The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-11-04
FIRST Boy:
HercuIes and His Twelve Labors.


god Jupiter and of Alcmena, Princess.
Very wonderful stories are told OF him.
The Jealous and spiteful goddess, Juno,
hated him even while he was little baby
and one day when his twin brother Iphl-
clus and himself had been left IN their
cradle two dreadful snakes were sent by
Juno to kill little Hercules. Iphiclus
shrieked with fright like any common
baby, but the baby Hercules put his
chubby hands around the snakes and
choked them to death. So there was an
end of Juno's scheme, and the little hero
grew fast, as so brave boy deserved.
He had teachers enough when he was
ready for them. One taught him how to
use arms in war; another made him skill
full with the bow and arrow; still another
taught him to drive a chariot in majestic
fashion. He also had two music teachers
Linus to teach him how to play on the
lyre. and Eumolphus, who gave him
singing lessons. AS to reading, geog-
raphy, and grammar, I cannot say that
he ever was asked to learn them.
When he had grown to be atall, strong
Young man he began to use his strength
for the good of his country, and Creon,
King of Thebes, was SO pleased with him
that he gave him his daughter Megara
for his wife, and let them rule Ia his
kingdom. ru
But, Notwithstanding all this success
and honor, hard times were coming for
Hercules. aat.
Eurystheus, King of Argos and Ny
cenae, was two months older than Her
cules. Before either of them was born
Jupiter had promised that the one that
should be born first should rule over
the other. 83A6I
When Eurystheus found out how
happy and prosperous Hercules was he
sent him word that he must come to
Mycenae and perform some labors for
MIN. Hercules wasn't much used to
being domineered over, and he said that
he wouldn't go. Then Juno did far
worse thing than when she sent the
snakes. for she made him so crazy that
he didn't know his own children, and he
killed them. When he was well again
he was so shocked at finding out what
he had done that he shut himself up,
and would not for some time mingle
with bis fellow-men.
At last he went to the oracle of Apollo,
and was there told thai he must submit
to Eurystheus for twelve years but he
was comforted by the promise that be
should do great wonders of labor, and,
after that should be reckoned god.
So he went to Mycenae, and Eurys-
theus commanded him to perform twelve
labors. He was we'll armed, for the god
Mercury gave him sword, Apollo gave
a bow, Vulcan a breast-plate of gold ;
Neptune, the sea-god, sent him horses,
and Minerva, the goddess of wisdom,
furnished his robe.
He made his own club of Nemean
wood. I8s
His first labor was to kill fierce lion
that Juno had sent into the country near
Nemea and Mycenae. This was no com
mon lion. His skin could not be pene-
trated by any weapon whatsoever, and
he was the terror of all who lived in the
region. But Hercules drove him, with
the club of Nemean wood, into his den,
shut the opening, threw his arms around
lis neck and strangled him. He then
skinned the dead beast and put the skin
upon himself, which is the reason he
wears it now. When Hercules went
back to Eurystheus with the dead lion
upon his back, Eurystheus gave orders
for him never to come within the city
gates, for he was greatly afraid of him,
so afraid that he had brazen chamber
built underground, and whenever he
heard that Hercules was coming he went
down there and hid himself.
The next task was still harder. He
must kill a hydra, a great nine-headeG
monster that lived in the marsh of Lerna
Hercules went to the place in a chariot
driven by Iolaus. The hydra was in it:
hole when the hero arrived, but some
fiery darts started it out, and Hercules
caught it. The huge creature twineG
about his legs, but he began to crust
his eight mortal heads-(the ninth wa,
immortaD. But now new horror shovel
itself. No sooner had he crushed on,
head than taOo Immediately grew out
Hercules was, however, not to be out
done. He called Iolaus and told him t,
set fire to the wood near by and brin.
him brand. Then he began again OF
the heads. He cut one off, and befor
there was time for the new ones to groy
he scared the place over SO that the
couldn't. So he kept on doing until b
came 10 the immortal head This he Gu
off, barred it in the road, and put grea
stone on it, which must have been YER
uncomfortable for the head under the Gil
cumstances. Hercules poisoned hi
arrows with the hydra's gall, SO tha
ever after they gave incurable wounds
The third labor was to take and t
bring to Eurystheus alive and unwound
ed a golden-horned stag with braze
hoofs that ran SO swiftly that he onl
caught it after having chased it Who'll
year.
Next, he caught a wild boar, and ca;