Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-04-05
How a Beetle Saved a Prince.

How a Beetle Saved n Prince.
Once upon time"
" o. that is nice" quoth Queen Nab, "all
the best stories begin in that way
Once upon time" repeated Frank, with
a smile, there was an Eastern prince, about
eighteen years of age, who had offended the
king, his uncle. so he was shut up in a
very high tower, and in three days he was to
be- put to death. Now there was a beautiful
Arab maiden that dearly loved him, and she
went and sat at the foot Of the tower trying
IN vain to find some way by (which she could
set him free. AZ last She went to an old
hermit, who was said to be very wise man,
and asked him, with many tears, how she
might save her lover. The hermit stroked
his beard and thought a little while; then
he gave her big black beetle, and told her
what 10 do. So next morning, about sum
rise, she came TO the foot of the tower, and
having tied q small, green thread around the
beetle, she set him clinging to the wall with
his head looking upward. She then touched |
the nose Of the beetle with one single drop |
Of honey, and sat down with folded arms, |
and watched 10 see what the beetle would |
do. Now the first thing the beetle did was |
to smell the honey. wonder where that |
honey is, said the beetle TO himself; some
where above me, | know So off he set |
literally following his nose, straight up the
side of the tower. lie crawled slowly and
steadily for a long while, and then stopped,
sadly disappointed that he had not got to
the honey vet. But as often as he stopped,
the smell of the sweet prize came fresh and
strong SO off he went again, dragging af-
ter him the fine silk thread, and at last
reached the parapet, when the young prince
paiy.d tho tlraoI xritb fratpI,liurr hsu1a oul
commenced to wind it up. Now the Arab
maiden had tied to the other end a strong
cord he pulled that up by the thread; with
the cord he pulled up rope, and with the
rope a ladder Having made the ladder fast
10 the parapet of the tower, he came down
in safety, and he and the Arab maiden fled
to another country, and lived a long time in
happiness and peace"
"Doyou think that is a true story, Uncle ?"
said Ida.
"Wel, my beauty think it is quite as
true rs most stories that begin with once
upon time are, aud whether or no, there
is something good to be got out of it for
those who know how. Now, here's a round
half-a-dozen OF you who have heard it, and
if It be a fable, II must have a moral Who
can find it out Master Harry, what say
You -
"Well," said Harry, it teaches that Young
1 folks do we'll to take advice from old folks,
for the maiden took advice from the old
hermit"
'sWell spoken, MILDLY Years should teach
wisdom. and good boys will listen to gray
| boards. Now, Miss Marion. give us your
opinion 2"
&" | think, said Marion, " it teaches the
value Of continuance, aud shows what may
be done 10y little wit in finding way out
OF difficulty"
Very well said, little sweetheart That's
the lesson taught by the fable of the Crow
and the Pitcher II You can't do a thing
one way. try another. Master Frank what
say you 2"
III think the story shows how everybody
has to depend on everybody, and that none
of us can do without our neighbors. The
maiden had 70 depend upon the hermit, and
the prince had to be helped by the maiden,
and even the beetle could not be spared"
Very true, Master Frank" said Uncle
Charlie. The peer would get on badly
without the ploughInan and wecOuld not en-
JOY this cosy fire without the collier and the
chimncy.swoep. That is the idea of true
brotherhood. Now, Miss Ida, point your
moral
Well" said Ida, think it teaches the
value of perseverance, for by creeping and
keeping at it, the beetle reached the top,
though I'm sorry he found no honey when
he got there he certainly deserved it,"
THAT he did" said Uncle Charlie, and
your moral is very sound for at it and keep
ing at it is the way TO reach the top of any
tower that duty bids us climb. Now, Master
Tom, squeeze another drop of honey out of
Franks story"
81 think it is intended 10 teach that a small
fault, like small thread may one day be-
come strong rope that can't be broken,
and also that feeble effort to do right, If
carried out, will end in strong principle and
power for good.
Hear hear my hoy. If we suffer our
selves to go wrong, it may become habit so
strong that we cannot break it, and good be
ginnings, however feeble make man strong
as Sampson in the end. Queen Nab what
have you TO say p
"Well, Uncle, think it teaches that the
lttlest OF us may be very useful, and that
however small We are, we may do big things,
for it was little beetle that saved the
prince
Bless your little majcsty'S heart that's
as clear as daylight" said Uncle Charlie.
Little seeds bring great harvests little
3 strokes fell great oaks and the mouse in
: the fable set the lion free"
! "Now, Uncle Charlie" was said in chorus,
What moral can you get out of II 2"
"Why this, my BARNS" said the old man,
solennly; "the poor beetle teaches us how
Satan tenpts us by sweet and lying prom
ises to seek for pleasure and happiness where
it can't be found, and poor foolish mortals
find that the honey is all delusion when it's
too late TO unite the thread which binds
, them to his will. Let my precious BARNS
Il. A IL. II Al. 4 -
lies. However bright and sweet may seem
the prize he offers, be sure you pW nerer gel
il, SO LET us give him and his temptations a
wide berth, aud turn our eyes TO Jesus Let
us climb Christward aud heayenward, for
His presence is fullness Of joy, and at His
right hand are pleasures for ever more"
The evening hymn was sung and then,
kneeling down, Uncle Charlie prayed for his
darlings that they might be Kept from all
i the wiles of the wicked one" and find true
and lasting peace in the arms Of the Chill
4