Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-02-15

hoPpi maze strong objections He got
Tor answer that he was n simpleton Who
, had obtained for him his fine chateau ?
: why, she who had compelled him. in
spite Oh himself, to return to the Cray
hsh. 1t would he the same thing now
: He should be n King, whether il snited
him or not ; and it would be to his wife
J that he owed his crown.
D Loppi had not the slightest desire to
reign. He ate a good breakfast and n
D better dinner every day. and that was
: quite enough for him. But, above all
thing, he liked quiet life and he could
, not forget that, with his darling partner,
the only condition of ropose was perfect
} SUBMISSION to Madames caprices. He
, scratched his head, he sighed--it is even
said that he swore q little but no went
on his errGnd all the same, and, as soon
r as he reached the pond, he invoked bis
, friend the Crayfsh in his softest accents
de saw two big black claws rise from the
, water he heard the question, "What is
your wish, my brother?" But he waited
awhile before answering, so conscious
was he OF the extravaganza of bis de-
mand. AT last he replied
las to myself, l want nothing. What
mere can desire? But my wife is be-
ginning to get tired Of her Barony."
what, then, does she want 2" said the
Fairy.
"Alas - nurmurel Loppi. "sbe want,
to be a Queen
ooh, no ~ said the Crayisb. TT is
lucky for her and for you that YOU spared
my life. This once again will obey yonr
wlles Will. am your humble servant.
O Consort OF Queen and / wish YOU
Joy OF it; Good EVENING""
When Loppi reached home the chateau
mad grown INTO palace /; his wife was
queen. Wallets, pages, chamberlains,
MAIDS OF honor were running in all di-
rectlons 10 execute the sovcreign's COM
mands.
"Heaven be praised !" thought the
| Woodman II shall now have a little
rest at last. Mascas has reached the ton
OF the tree it is impossible for her to
mount any higher. And she has SO MANY
people about her to do her will that I
shall sleep i'll peace, and not be called M
dozen times every night.
| Nothing is so fragile as the happiness
OF hlngs, unless it be the happiness of
| Queens Two moons had not yet filled
their horns before Masicas took new
fancy into her head. She summoned
Loppl to her presence.
i md being Queen very wearisome
shy e"iu' Inc lnSlplulty OF my |
courtiers is perfectly disgusting. / should |
like to have free men TO command Go
to the Fairy just once more, and make ber
give me what desire"
Good gracious heavens :" cried LON |
pi III you are not contented with |
crown, what is it that you can possibly |
want? DO you wish, perchance, to be |
the Bon Diem in person, and to take the |
place Of Providence ?"
Just 30 and pray why not? Masicas |
quietly replied. DO You suppose the |
world would be worse governed than it |
now is 2"
Loppi stared at his wife, half-stupeted.
Evidently the poor woman was Gu. of her |
mind. Struggling his shoulders, he an
swered
Say and do what You will, l am not
going to trouble the Fairy with your in
sane request"
1--WE shall See about that" cried tie
furious Queen. Have you forgotten who
am? Obey Inc instantly, OF | will have
you beheaded T.
~ m off directly, please your Majesty
SAID the Woodman. II may as well be
Killed by the Fairy, he thought, ''as by
my wlte's executioner. Perhaps the
Crayhsh Will be the more merciful of the
two"
He tottered as he walked, like drunk.
en- man. aud found himself at the waters
euge without knowing how he got there.
he then shouted the invocation, like q
drowning man calling for help but no
answer came. A dead silence hung over
the pond not even the buzzing of a gnat
could be heard. He shouted again : but
all was still. He shouted third time.
What do You want o. severe voice
inquired.
For myself, nothing. But the Queen,
my wife, has commanded me to como here
once more, for the last time"
What more can she want?"
Loppi fell on his knees.
Forgive Inc, o benefceut Crayfsh. 1t
is not my fault. Ny wife wants-to
be"
Silence Hold your impious tongue
l know what you were about to say. Your
wife is fit for lunatic asylum, and YOU
TOR the whipping-post. Miserable dogs
Back to your kennel !"
The Crayfsh then plunged into the
pond IN such passion of anger that the
water Missed and boiled as il score of
red-hot m!ll-stones had been thrown into
ii.
Loppi fell fat, with his face to the
ground. Had he been stricken by light
Mug he could not have fallen flatter.
When he got up to return home with n
hang-dog countenance, he recognized
only too well the path he had so often
traversed. The border Of the forest. with
its spindly birch trees and its stunted
mrs. the pools OF black water, and furth-
er on, miserable hut. told him that he
had fallen into his pristine poverty, to be
more wretched, ii possible, than ever.
What would Masicas say How should
he console her His reflections on that
matter were speedily cut short for an
ugly, dirty bag, in rags, seized him by
the throat and tried to strange him.
"You monster !" she screamed. your |
absurdities and weakness have been
our ruin. You have displeased and irri-
tated your accursed Crayfsh. l ought to
have expected us much, You have never
loved me-never taken any pains to please
me, You are selfish, good-for-nothing. :
pig headed, ungrateful egotist. will be
the death Of you indeed will" ?
She would have torn his eyes out. had I
he not with difficulty seized her arms, at
the same time demonstrating
Take care, Masieas be calm YOU
will make yourself i'll"
But remonstrance WAS useless. Ioppi
felt that his strength was failing, when
her face suddenly turned purple, she
threw herself backwards, raised her arms
and fell heavily to the ground. Her fit
Of rage had killed her.
Loppi mourned his wife, Us every good
husband ought. He buried her with his
own hands beneath the shade of Il lofty
pine. He placed flag. stone over her
grave, and bulls II dry stone wall round it
% keep out noxious animals That duty
fulfilled, he fell victim to despair He II
vas not made to livealonc. VI
What am to do? What is to become yye