The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-03-24
Handicraft the King.
Lucy M. Fiakleston.

Lucy Dr. Fiskleston.
Once upon time in the olden days sui
tan with his family took pleasure trip
abroad. While sailing OH the sea, a storm
arose and drove their ship upon foreign
shore, where the sultan and his kingdom
were unknown and of which country they
had never heard before. The sultan had no
money and was ignorant of any handicraft
or other way by which he might support |
himself and family; so he was finally obliged |
to hire himself as a keeper of swine. lie |
lived several years in this way, earning one
para day. He and his family were almost |
starved, and would often have to eat the
grass IN the fields to satisfy the pangs OF
hunger. The son of the king of the country
fell in love with the keepers daughter, who
had grown to be very beautiful. The prince
told his parents that he would never marry
any other maiden than the daughter OF the
village swine-keeper. The king and queen
and all the court tried to dissuade him from
the step, saying that he could choose wife
from among the imperial and royal princess
es; but to take swine keepers daughter for
his wife would be shame and disgrace to
his country.
But all these remonstrances were in vain
and tended only to make his passion for the
girl stronger. The prince replied: al will
either have this maiden or never marry at
ALL" When they saw that arguing was use
less with man in love, the king sent his
counselor to the swine-keeper to tell him
that be had selected his daughter for the
wife of his only son. After the counselor
had delivered his message In pompous
manner, the swine-keeper boldly asked him:
" What handicraft does the prince under
stand ?"
The counselor looked Mortified, and in
naughty tone said: /" God be with you, old
man! Are you insane? What should a
prince know of handicraft? People only
learn that to support themselves by; but a
kings son possesses gold, lands, and coun-
tries" The swine-keeper replied: "That's
all very well; but unless the prince knows
some trade will not give him my daugh-
ter" The counselor went back and told the
king, at which the whole court was disgust
ed, for everybody believed that the SWINE
keeper would be overwhelmed with joy and
pride; and here he was asking what trade
the prince knew. The king sent another
courier; but the swine-keeper gave the same
answer. GAS long as the young prince has
not learned any handicraft and can not bring
me proof of his own work, he and can
! never become closer related When the
prince heard this final decision, his love for
the maiden grew stronger, and he resolved to
possess her at all hazards. So lie went him
self to the different workshops to find some
trade that could be easily learned. He hur-
+ ried from shop to shop, and examined with
admiring eyes the various masters at work
but he felt somewhat disheartened at his ig-
norance,-when he came upon shop where
they plated straw baskets and fancy articles
|, This pleased him very much, and seemed to
him to be the highest and genteelest of all
handiwork. So he set about learning 1t al
. once.
, In few weeks, after hard application, hi
, mastered the trade, and plated beautiful
, fancy basket, with the name of his lady-lovt
interviewer in celicately-tinted straw, whicl
he filled with delicious fruit, cut and ar
ranged with his own hands, and sent by
messenger to the swine-keeper, which vast
be delivered to his daughter, as sample o
:, his own work.
The swine keeper took the basket, and, ex
amining it with an admiring and critical eye
demanded: "How much can this basket b
sold for?n The messenger answered him
"Twenty paras." "Good!" he exclaimed
: che can make perhaps two Of these day
: That makes forty paras. II had know
!. that business / should not be tending swim
this day at one para day." Then he re
lated who and what he was and how he cam
to be on their foreign shore, q swine-keepel
The king, queen, and al the country rejoice
that their prince had wooed the daughter {
d q king In disguise, and not Of swine-keeT
d or. The marriage Of the prince and princes
y took place with great rejoicings, and the ba.
b ket was borne through the whole kingdoI
:. to show the people that their prince was ne
j, ashamed of handiwork.
d The king gave the father Of the bride
Ie ship, filed with gold, precious stones, and
ic guard Of soldiers to escort him home. tn
Il old sultan, bent and weather-beaten, wer
le back to his own kingdom across the sea. III
,r people received him with joy. He issued
a proclamation that every man, woman, an
Is child should learn some trade by which the
r could earn their bread In case Of necessit.
saying: aFrom experience, my believe
1t children, know that handicraft Is ever!
thing, and who knows II Is better than
!" king, for be Is his own MASTER Never !
y ashamed to learn . trade, for the presperii
OF kingdom depends on It's working-pe'
= = ple."
.. rfuaouhtsfIy the oldest InhabitMnt.