The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1877-10-04
The King and the Stable Bow.


During tho visit Of George tho
Third TO the royal stables boy be-
longing to the grooms took his at.
tcntion. There Is no accounting for
fancies but thero was something
about tho boy that won his royal
masters favor, and the King treated
him kindly in many ways. But q time
OF temptation came, and the poor lad
fell into Disgrace BIS had stolcu
some oats from tho royal bins, aud,
being detected, the bead groom dis
charged him. The fact that he was
no ticcd by the king may have arous~
ed the envy and dislike Of others and
II may be that the OCCASION was glad
ly seized by tho groom to havo him
turned away. There seemed to bo
no idea Of speaking to the poor lad
about the wi,kedness of taking tho,
oats, and abusing the confidence 81
his master, but only determination
TO treat him as he deserved. Who
knows what o kind word might have
don for an erring boy, who gave
way to wrong doing In moment Of
temptation z But such was not tho
case he was, turned adrift, with a
stain upon his character, to the great
grief Of his parents. -. =.
Not long afterward, when tho king
again visited the stables, he observe
ed the absence Of tho boy, and asked
one Of tho grooms what had become
Of him. The man fearing TO tell the
truth yot not liking to tell false
hood, said he had left. His majesty
was not satisfied with tho groom's
answer, and suspecting wrong, called
the head groom to him, and made
the inquiry again. i have discharg.
cd the boy, SIRE ...t.t. 4,-l.
For what reason Z asked the K ing.
'Ho was discovered stealing the
oats from one Of the bins, was the
reply, and I sent him away aoa ~.
The king felt sorry for the poor
boy Who had disgraced himself thus,
but determined not to give him up,
and ordered him to be sent for ims
mediately. The order was ebeyed,
and without loss Of time tho boy was
brought to the king. What Q scene
was this-facs to face with the king
Of England stood the boy, convicted
thief ''
'Well, my boy, said his majesty.
when the poor lad, trembling sad
looking very pale, stood before him,
not knowing what awaited him is
this trae that / hear of you 2
The lad could not look up into the
kings face, but with his head bent
down, his only answer to the kind in>
quiry was o food Of tears. He had
not word to say for himself; his
mouth was stopped, for he knew he
was guilty he had not word Of
excuse. The king, seeing the poor
boy was sorry on account OF bis sinj
spoke TO hin of the evil-how he
had not only taken what was not his
own, but abused the confidence re-
posed in him. We'll. my lad, said
his majesty. putting bis hand kindly
upon the boys head, i forgive you.
Tbep, turning to the head groom,
said 4: Let the boy have his former
place, and let him be cared for.
What thrill Of joy did tbs lads
heart feel as tho king uttered those
,hIee words Il forgive you. Iustssd
OF being ardercd OF to prison Snd
punished, and disgraced, be was re-
stored to favor, aad restored to the
place be had lost. Wls gladness
this gave the boys heart | II ssem-
ed almost too good to be true. Yet
who could dispute il? Tue king
himself had forgiven him, and then
tho highest judge 10 the land had
not word To say against it he waa
u guilty QUO. bu, now was forgiven,
aud that BY the king bimsc t. Win
our young readers learn tho beauti~
tul lesson con tained