
boy, as home of pleasure now hear bet
ter from me. Woe, my lad, tumblc3 in
pailf'ils, and good luck is only distilled in
drops
The son looked down at his now silent
sire, and found he was dead
The new king commanded a splendid
funeral, and arranged grand hunting
party ior the day after. He laughed at
4 the paternal simle. and to publish its
weakness and his own felicity, he caused
to be placed over his palace a large silver
toned bell: a rope passed from it into each
room which he occupied.
"a will ring it." said he, whenever I
feel thoroughly happy. l have no doubt
that shah weary my own arm and deaf
en- my peoples ears
For whole month the bell was silent.
II have lad my hand on the rope said
the king. fifty times. but ! felt | was
hardly happy enough to proclaim II to my
people; bat we have GOT over our first diff
iictltieS and to-morrow-
On the morrow as he WAS boasiing OF
the fidelity and friendship OF one OF his
ministers, he learned that his friend and
servant was in the habit of betraying the
contents Of his private dispatches to a
neighhorin@ potcntate, from whom the
traitor received stars and crosses in return
The king sighed I'VE shah not toll the
bell, then, to-day but assuredly to-mor-
row."
la the morning he rode over to the
house OF the mistress OF his heart.
There he remarked To himself, as he
went along in that pace which used to be
observed by the pilgrims to Canterbury.
and which in England has taken its name
from the first two syllables of that city's
! name--''there have never found disap-
pointmett.
What hc did find he never told but on
his return to the palace, when his groom
Of the chambers looked ntorrogatvely be
tween him and the belI-rope, the latter
WAS formed into a Moose. and he angIilv
mutered. as he flung it down again;
4 would 10 heaven that they were both
/ hanging from it together.''
On the following day he philosophicallv
reviewed his case.
Il have been quite unreasonable" he
said, ''why should | grieye because
have been betrayed by knaye. and Tilted
by girl with golden hair? | have do
minions, a full treasury, a mighty army.
laughing vineyards, verdaut meadows, a
people who pay taxes as if they loved
them, and Gods free air 10 breathe in. |
may be happy vet added he. advancing
to the window; may. | am and he
reached his hand To the rope. He was on
the point Of ringing it with will. when
he saw sight without. and heard a voice
within, which made him pause. A mes
senger WAS ut his feet.
''Oh, sire exclaimed the bringer of bad
news, 'thou seest the dust. the fires, and
the gleam of arms without. The foe has
! broken in upon the land and terror is be-
fore and devastation behind him.
Now a curse upon kipgship. that brings
a wretched monarch evils ike these -
cried the king who wanted to be happy.
/ The courier limited something about the
mlScIles OF the people.
"Ry that Lady OF Hate, whose church is
in Brittany cried the prince, thou art
right, thought TO pull Justify at the bell,
hut will as Justify pull at my sword in
the sheath. and see ii there be not virtue
in that. How came in the foe, and who
commands them p
The answer TO this double query told
him that the enemy could not have entered
4 had hat
! the invader, and that the van of the army
was under the command Of a prince,
whose name was no sooner uttered TO the
king than the latter turned red with fury,
and exclaimed:
HE" Then | shall ring the bell Vet.
| will have his lite, and the lady,
! He said no more, but went out, fought
| like IA man, cleared the land of the foe,
hung the traitor with all his orders on him.
and manned the Young leader of the hos
tile vanguard past sympathy from Cupid,
and returned to his capital in triumph. He
had 50 much to employ him after his re-
turn. - much to accomp >h for the res
to,atlon of the fortunes of his people, so
much 10 mediate upon for future accom-
( plishment, that at night when he lay down
( upon his couch. weariness upon his brow,
/ hut IA shade of honest joy upon his check,
he had fairly forgotten the silver bell in
the tupret, and the ropes which depended
from it. And SO he grew gray and intirm.
never turning from his work till the inevi-
table Angel looked smilingly in his face.
and began to beckon him away. He was
sitting in his une asy chair, pale as death,
but still at his ministry, till his eyes grew
dim, his head sank on his breast, and there
was without Il sound of wailing.
wv hat voices are those" asked he soft
/ ly; "what is there Yet for me to dog1
His chancellor stopped over him as he
now lay on the couch, and viii pered -
''Our father is departing from among us.
and hi, children are at the door in tears"
LET them in. let them in'n hoarsely
cried the king. God do they really
love me ?n
IF there were life to be purchased
here, o worthy sire, they would purchase
thine with their blood"