The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1871-09-21
IDAHO WORLD.
FAITHFUL JOHN.

king who fell very SICK, ana lnougnt
he was lying upon his death-bed; SO he
eaid. "Let the faithful John come UNI
tosime.a This faithful John was his af-
fectionate 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
faithful John, / feel that my end ap-
proaches, and l 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, ! can
not close my eyes inpeace."
Then John answered, twill never
leave him; ! will always serve him tru-
", even if it cost me my life" SO the
old king was comforted, and said,
"Now / 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 he
sees her picture he will conceive a
great love for her, and will fall down
in swoon, aud on her account under
go great perils; therefore you must
keep him away" The faithful John
pressed his masters hand again, III
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:
GAIL this | will certainly fulfill; 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; at is now time for you
to see your inheritance; will 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
containing 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; moth
ing in all the world could be more life
like or more beautiful.
The young king remarked that faith
full John always passed by one door, SO
he asked: "Why do you not open that
onew
"There is something in it," replied
John, (which will frighten you"
But the king said, Il have seen all
the rest of the castle, and | 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 he 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
l do not go in it will be my certain ru-
in. should have no peace, night nor
day, until l had seen it with my own
eyes. Now / will not stir from the
place until you unlock the door"
Then John saw it was no use talk
ing, 80, with heavy heart and many
signs, he picked the key out of the
great bunch. When he had opened
the door he went in 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 tip
toes 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 upon the ground insensible.
Faithful John lifted him up, and carried
him to his bed, and he thought with
great concern: Mercy on us! the mis-
fortune has happened; what will come
of it," and he gave the young king
wine until be came to himself The
first words he spoke were: "Ah, who
is that beautiful picture?" THAT is
the daughter of the king Of the Golden
palace was the reply.
Then said the king, my love for her
is SO great that if all the leaves on the