Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-10-04
FAITHFUL JOHN.

Once upon time there lived an old
king who fell very sick, and thought
he was lying upon his death-bed so
he said, "Let the faithful John come
unto me-" This faithful John was his
affectionate servant, and was so called
because he had been true to him all his
lifetime, and as soon as John came to
his bedside the king said " My faith
ful John, [ feel that my end approach
es, and [ have no other care than about
my son, who is still SO young that he
cannot always guide himself Alright. If
you do not promise to instruct him in
everything he ought to know, and to be
his guardian, [ cannot close my eyes in
peace"
Then John answered, CT will never
leave him; will always serve him
truly, even if it cost me my life" So
the old king WAS comforted, and said,
Now I can die In peace. After my
death you must show him all the cham.
bers, halls, and vaults in the castle, and
all the treasures which are IN them
but the last room in the long corridor
you must not show him, for in it hangs
the portrait Of the daughter of the king
of the Golden palace; and if be sees
her picture he viii conceive a great love
for her, and viii fall down in swoon,
and on her account undergo great perils;
therefore you must keep him away
The faithful John pressed his masters
hand again, in token of assent, and
soon after the king laid his head upon
his pillow and expired.
After the old king had been laid in
his grave, the faithful John related to
the young king all that his father had
said upon his death-bed, and declared:
" AL this I viii certainly fulfill: I will
be as true TO you as ] was to him, if it
costs me my life" When the time of
mourning was past, John said to the
young king q It is now time FOR YOU
to see your Inheritance ] VIII show
you your paternal castle - SO he led
the king all over it, up stairs and down
stairs, and showed him all the riches
and all the splendid chambers only
one room he did not open-the one con
tanning the perilous portrait, which was
SO placed that one saw it directly the
| door was opened, and, moreover, It was
so beautifully painted that one thought
it breathed and moved; nothing in all
the world could be more life like or
more beautiful.
The young king remarked that aith
full John always passed by one door. so
he asked: fWhy do you not open
that one Z"
"There is something in it" replied
John, (Which Will frighten you.
But the king said, 81 have seen all
the rest of the castle, and 7 will know
what is there :" and he went and tried
to open the door by force. The faith
full John pulled him back and said: 81
promised your father before be died
that you should not see the contents Of
that room; it would bring great mis-
fortunes both upon you and me"
/" Oh, no, ;" said the young king. eff
[ do not go in it will be my certain ruin.
Ishould have no peace, might nor day,
until [ had seen it with my own eyes.
Now I will not stir from the pls s3e un-
til you unlock the door"
Then John saw it was no use talking,
SO, with a heavy heart and many sighs,
he picked the key out the great bunch.
When he had opened the door he went
.lE first, and thought he would cover up
the picture, that the king should not
see it; but it was Of no use, for the
king stepped upon tiptoes and looked
over his shoulder, and, as soon as he
saw the portrait of the maiden, which
was SO beautiful, and glittered with
precious stones, he fell down npon the
ground insensible. Faithful John lift
ed him up, and carried him to his bed,
and thought, with great concern =
" Mercy on US P! the misfortune has
happened; what viii come of it ~ and
he gave the young king wine until he
came to himself. The first words he
spoke We're "Ah, who is that beau
tiful picture 2" ''That is the daughter
Of the king Of the Golden palace, - was
the reply.
Then said the king, my love for