Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-10-28
THE KING AND THE GOOSEHERD.

plain costume in the garden of his palace.
1t was so very quiet in the garden that the
King fell asleep over the book which he
was reading. When he awoke he thought
he would take a walk The road which
took him farther and farther away from
the garden brought him at last to the
meadows which extend on both sides from
the shores of the beautiful lake near
which the palace stood.
Here the King remembered his book,
which he had lett lying on the bench in
his park As he was unwilling to return
the same way, he looked about for some
one who would fetch the book for him !;
but far and wide he did not see single
human beng except boy who was watch
ing flock Of geese. The King went up
to him and said:
Listen, my boy: if you go fetch me a
book which [ have left lying on a bench
in the park you shall have form for
your trouble"
The boys eyes sparkled when he held
the money in his hand, for he did not get
much more than that for looking after the
geese for the whole year; but still he hest
tated.
"Well," asked the King, "and why
don't you go?'
Said he: Il will-but-I dare not If
the farmers heard that had left the geese
they would dismiss me-"
i" will watch them till you come back
again"
"You?" replied the boy, measuring the
stranger from top to toe. you don't
look to me like one who can take care of
geese. Look at that fellow there with
the black head, who belongs to the court
gardener; he is an awful old bird. He
would play you fine tricks whilst / was
away"
"But why should not be able to keep
those geese in order as we'll as [ sue
coed in keeping men in order?" said the
King.
"You?" replied the lad, again eying
the monarch with grin. "They must
be fine fellows, indeed You are school
master! / tell you boys are much easier
to manage than geese"
Come, be quick. l will answer for
any mischief that may happen"
This decided the boy. He enjoined
the King to keep watchful eye over
the goose which he called the court gar
dener. Then the boy gave him the
whip.
''Crack it once" ordered the boy.
The King tried but it would not crack
at ALL
"That's just what l thought!'' ex-
CLAIMED the boy. The schoolmaster fam
cies he can take care of geese, and cannot
even crack a whipr'
Then he took the whip out of the Kings
hand and showed him how to crack it.
him to use it at'the right moment, and
then he ran away.
1t seemed as if the geese observed at
once that their young but severe master
no longer held the reins of government
The gander which the boy had pointed
out as the court gardener, raised his long
neck, looked everywhere around him, ut
tered several "quack! quacksn and then
all the geese raised their wings, screamed
aloud and before the King could look
round rushed off to all points of the COM
pass in the meadows around the lake.
The King cried Quit was of no use;
he wanted to crack the whip but the whip
gave out no sound he ran to the right, he
ran to the left-all of no use whatever.
Out of breath with laughing, he sat down
on the trunk of a tree where the boy had
been sitting and let the geese go.
"The boy was really right" he said to
himself, g that it is easier TO govern a
couple of millions of men than to manage
herd of geese"
The boy meanwhile had found the book
and came merrily back. But when he
saw what had happened he let the book
fall from his hand.
Didn't say you understood nothing
about it? Just look now! can't collect
them together by myself Now you have
to help men'
After the boy had instructed the King
how he must lift up his arms, wave them
about and shout aloud, he ran off to fetch
the most distant OF the strayed flock.
The King did all that was in his power
and, after great exertions, the whole flock
was at last assembled again; then the boy
began to scold the King for doing his duty
so badly, concluding with the words;
Never in my life again will trust the
whip out of my hands. [ wouldn't even
intrust it to the King himself, if he tried
to persuade me to leave my flock"
You are right, my brave lad, " said the
King, bursting into loud laugh; & he I'M
derstands no more about it than | do, for
| am the King myself
At first the boy could not believe that
such a stupid man could be the King. An
extra form restored his good humor and,
as the King went Ct with his book, he
turned to crack his whip over his trouble
some charge