The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1877-02-02
Miscellaneous
The King and the Stable Boy.

During the visit OF George the third TO
- the royal stables, a boy-belonging to one OF
= the grooms took his attention. There is o
~ accounting for fancies; but there was some
thing about the boy that won his royal mas
- ters favor, and the King treated him kindly
IA many ways. But a time of temptati N
81 came and the poor lad fell into di3Rrace.
he had stolen some oats from the royal bins,
and being detected, the head groom dS-
80 charged him. The fact that he Vas noticed
by the King may have arous the envy
q and dislike of others, and it NAV he that
the occasion was gladly seized by the groom
to have him turned away There seemed
to be no idea of speaking to the poor boy
o. about the wckedness Of taking the oats,
and abusing the confidence of his master,
but only determination to treat him - Ne
E deserved Who knows what q kind word
might have done for an errinr boy who
= gave way 10 wrong doing in moment of
"a temptation Bu. such was not the case, he
- was turned adrift, with a stain upon his
character, to the great grief of his parents.
ss Not long afterwards, when the King
again visited his stable, he observed the
absence of the boy, and asked the groom
a what had become of him. The man fear
!. ing to tell the truth, yet not liking to tell a
- falsehood, said he had left. His Majesty
o. was not satisfied with the groom's answer,
and suspecting something wrong, called the
q, head groom to him, and made the inquiry
again have discharged the boy, sir" an
swered he.
"For what resson2" asked the King.
h ha she was discovered stealing the oats from
p one of the bins" was the reply, "and sent
him away"
.a 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 tor Immediately. The order was obey
ed, and without loss of time the boy was
brought to the King What scene was
n that-iace to face with the King of En-
gland stood the boy convicted thief This
Was gracious Of the King, to show such in.
II terest in one who seemed so little deserving
Of it. Great men Of the kingdom, noble
man Of high estate, the men of talent, would
make any sacrifice to win the favor of their
sovereign; but here was an instance where
King might have ordered the boy to be
L., given over to the officers, and had him
- punished according to law; but determined
a. to save him.
- IS "Well, my boy" said his Majesty, when
the poor lad, trembling, and looking very
-. PALE stood before him, "is it true what I
asts hear you ?"
y i1 The lad could not look up into the Kings
face, but, with his head bent down, his on
- ly answer to the kind inquiry was food of
~ tears. He had not a word to say for him
self; his mouth was stopped, for he was
- guilty he had not word of excuse. The
King, seeing the poor boy was sorry on ac-
count of his sin, spoke to him of his evil
A.. how he had not only taken what was not
-as his own, but abused the confidence reposed
~ in him. swell, my Isd," said his Majesty,
49, putting his hand kindly on the boy head,
90 81 forgive yoa." Then, turning to the head
"a groom. said "Let the boy have his former
place, and let him be cared for"
What thrill of joy did the lads heart
~ feel as the King uttered those three words,
=, aI for give you" Instead of being ordered
off to prison, and punished, and disgrace,
he was restored to faver. and restored to the
a. place he had lost What gladness this gave
90 the boys heart II seemed almost too good
{ to be true. But who could dispute it9 The
~ King himself had forgiven him, and then
the highest judge in the land had not 4 word
- to say against it LIE was guilty one, but
now was forgiven, and that by the King
himself.
rea As his Majesty was leaving. he turned
round, looking steadfastly at the boy and,
5 8. in the hearing of the grooms and servants
.aa about him, said "If any one says word to
you about those oats, tell me ~ Now this
was double assurance to the boy. Not
only was he forgiven, and that publicly, but
sas not word was to be said to him about his
80 past sin, it was to be forgotten. Who would
incur the royal dspleasure by telling the
n boy his fault? This act of his grace had a
better effect upon the boy than any pun
~ ishment would have had. How, after such
A. kindness and forgiveness, could he wrong
80 gracious master, who had 50 deeply in
tepested himself on his behalf? Nay, rather
would it call forth devotedness of heart in his
oi''ee, "'o 'e"i ~ S''S'ns MIN any
more
a. think this is a beautiful illustration Of
divine grace, and little picture of Gods
gracious wsys with Us. How blessed to
know that he who sees aal reads all the
motives Of our hearts, and their inmost de.
sires, is the one who loves us, and who is
more deeply interested in us than King
George was in the boy, who desires our sal
walton, and who, knowing how guilty we
are, only desires us to confess our guilt,
nj ali L. e.