Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-09-04
T1onlh' 8 Column.
GODS PROVIDENCE.

King Rhoud, though he lived in
times of war and surrounded by war
riors, was man of peace and good |
will to all, His example was for
good. His simple trust in Provi-
dence was rewarded with protection
amid many dangers.
One afternoon the good king went
to take his customary walk in the
wood of Ledre with his friend Earl
Reign, who felt very much alarmed
about the dangerous enemies that
were daily multiplying themselves in
the kings own palace. He urged
the king to consider some means to
prevent it, and to send Immediately
away from his household any whom
he suspected of being treacherous or
untrustworthy.
s'Nobody can escape the will of
heaven; we are safe only in Gods
hand" said the king.
II admire your brave trust in Prov
idence," said Reign, shut were | in
your place l should not have mo-
ment's rest.
''With no protection but our own
forethought, said the king, "we
should none of us be safe long"
AS they were walking and talking
thus earnestly through the beautiful
wood, they heard something scream
piteously in tree.
cit is only little Bird" said Rel
gin.
ct does not sing, it screams
said the king, "the poor thing is in
some trouble
s'Let it scream, said Reign,
s'just now we have more important
affairs to think of than a little bird
in a tree"
"The nearest duty first" said the
king, ''there is nothing more import
ant just now,' and he looked up into
the tree.
cit is impossible to rescue it, said
Reign, sit sits too high up"
Sin the isle of Wills 1 have learn
ed to climb tree, and am not yet
so old that have forgotten it,
'sBut there are no branches down
below on the trunk" urged the earl.
"Then you must lift me. / am
only a small man, not heavy to
raise"
''But if you fall and get killed, it
would be an eternal shame to have it
said that our king lost his life for the
sake of Bird
"Many have lost it for less,' said
the king, as he prepared to climb the
tree. So the strong square Shout
ders of the earl helped to lift the
slender, agile king up the trunk, and
from thence he climbed and ventured
out on the uppermost branch. He
came down safely with little gold
finch in his hand. 1t had caught its
little leg in narrow crevice of the
wood, and could not fly away. ''It
shall be my adopted Child said the
king tendelly stroking the feathers,
:" and the playmate of little Agnar. y
He took the bird home, and the
Vaulunder made a beautiful cage fol
it. ''How childish the king is, said
one of his most faithful courtiers
who disapproved of his giving any
time or thought to so small thing
as bird. SAT the moment wher
war is at the door, he finds time t.
save little bird and takes care of i
himself. Does he not carelessly ru1
into his own misfortune ?" sPoo
Rhoud," said all the courtiers, ''h'
will surely fall victim to the ven
geance of the conspirators.
Q Meanwhile their desire for ven
geance never slept. The death O
Rhoud was decided upon. They ha
e secretly sworn his death; and b
promise and threatening had bride
: the two slaves that waited on th
$ kings bedchamber, promising thel
g liberty and great wealth if they helI
/. ed in the kings destruction. If the
Of refused, their blood should wash th
u image of the goddess in the wood.
n One day when the king was hun
n. ing with his men, an oaken plan
il was loosened in the ceiling of ii
tie kings bed-chamber over his hea'
tH1t Ny oOIuC IuSCHtOuo COIoAlf civ
:, they had made it keep in its pla'
;. until some one could lower it dow
r.. from the second story with rope al
let it fall. The king could thus
ar crushed on his couch, and the who
En- be thought terrible accident.
Dr. The king returned at night, La
and weary, and went to bed. I
soon was sound asleep and wou
er probably never have risen again, hi
ad not the little bird by its screamil
: suddenly awakened him. He sat
DIS, in bed and, collecting his thought
IN perceived Immediately that he b
forgotten that day to give Che lit
at creatue water and food, and at eve
he ing was so overcome by fatigue I'll
cir he had not thought of it then.
sprang from his couch saying, &c
a., o. thou poor little creature, did | sa
for thy life only to let thee perish